Between the Wars discussion

Would Pat Barkers Regeneration trilogy count. Brilliant books. Also Birdsong by Sebastian Foulkes.
Also Molly Keane

I enjoyed the Regeneration Trilogy and Birdsong as well, but they belong in WW1. I don't know Molly Keane.

I realised after I'd posted that Regeneration and Birdsong were WW1! Will look on my bookshelves and get back to you with Molly Keane books.

How about Evelyn Waughs' "Vile Bodies".It would be good for December
when people are busy as it's not too long?

Sounds good, DJ. I do already have a copy of A Handful of Dust on my to-read-soon shelf, so that is also a possibility.

Should we have a poll of the group members?

I love polls.

Any more suggestions for a December read then?

Count me in for a poll.

Count on me too.

OK! Anyone want to add more books before we have a poll?

no, thanks.

I love books of this era and would like to read more. I feel like I'm missing half the conversations here. Are there threads somewhere else that I'm missing related to group reads?

Are there just two books in the poll so far?

Apparently, Lee.

Okay thanks Susanna. I'll see if I can dig up something to add.

We could plan to do a monthly read if you wish. But yes, we only have 2 books in contention for December at this point.

Hi Gabriele,

I was just wondering if you all had talked about a monthly read elsewhere because when I read the thread from the top it seemed like I had missed part of the conversation. No worries, my brain is probably just fried from being up all night. :-)

I just read a great book set during this time period but it takes place in Brazil. Can I add it to the group shelves? Or are you just concentrating on British/North American reads?

If you're interested in the first world war, I'd suggest we read; Goodbye to All That, Testament of Youth or some war poetry by , or

Oops, forgot to say that I wouldn't mind a regular group read but I probably couldn't do every month because of other group commitments.

Lee wrote: "Oops, forgot to say that I wouldn't mind a regular group read but I probably couldn't do every month because of other group commitments. "

I think that applies to us all. I think we should just read along when we can. But I find that groups fade out if you don't have group reads. They seem to give the group a focus.

Would anyone mind if I just did the every two months books as I`m pretty busy with some projects and I`d rather commit to a particular aspect that I could keep up with.

Lee, this thread came out of the Victorians when DJ suggested we discuss Diary of a Provincial Lady since it's next on my own reading list. So I thought we'd start a thread here. By all means put any book on the shelves that deals with this era. And, yeah, I'm not sure I can manage a read every month, either. Maybe every 2 months?

Vikz, I loved the books you mentioned (they were among the many I used for the extensive research I did on my two WW1 novels), but we're concentrating on the time between the wars. Do you want to start a thread on the war? There is a Great War group that I belong to, but we haven't had any reads. Lots of books listed though - over 1000!

I would like to read one of the Persephone books by Dorothy Whipple. I'm not sure how easy it is to get a hold of some of them but I'm interested in reading either The Priory or They Were Sisters.

Gabriele wrote: "Lee, this thread came out of the Victorians when DJ suggested we discuss Diary of a Provincial Lady since it's next on my own reading list. So I thought we'd start a thread here. By all means put ..."

HI Gabriele,I`ll second the every two months...be good to have time to savour the books.

Gabriele wrote: "Lee, this thread came out of the Victorians when DJ suggested we discuss Diary of a Provincial Lady since it's next on my own reading list. So I thought we'd start a thread here. By all means put ..."

Ahhhh, I haven't been keeping up with Victorians for the last week or two. I read Diary of a Provincial Lady earlier this year and really enjoyed it.

I think every couple of months would be okay for a group read too.

Gabriele wrote: "Lee, this thread came out of the Victorians when DJ suggested we discuss Diary of a Provincial Lady since it's next on my own reading list. So I thought we'd start a thread here. By all means put ..."



I think that would be a good idea.

Lee wrote: "Gabriele wrote: "Lee, this thread came out of the Victorians when DJ suggested we discuss Diary of a Provincial Lady since it's next on my own reading list. So I thought we'd start a thread here. ..."

Oops, sorry,;) but I thought that since Regeneration, which deals with the first world war was mentioned.

Every 2 months works for us all, I think. Let's see how the first group read goes, and if we still want to do a short book for December or hold off until the new year.

I want to be upfront with everyone and say that I'm particularly interested in this period since I'm researching it for my next novel. So I'll soon be heavily into a wide spectrum of books about this era from literature to medicine, music to architecture, and every other aspect of society needed to recreate it accurately. And I appreciate hearing from you about the books that describe and evoke the 20s and 30s. Already there are lots more on my to-read pile! And I look forward to sharing the experience of some of these with you. : )

Can't keep up with the comments fast enough!

Vikz, we took Regeneration etc. out of contention.

Gabriele wrote: "Every 2 months works for us all, I think. Let's see how the first group read goes, and if we still want to do a short book for December or hold off until the new year.

I want to be upfront with ev..."

If I think of anything I`ll let you know.

Thanks, DJ. Seems that I already have quite a treasure trove to delve into here, and I know that so much more awaits!

Gabriele wrote: "Thanks, DJ. Seems that I already have quite a treasure trove to delve into here, and I know that so much more awaits!"

Hey,no problem...try and enjoy the research ok?
DJ`s Orders.

Yes, M'am! Actually I do love the research. Had over 170 books in my last bibliography, and 2 - TWO - trips to Europe!!! Gotta love it!

Now that is what I`d call a good career!!

Absolutely the best! And one of these days I actually expect to make a living from it. LOL!

Rich but Miserable verses Poor but Happy,
Ah the Dilema that we call life,
Oh well ours is not to reason why!

Gabriele, can you tell us where the book is set or where your research is focussed in case we come across something that might be useful?

It's mostly set in Canada, Lee - the lake district of Muskoka and the Toronto area most specifically. But I also have British, French, and American characters, so London (and environs like Marlow, Taplow, Farnborough), Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, maybe Hollywood, and certainly the Riviera will figure into the story to some degree. The first two books in the series took place during WW1 and were set in all four countries. Then again, I never know where my characters are going to take me! :)

I've read both of these but The Great Gatsby or I Capture the Castle (published, I believe, in 1945 but set in the thirties before the war?

The Great Gatsby if one my all-time favourites. I saw the movie, I Capture the Castle, but am looking forward to reading the book. So we'll add these to our next poll as well.

Now you've got me looking forward to next poll!!

I loved I Capture the Castle.

I love Molly Keane's books, e.g. Time after Time, Devoted Ladies, Full House - there are lots of them. I think she started her writing around mid-1920's - she died in the 1990's.

Also, I think a lot of Jean Rhys books are set in the twenties and early thirties?

Lauren wrote: "Also, I think a lot of Jean Rhys books are set in the twenties and early thirties?"

Yes they are.
Also can I suggest Fred and Edie by Jill Dawson. A fictionalised account of a real life murder in the mid-1920,s - I read this a few years back and absolutely loved it. Years ago I think the BBC did A Pin to see the Peepshow which was based on this murder.(I'm showing my age - this series really was years ago but it was very good)

I have got lots to suggest - is that okay?

The more suggestions the better in case we've forgotten some titles!

That's a good number to start with for our first poll. In fact, these could keep us going for a year!

The Cazalet novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard

Maggie wrote: "The Cazalet novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard"

I've read them! And still have them somewhere in my collection.

But, I think only the first one, The Light Years, would count as between the wars....

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day.

I watched the film last night - really enjoyed it.