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

[MotherofPearl]

Welcome to the Mumsnet 'Rather Dated' Book Group, where we read and discuss 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.

Previous posters 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 read one book a month. Our first book, that inspired the original thread, was The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively. We have been going for about 18 months now, and each new book gets its own discussion thread, started on the first of the month.

Our March 2024 book is Penelope Fitzgerald's The Bookshop. We will begin the discussion of this on 1 April.

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 hope Antarcticant, who started the last thread, won’t mind that I’ve started this new one.

My mistake, Daddy's Gone A-Hunting is 1958, not the 60s.

I’ve got Westwood by Stella Gibbons on my TBR pile so I would be pleased to vote for that. Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting does sound good too and I can get it from the library so also happy with that.

Also like the sound of The Greengage Summer and that’s also available through the library.

I can't find Daddy... anywhere.

I’m happy with anything really. Sounds like maybe we should go for The Greengage Summer or Westwood?

They both sound good! I would like to read both! And they are on Kindle.

I’d be very happy with either Westwood or The Greengage Summer - what does everyone else think?

Fuzzy, that’s what I was thinking about DGAH being another Persephone, it’s a shame as it’s really very good - she’s an excellent writer, and if it does cross your path I’d definitely recommend a read.

Thank you Terpsichore! Some of the Persephone books* *are on Kindle but not all, sadly.

We could do both? How about The Greenage Summer to read in March and discuss in April, and Westwood to read in April and discuss in May?

I think Greenage will be our second Rumer Godden in the RD book club? I think Black Narcissus was one of our earliest books?

I've read TGS and WW but would prefer to reread Westwood - it's a lot of fun in its own right and fascinating to compare and contrast with CCF.

I really want to try Mortimer at some point too - any other novels of hers you'd recommend @Terpsichore ?
Have the group read Mavis Gallant or Pamela Frankau? (Also on my TBR)

Black Narcissus was the second book we read I think, Mother. I always planned to read another one of hers.

I’d say The Pumpkin Eater as well for Penelope Mortimer - it’s similar but darker, more of a blacker-than-black comedy. Still very good. There are a couple of others that are more experimental; My Friend Says it’s Bulletproof is quite odd and set outside her usual very domestic circle. I like The Home too but I don’t think it’s as good as DGAH or TPE.

We could read a different Stella Gibbons….?

I haven’t read any Mavis Gallant or Pamela Frankau.

(Out of curiosity I just looked up My Friend Says It's Bulletproof on Goodreads to see what people thought and one review calls it 'a sad and quite dated story '. BINGO! 😂 it’s out of print though and I’m not actually suggesting we read it)

Catching up on here reminds me I keep meaning to read Sunday Lunch with the Brownings short stories by Penelope Mortimer, which I was given a while ago. I don't know why I'm less attracted to reading short stories. Nonsensical really.

I can recommend The Bachelor by Stella Gibbons.

Having a Quick Look at Amazon, would The Home by Penelope Mortimer be a good shout? I've not read it .

Thanks tobee. I'll have a look!

We still haven't decided on our next book although I bought The Greengage Summer because* *I liked the sound of it.

The Home is a good read; as I said upthread, though nowhere near as good as DGAH, I don’t think (but maybe that’s just me).

I’ve read the The Bachelor, it’s the one with the brother and sister taking in lodgers in wartime?

I understood The Greengage Summer would be the next read! Sorry if my earlier post added to the confusion - it's a lovely book, I just read it fairly recently. More similar to her children's books IMO, will be interesting to see what people who've only read her darker nunlit ones make of it. @FuzzyCaoraDhubh hope you enjoy!

@Terpsichore tyvm for the Mortimer details! Gibbons is quite uneven but Westwood is one of her most successful novels so a good choice - also her own favourite.
I know you reviewed a Laurie Colwin recently on 50B - would anyone fancy reading one of hers in future? I've enjoyed the few I've read but not sure how accessible they are - I remember my mum always bringing back a few copies from the US for friends here to pass around 😃

I have read a few pages of it @HenryTilneyBestBoy and like it so far:)

I’ve just downloaded The Greenage Summer onto my Kindle and am looking forward to getting started. I doubt I’ll finish it by the end of the month though.

Joining you for The Greengage Summer hi everyone! When do we discuss it?

I don't mind a later start date for this one. I'll start reading it at the weekend.

How about discussing it at the end of the first week of April?

I’ve got a copy somewhere. I’ve read it before but ages ago. I’ll dig it out.

Yes that sounds sensible.

Simply cannot help but rudely interject ; " The collected short stories of Noel Coward". Bliss.