📚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.

The same to you, @FuzzyCaoraDhubh! glad you’re back reading again. And yes, it would be great to start up the Rather Dated club again in the New Year.

Happy Christmas one and all 🎅🎄🎁 🎉

Happy Christmas to all you ‘rather dated books’ lovers

Placemarking to try and join next year.

Happy Christmas all ( currently reading Anna of the Five Towns).

Have you read The Card by Arnold Bennett? If not I highly recommend. Anna is very good, hope you're enjoying it.

Thank you, Anna is my first Arnold Bennett, I will seek out The Card. Gave got a Hilary Mantell lined up next ( 8 months on Ghazza street) on the basis of another mumsnet thread.

I first read The Card when I was a teenager, it's really funny, different tone to Anna. There's a black and white film of it with Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns and a very young Petula Clark which is also lovely!

8 Months on Ghazza Street is also good.

I loved Eight Months on Ghazzah Street. It was the first time I'd read a non historical fiction book by Hilary Mantel. She was an incredible writer.
Not one I'd have considered if it hasn't been recommended on the Off Air with Jane and Fi podcast.

I read the whole Country Girls Trilogy by Edna O'Brien over Christmas. First time I'd read anything by her. Really enjoyed it and would like to read more by her if anybody has any recommendations? I really couldn't warm to the character of Baba though.

I loved Edna O Brien too, such a brave woman. I remember reading the Love Object. Quite sad. I seem to remember it was written from the POV of the mistress. A lot of her books re tread the terrain of women’s experiences, discrepancies in love and desire within relationships, disappointment. Towards the end of her life she wrote Girl, about the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Nigeria, have not read that yet.
Finished 8 months on Gazzah street which I really enjoyed. But was thinking of starting “beware spoilers” thread as I m not sure I understood the ending. Is it deliberately ambiguous? Is it all her imagination? I’m still not sure.

I think it's meant to be ambiguous. The feeling of claustrophobia and menace is so well done.

Yes I found it ambiguous, and you could interpret it any which way- motoring accident/ assassination, flat being used for an extra marital affair/ to sequester someone. Flat bring refurbished by landlord/ very dodgy goings on. I guess it’s the narrators state of mind, being in a country where everything is done to keep things opaque.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/sep/11/featuresreviews.guardianreview23

This was an interesting article by the late Hilary Mantel

Very interesting. Thank you for the article. I actually grew up in an Arab country so some of the themes are familiar, but it seems Saudi Arabia took ( takes?) it to a whole other level.

You're very welcome! I'm very sad she's gone, I love her writing.

Should we think about choosing our next book @MotherofPearl @StellaOlivetti @Terpsichore @ChessieFL (and everyone who would like to join in)?

All suggestions welcome. There was a recommendation for 'The Lark' by E. Nesbit on the 50 Bookers thread before Christmas that I thought could be an interesting read for our group.

I was thinking this too, @FuzzyCaoraDhubh! (I also mentioned this thread on the 50 Books thread, as there was some discussion of The L-Shaped Room, and I invited any interested new recruits to join us).

Very happy with The Lark as a suggestion, thank you ☺️

Thanks for reviving us @FuzzyCaoraDhubh

I too am very happy with The Lark as our next book.

Thanks Fuzzy. Also happy with The Lark as I also thought that sounded good. What’s the plan - to start discussions on 1st Feb or will people need more time than that?

Hello, everyone.
Happy new year. Thank you for resuming the thread! I love E Nesbit, so I’ll get cracking with The Lark as soon as I’ve finished the Jane Gardam I’m currently halfway through.

It's great to hear from everyone! I'm looking forward to getting started.
I suggest we start to discuss 'The Lark' from 1st of February. It's easier to keep track of ourselves if we start on the first of the month. People can chime in when they're ready.

Thanks, everyone!

Have got hold of The Lark, and joy of joys the intro is by Penelope Lively.

Looking forward to something lovely after dutifully ploughing through the Booker long list.

I finished The Lark last night. I really enjoyed it. I'll start a thread on the 1st of February.

I've put up a thread for 'The Lark' on What We're Reading.

Looking forward to our discussion. I really enjoyed this one.

Thanks Fuzzy

I’m just finishing it off so will be along later!

Joining you....in 100 pages