📚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 )

Hi @gailforce1 I think we're all agreed on The Beautiful Visit for the month of January, so plenty of time (notwithstanding Christmas preparations 😉 ).

Also, click here people if you want to join the December chat about (spoilers alert) Margaret Drabble's first novel, A Summer Bird-Cage www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4690488-rather-dated-december-margaret-drabble-a-summer-bird-cage?reply=122175310

New here! Am I in time to join in for January with The Beautiful Visit? Recovering from Covid so I have some reading time and can get it on kindle. When do I need to read it by?

Hello Whatever! We usually discuss the book from the 25th of the month, so I think that will be from the 25th of January for The Beautiful Visit. I think that's right!

Thank you!

Hi @Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight and @IsFuzzyBeagMise , I think now that we have individual threads for each book, we've shifted to starting a new thread on the first of the month for simplicity. That way people can jot down their thoughts at any time (and beyond) in any given month.

We started the chat here, thanks to a conversation started by @ImJustMadAboutSaffron www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4596284-rather-dated?reply=119670989, where we kicked off with a discussion of Penelope Lively, The Road to Lichfield.

Currently we have these separate threads:

November: Anita Brookner, A Start in Life
December: Margaret Drabble: A Summer Bird-Cage

... and come 1st January I'll start a thread for Elizabeth Jane Howard, The Beautiful Visit. I hope that's ok with everyone. 🙂

@frustratedacademic perfect, thanks for explaining how it works. Off to download January’s book.

I have asked for The Beautiful Visit for Christmas so fingers crossed I get it!

That's reminded me: if you belong to a UK library, there's a lovely reading of the book by Juliet Stevenson available to download for free (you need to download the BorrowBox App first www.borrowbox.com/).

Hello 👋 I’ve just collected a copy of The Beautiful Visit from my local library. Looking forward to joining in next month 😁

Just received mine off EBay

None in the library but I have read it before a long time ago

Great! I've just finished listening to the audio version. I can't wait to see what people think (separate thread will go up on Sunday)

There aren’t many London libraries on there.

I'm skipping this month's book as I read The Beautiful Visit not too long ago. Don't worry though - I'm still reading Very Dated fiction in the form of Dorothy Whipple's The Priory, which I am enjoying very much.

Have we decided what we will read after TBV? I'm quite a slow reader and would be glad to make a start.

I’ve just got my mum into Dorothy Whipple, she’s really enjoying them.

Shall we choose a Dorothy Whipple for February?

I'd be delighted. I have Someone at a Distance on my shelf, waiting to be read, but I'm very open to other suggestions.

Have just looked at ‘At A Distance’ on Goodreads, and I like the sound of it.

I don’t know if I’ll read EJH this month. I’m working my way through Anita Brookner’s and Penelope Lively’s back catalogue.

I am reading A Beautiful Visit but only started yesterday so will join the discussion thread once I finish!

Lovely. 2 votes so far for Someone at a Distance. Any other suggestions? Or agreements with this choice?

It's summarised here on the Persephone Books site; they've published all her novels: persephonebooks.co.uk/products/someone-at-a-distance

I vote for Someone at a Distance too. Although I'm still on A Start in Life.....😆

I also think Someone at a Distance would be a good choice.

Great. I've ordered a copy from the library, having found I've lost the one I bought a few years ago .

I’ve never heard of Dorothy Whipple, so I am very excited by this. Have ordered from the library.

Here's my copy. I'm so looking forward to reading this. I thoroughly enjoyed The Priory (stayed up until 2am to finish it, which is unusual for me). I think Someone at a Distance was Dorothy Whipple's final novel.

Happy New Year! I've started a fresh thread for our January read, Elizabeth Jane Howard: The Beautiful Visit: www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4709789-rather-dated-bookclub-choice-for-january-elizabeth-jane-howard-the-beautiful-visit

Do come and join the chat whenever you're ready (spoilers are welcomed there, but not here, if you please).