📚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.

I’m enjoying The Greenage Summer very much so far.

I’ve slightly lost track of what we’re reading after that? Is it Westwood? I think @HenryTilneyBestBoyalso suggested something by Mavis Galant? A Fairly Good Time appeals to me.

At some point I’d like to read another Margaret Kennedy. We read The Feast as one of our books in the RD group and it made a lasting impression on me. I really loved it and wonder if her other books are as good?

I sped through the Greengage Summer very quickly. I really got into it.

I don't mind what we choose next, so long as it's easily available ;)

Westwood next is my understanding too @MotherofPearl and yy to A Fairly Good Time

I wasn't yet here when you read The Feast but it's a favourite of mine. The Constant Nymph is probably her most famous/influential work but I hesitate to recommend it because it may cross the line even for RDers wrt antisemitism and central relationship (the 'nymph' is 14 iirc). If the group are up for a memoir/autobio, how about her Where Stands a Wingèd Sentry from 1941?

A memoir could be good for a change.
If you're happy to recommend it @HenryTilneyBestBoy that's good enough for me.

I need to read over The Greengage Summer again before we discuss it. I read it too fast.

Oh good, that gives me time to catch up. I’m just over halfway with The Greenage Summer. But don’t wait for me to start discussing it. We’re having work done on our house and it’s so disruptive, so I’m behind with everything.

No worries, Mother! I'll read over it again and start a thread. I'll aim for Tuesday* *night.

Good luck with the work in your house!
Hope it's all going well.

I’m still waiting for the library reservation of The Greengage Summer to come through so it will be a little while before I can join the discussions!

No worries Chessie. IIt's annoying when that happens! Talk soon!

I have finished reading this again. And I enjoyed it maybe even more second time round.
I will go start and start a thread now.

I’d better start reading it then 😂

The thread is up! Hurry up Terpsichore :)* *

Where do I find the thread?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5313146-rather-dated-april-rumor-goddens-the-greengage-summer

Hope this works! Sorry, I'm not used to posting links.

Thanks Fuzzy!

There’s an interesting piece on Dorothy Whipple in today’s Times!

Thanks @StellaOlivetti

Just downloaded the e-audiobook on Libby.

What ho, Rather Dated friends! Just wondering whether we ever decided what to read next?

Hello! Yes, Terpsichore! I was about* revive the thread. I think we decided on Westwood by Stella Gibbons. *

My phone has done funny things with the bold text!

Thanks, Fuzzy - I thought so too but we diverted into discussing other things and then it all went quiet! When are we reading it for?

Joining

I haven't started it yet, but I could be ready to discuss it at the start of June.
What does everyone else think?

That’s good for me, Fuzzy, thanks

I downloaded Westwood ages ago but haven’t started it yet. I’ll try to get it read by the start of June.

My excuse is that I’ve been reading East of Eden and it’s taken me weeks. Still have about 60 pages to go (of 600 pages of absolutely minute print!).

I’m happy to discuss Westwood at the start of June.