Hugh’s Comments (group member since May 08, 2017)

Hugh’s comments from the Forgotten Classics and Other Lesser Known Books (or No One Has Read this but Me!) group.

Carol, I have updated it for you. It is possible that you need moderator rights to feature it.

Carol wrote: "Do you have a favorite Elizabeth Taylor yet?"
I have only read three, and I am not committing myself to reading all of the others with the new group. I liked both of the others (Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont and A Wreath of Roses - the latter is just my favourite of the three.

Most of my recent reading has been books that are too new for this group's rules, the only exception is one I read for another group:
At Mrs Lippincote's by Elizabeth Taylor: My review

I am currently reading Fen by Daisy Johnson, which is also too new.

The last five newer books I read were

The Aviator by Evgeny Volodazkin: My review

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk: My review

Wrestliana by Toby Litt: My review

The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud: My review

Normal People by Sally Rooney: My review

Cordelia wrote: "I think that I was nominator of our Sept book. So my job to lead the discussion. So please, if someone could set up a thread, I would be much appreciative."

You should be able to do it yourself - if you click on the "Current Book of the Month" folder link, then click on "New topic" in the top right hand corner (this probably needs a browser in desktop view - I don't think you can do it in the mobile app, but I have not tried the latest version of that). If you are struggling I can do it.

Sandy wrote: "Carol wrote: "All,

I set up a poll for September only, because I could figure out how to do that. I did not include The Uninvited because we want to read it in October, the Month of Creepy Group B..."

There is an annoying feature of polls - if you create one and don't click the button to feature the poll on the group home page, it appears at the bottom of the list instead of the top. I have just edited the one Carol created and it is now at the top of the list.

I have to admit that I have not been giving this group much attention recently - I would be happy to assign moderator rights to anyone who wants to take a more active role, and I am quite tempted to assign them to the most frequent contributors regardless.

No rush Carissa - we can leave the discussion open and I would like to hear your thoughts.

I agree, the dialect is hard work, which makes the dialogue difficult to follow. My copy had a glossary of dialect words and phrases at the back (which I think was in the original book), but it could have been twice as long and still not contained everything I was unsure about (I suspect it was written with non-Aberdonian Scottish readers in mind). Sometimes reading a line aloud helps, but again this will only get you so far. I never felt that these issues were affecting my ability to follow the narrative.

Apologies for forgetting this yesterday, but July is upon us already so it must be time to start this discussion. I read the book a few weeks ago and enjoyed it a lot, though the dialogue is undoubtedly challenging due to the number of dialect words. These days, Nan Shepherd is best remembered for her wonderful and meditative book on the Cairngorms, The Living Mountain, but she was originally a novelist and this was the first of her three novels.

My review

I am not sure more than one per person is a good idea - it is hard enough to keep track of future reads as it is...

I will start by carrying forward the nomination from Erato for Beyond the Rocks by Elinor Glyn

Nominations are now open for our September selection. Usual rules apply (I have tidied this because I think that having two categories that may overlap is too confusing!)

Rules
1. One book per person and the nominator must lead the discussion
2. Must have 5,000 ratings or less
3. Nominated books must be 10 years or older (cut off 2008)

Note that since the group is now being "managed" on a more informal collective ad-hoc basis, this thread may extend beyond the September discussion if there is a reasonable degree of agreement.

I am going to close this thread and create a new one for September (and possibly beyond).

I do want to read this one, but my to-read list and commitments to other groups are out of control, so it won't be this month.

If you want to nominate it go to the nominations thread. Buddy reads are outside the normal nominations process...

over to you Cordelia

Sandy (CA) wrote: "Is it still planned for April? "

Yes, I think that was agreed and it is on the group bookshelf

I nominate another one I already have on the shelf. 104 ratings.
The Quarry Wood by Nan Shepherd. Shepherd is better known as a nature writer thanks to her classic The Living Mountain, but she also wrote three novels.

I have changed the title but I am not allowed to edit the introduction and can't replace it without deleting the rest of the comments...

Cordelia wrote: ""Restraint" is a quick read. It wont take you long to read."
I appreciate that - just wanted to explain why I can't give it top priority, and realistically I can't see myself reading it this month.

I try not to let the older ones stay there indefinitely, but some group reads get priority treatment and I like to alternate male and female authors...