📚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 don't think we have decided yet!

The Heat of the Day, The Death of the Heart or The Last September seem like the most likely candidates, if we’re going for an Elizabeth Bowen. Obviously there are others, but those are her best-known.

The Heat of the Day is disappointing plot wise, it’s not a good place to start.

I like the sound of The Last September, in that it’s set during the war of independence in Ireland.

That was her own favourite of her books, I believe

I'd like to read The Last September.

Sounds as though we’re creeping towards a decision - we probably ought to plump for something as we're almost a week into October already! Would everyone be happy with The Last September?

I’m very happy as not read that one.

And it's available in my local library!

Delighted to read The Last September. Glad we've decided on a book.

I have finished The Last September.
I thought it was very good. It took me a while to get used to Bowen's writing style and I think this book is one that would improve on reading it again. But yes, it's a very fine book. I had an e-book from the library but I bought it in paperback yesterday.

You're ahead of me Fuzzy. I'm about a third of the way through. I've fallen behind, partly because it's been a busy month and partly because I'm struggling a little with Bowen's writing style. As you say, it takes some getting used to.

MotherofPearl, it feels as if I have been reading this book for ages. I have been distracted lately, but the disjointed aspect of the writing hasn't helped.

I too am about a third through. I’m not zipping through it like a Whipple, that’s for sure.

Not just me then 😀

I think Terpsichore finished it very quickly. I read her excellent* *summary of it on the 50 bookers' thread.

It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I zipped through - not sure why, though. I really loved the unusual use of language.

I've still not finished it but I've started the discussion thread for The Last September for those who have:

📚 'Rather Dated' November: Elizabeth Bowen's 'The Last September' 📚 http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/whatweree_reading/4933428-rather-dated-november-elizabeth-bowens-the-last-september

Pretty soon we'll need to select our next book. As ever, all suggestions welcome. I may trawl the Persephone site for ideas.

Perhaps Monica Dickens might fit the bill? I've always wanted to try her books.

Thanks MotherofPearl! I'll be along shortly. I'm going to skimread it again and put my thoughts together.

I’ve just had a look, and I had no idea Monica Dickens had published so many books! I’ve read One Pair of Feet, and I’d heard of Mariana, and of course Follyfoot. But there’s lots more.

I read lots of the Monica Dickens as a teenager- love Mariana but also enjoyed The Listeners about The Samaritans.

I’d be happy with some Monica Dickens too. There are lots and they’re all quite different. Several are semi-autobiographical - yes, The Listeners is good, about the Samaritans, Kate and Emma is quite an unflinching look at social work. The Happy Prisoner is about a man who’s confined to bed for months. The Fancy is a wartime one inspired, I think, by her own experience and I really like that one. They’re all quite interesting but tbh I think her earlier ones are better - not sure how easy they all are to get hold of?
I know Persephone reprinted Mariana but it’s one of her less good ones, imho.

I only heard of Monica Dickens, so I'll be happy to go along with any one of them, so long as I find it!

I agree, I’d be more than happy to read one of hers. I loved One pair of feet when I read it. (I’m a nurse, and I recognised echoes of her training in mine, even 40 years later). Our local library has quite a few of her novels so I may get lucky with what we choose!

May I listen in? I’m really too old for Mumsnet these days but I read many that you’ve mentioned in my earlier years though this was in the days before I could afford books and my extravagance was ordering library books for a small amount. Loved Monica Dickens and struggled a bit with Eliz Bowen. My. Covid reading was British Library Crime Classics and I read a good deal on the Archive Internet for out of print stuff. Persephone books is a blessin especially their catalogue which I tick off.