📚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 can’t remember if we agreed to read The Constant Nymph as our next book, or even whether to read it at all, but I’ve made a start on it. I’m currently on holiday and hoping to get through a few novels.

I loved Dombey & Son @Terpsichore- though it’s decades since I read it.

I’ve finished The New House now too.

hello and sorry to drop in but if you'd like to try a different margaret kennedy then Troy Chimneys and The Ladies of Lyndon are far more enjoyable than the Constant Nymph. Troy Chimneys has a really interesting layered style which shows generational thinking/victorian prudishness re their elders in a really interesting light. Constant Nymph is problematic and i think the story really hasn't aged well.

Thanks @FreeButtonBee I like the sound of both of these and they are on Kindle too.

Must dig out my copy of the Constant Nymph for a re-read. Its been a good while...I do wish I'd just bought the full set of dark green Viragos when I had the chance. Sigh.

When should we start discussing The New House, do you reckon? (or have I missed it? 😱)

I’m ready now!

I'm also ready although I should probably look over it again before our discussion. It's too long to read through a second time.

Shall I start the discussion thread Fuzzy, and you can join when you’re ready?

Yes please MotherofPearl. I just need to kick-start my memory!* *

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5386905-rather-dated-summer-lettice-coopers-the-new-house?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Gosh that link looks a bit odd. Anyway, I’ve started a thread in What we’re reading. Do join when you’re ready.

Thank you for this thread which I have only just found

Thanks MotherofPearl! The link has worked and I have posted some thoughts!

I hope you will join us @Rictasmorticia.

Yes I will. I have just ordered the New House from he library

Hi there I’ve just discovered this thread, could I suggest a couple of books that I absolutely loved?

Certainly, and thank you. We are always open to new suggestions.

I don’t think we’ve decided on our next book, after The New House?

I can see that the story is more than ‘rather dated’, but I did rather enjoy The Constant Nymph, which I finished a few days ago. It was the anti-Semitism which I found more jarring than anything else. However, I will take a look at some of the other Margaret Kennedy suggestions made by a pp.

Thank you. Both books are Australian the first is Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott (1963) Set in Sydney in the 1930s and based on Elliotts own childhood and being at the centre of a custody battle involving his working class aunt Lila and snobby aunt Vanessa, it was made into a very good film.
The second book is Come In Spinner by Dymphna Cusack and Florence James (1951) Set in a beauty salon in a Hotel in Sydney during one week in 1944 it centres on three women Debs, Guinea and Claire it has a amazingly rich cast of characters, this one really brings home the difficulties that women faced during WW2 its long but so well written that I read it very quickly.

Hello all! Does anyone have a suggestion for our next book? We could do another Margaret Kennedy perhaps? 'Troy Chimneys' and 'The Ladies of Lyndon' were mentioned upthread. Or something else!

Thanks @FuzzyCaoraDhubh! Can I lob in a vote for an Elizabeth Taylor, please?

Of course you can @Terpsichore

I’m very fond of The Soul of Kindness - just putting it out there. But I know we’ve already done one of hers, so maybe it’s time to try someone completely new?

I’ve just bought Dusty Answer by Rosamond Lehmann - published in 1927. Don’t know anything about her but the book description sounds good and it’s only 99p on kindle. No idea if it will be any good though!

Great suggestion, @ChessieFL