Reading the 20th Century discussion
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Group Reads -> May 2023 -> Nomination thread (Regret) -> Won by All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West
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To kick things off, some of the books that immediately popped into my head:
The Remains of the Day
Atonement
The Great Gatsby
We Need to Talk About Kevin
All Passion Spent
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That's a different kind of topic for this normally very upbeat group!I'm thinking of a novel I've had on my list for ages. Mrs. Bridge
It has been described as an American mid-century classic, but hard to say for certain until I read it.
The wife of a successful lawyer in 1930s Kansas City, India Bridge, tries to cope with her dissatisfaction with an easy, though empty, life.
Before Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique there was Mrs. Bridge, an inspired novel set in the years around World War II that testified to the sapping ennui of an unexamined suburban life. India Bridge, the title character, has three children and a meticulous workaholic husband. She defends her dainty, untouched guest towels from son Douglas, who has the gall to dry his hands on one, and earnestly attempts to control her daughters with pronouncements such as "Now see here, young lady ... in the morning one doesn't wear earrings that dangle." Though her life is increasingly filled with leisure and plenty, she can't shuffle off vague feelings of dissatisfaction, confusion, and futility. Evan S. Connell, who also wrote the twinned novel Mr. Bridge, builds a world with tiny brushstrokes and short, telling vignettes.
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Nominations so far...
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)
Here are more that come to mind--no nomination yet though.Giovanni's Room
The Spectator Bird
Fences
Death of a Salesman
Great topic and ideas so far. The Legends of Khasak comes to mind. That could be excellent as a group read if there's interest.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Is it that time of the month again?! Great topic, Nigeyb, and lots of scope to think about as a theme.To kick things off, some of the books that immediately popped into my head:.."
All Passion Spent is one of my all-time favourites; I loved The Remains of the Day too. Lots here I'd like to read/re-read if they get nominated.
I’ve just ordered The Legends of Khasak, David. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Remains of the Day is one of my favorite novels. Do not watch the film if you love the book. It completely changed and ruined the relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton. Kazuo Ishiguro said he hated the film for that reason.
Mrs Bridge sounds very good. It shouldn’t be remarkable, but I’m going to remark anyway that I love that it was Ben who nominated Mrs Bridge considering the percentage of men willing to read any novel written by a woman, much less one about the domestic sphere.
Since there might be interest, I'll go ahead and nominate The Legends of Khasak.It's been ages since I've seen the film adaptation of Remains of the Day. I don't usually watch film adaptations unless I think I might like the film more than the book.
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Wendy, sorry to disappoint but Mrs Bridge was written by a man! But maybe that's a double celebration of Evan Connell and our Ben :)
As usual the film is nowhere near as good as the book. The Passion Spent sounds interesting as well. So many good suggestions already.
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Nominations so far...
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)
The Legends of Khasak by O.V. Vijayan (David)
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West (RC)
Saville (1976) by David Storey
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In 1860, as a young girl of 17, Lady Slane nurtures a secret, burning ambition—to become an artist. She becomes, instead, the wife of a great statesman and the mother of six children. Seventy years later, released by widowhood, and to the dismay of her pompous children, she abandons the family home for a tiny house in Hampstead. Here she recollects the dreams of youth, and revels in her newfound freedom with her odd assortment of companions: Genoux, her French maid; Mr. Bucktrout, her house agent; and a coffin maker who pictures people dead in order to reveal their true characters. And then there's Mr. FitzGeorge, an eccentric millionaire who met and loved her in India when she was young and very lovely. It is here in this world of her own that she finds a passion that comes only with the freedom to choose, and it is this, her greatest gift, that she passes on to the only one who can understand its value.
First published in 1931, Vita Sackville-West's masterpiece is the fictional companion to her great friend Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own.
It seems a positive take on regret which seems heartening!
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Saville (1976)
by
David Storey
It won the 1976 Booker Prize
Storey's own grammar school education made him an outsider with both his family and his peers and was the source of considerable regret
WINNER OF THE 1976 BOOKER PRIZE
'If you are looking for an intellectual and artistic honesty, a patient thoughtfulness and detailed insight into other lives...this novel will delight and move you' Guardian
In spite of his brilliance, Colin Saville doesn't fit in easily at the grammar school in town - 1940s middle-class society is so different from the mining village of his childhood. He makes tentative friendships and meets girls over long, empty summers but feels like an outsider with them and, increasingly, at home.
Following the pattern of David Storey’s own early years, Saville is a remarkably honest portrait of the tensions between parents and children, the difficulties of making one’s own way in life, and the social divisions that persist still.
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Nominations so far...
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)
The Legends of Khasak by O.V. Vijayan (David)
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West (RC)
Saville (1976) by David Storey (Nigeyb)
Great list. I'd like to read all of them.
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Yes, four great selections so far
I forgot to mention Saville is £3.99 for a kindle editon with c£3 second hand copies of the physical book readily available on eBay.
$7.99 for a kindle edition in the US with the cheapest second hand copies on eBay for around $6
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Mrs Bridge is currently £1.99 on kindle
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Or thinking about it?
Kathleen?
I've read and loved All Passion Spent, but am very interested in the other three, so I'll pass. Thanks!
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That leaves c36 hours for any last nominations
I have All Passion Spent. I think I've been having trouble getting into it.Previously read Remains of the Day and Spectator Bird. I don't think I still have either one of them.
I won't nominate.
I'm not nominating but fascinating selection although surprised nobody's mentioned The Go-Between that seems to me a quintessential narrative of regret.
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Mrs Bridge being written by a man is not disappointing! It’s refreshing that a male author felt that the life of the housewife was worth examining and that Ben and the other men in this and my other group thought it was worth reading.
Rose Macaulay's book to be discussed soon now in March also definitely deals with regret!
WndyJW wrote: "Mrs Bridge being written by a man is not disappointing! It’s refreshing that a male author felt that the life of the housewife was worth examining and that Ben and the other men in this and my othe..."My father recommended Mrs. Bridge to me over 40 years ago, so it's time I finally get around to it.
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"I'm not nominating but fascinating selection although surprised nobody's mentioned The Go-Between that seems to me a quintessential narrative of regret."
Of course. One of my all time favourite novels. A stunner.
You've also reminded me of my favourite book of all time ever ever ever which is saturated in regret and just gorgeous in every way...
A Month in the Country
by
J.L. Carr
A damaged survivor of the First World War, Tom Birkin finds refuge in the quiet village church of Oxgodby where he is to spend the summer uncovering a huge medieval wall-painting. Immersed in the peace and beauty of the countryside and the unchanging rhythms of village life he experiences a sense of renewal and belief in the future. Now an old man, Birkin looks back on the idyllic summer of 1920, remembering a vanished place of blissful calm, untouched by change, a precious moment he has carried with him through the disappointments of the years
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Click here to vote/view the poll...
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
Nominations...
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell (Ben)
The Legends of Khasak by O.V. Vijayan (David)
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West (RC)
Saville (1976) by David Storey (Nigeyb)
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Pollwatch...
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West - 6 votes, 50.0%
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell - 3 votes, 25.0%
The Legends of Khasak by O.V. Vijayan - 2 votes, 16.7%
Saville (1976) by David Storey - 1 vote, 8.3%
I read All Passion Spent in the mid 1990s and was really impressed. Plenty to discuss
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All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West
Thanks to you all
It's a fab book which will appeal to most of you I feel sure
I'm looking forward to it.I will be reading Mrs. Bridge too this year and would be interested in a Buddy Read of that book and any of the others in this month's excellent list.
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Ben, I could be tempted by Mrs Bridge but have already committed to so many buddies that I'm reluctant to say yes. Hopefully, others might be keen and then I can join at the time.
Oh yes! I’ve been swamped with work so didn’t get a chance to vote, but would love to read this！
Reading the 20th Century
Books mentioned in this topic
All Passion Spent (other topics)The Go-Between (other topics)
A Month in the Country (other topics)
The Go-Between (other topics)
All Passion Spent (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
J.L. Carr (other topics)David Storey (other topics)
Vita Sackville-West (other topics)
Our May 2023 theme is...
Regret
Please nominate a 20th century book (either written in the 20th century or set in it) that is centred around regret, and that you would like to read and discuss. It could be fiction or non-fiction
Feel free to interpret the theme however you choose
Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.
Happy nominating