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.