Retro Reads discussion

Hey there.

We have Queen Lucia (No 1 in the series) & Mapp and Lucia (No 4) in the Book Pool. I was wondering if there would be any interest in doing Miss Mapp (No 2) as a group read. I am proposing the 20th of August as a start date as July is usually pretty quiet on Goodreads, but I can be flexible on that. :)

But an August start would give people a chance to read Queen Lucia first.

I would be happy with that, I might read Lucia in London (3) first because the order doesn't matter for these ones, unless you want to carry on with the series?

Tania wrote: "I would be happy with that, I might read Lucia in London (3) first because the order doesn't matter for these ones, unless you want to carry on with the series?"

I am hoping there is enough interest for us to read all of the books in the compedium + the short story. There is another short story, but from what I read it is more like a chapter from one of the books, so I wasn't going to look for that.

The Mapp & Lucia books by other authors are out of our time period. so not eligible for this group.

Lovely. I'll hold off then.

Tania wrote: "Lovely. I'll hold off then."

Thanks. I loved Queen Lucia & I know there are other Benson fans in this group. :)

Absolutely, put me down for any and all Lucia books! ;) and August is my birthday month, so perfect timing for me (any time is Lucia-time!)

👍😁

This will be so much fun!

Well, since I really want to do this 😁 I think three of us will be enough. & others may join in.

I'll add this to the group bookshelves.

Yay! Thanks, Carol!

Brilliant. So looking forward to this, it's nearly a decade since I read these books.

I may join for this, but can someone confirm the official reading order for me? I have Miss Mapp and Mapp and Lucia on my shelf, but may need to order Queen Lucia from the library.

Hi Carolien

Looking on Goodreads, Miss Mapp was published in 1922, Lucia in London in 1927. The series order on Goodreads has Miss Mapp first https://www.goodreads.com/series/5264.... It is noted that some collections have the reading order reversed & that this dates from 1977 - some 50 years after these books were written. We could also read the short story The Male Impersonator when we read Miss Mapp.

Tania thinks the reading order doesn't make much difference for these two - does anyone else have an opinion?

My Compedium has the following order;
Queen Lucia
Lucia in London
Miss Mapp
The Male Impersonator (short story often bundled with Miss Mapp)
Mapp & Lucia
The Worshipful Lucia
Trouble for Lucia

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hi Carolien

Looking on Goodreads, Miss Mapp was published in 1922, Lucia in London in 1927. The series order on Goodreads has Miss Mapp first https://www.goodreads.com/series/5264...-..."

This is what Fantastic Fiction has -

Series
Mapp and Lucia
1. Queen Lucia (1920)
2. Miss Mapp (1922)
3. Lucia in London (1927)
4. Mapp and Lucia (1931)
5. Lucia's Progress (1935)
aka The Worshipful Lucia
6. Trouble for Lucia (1939)
continued in the series: Mapp and Lucia [these are books written by various authors following on from Benson's]

Lesley wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hi Carolien

Looking on Goodreads, Miss Mapp was published in 1922, Lucia in London in 1927. The series order on Goodreads has Miss Mapp first https://www.goodreads.c..."

This is the order I’ve always followed, since Queen Lucia is the only one set in Riseholme, it’s the first, then Lucia and Georgie go to Tilling on holiday. Miss Mapp had visited Riseholme on holiday, took “Au reservoir” back to Tilling with her. When Lucia and Georgie visit to look at renting houses for the summer, Lucia encounters Mapp again, in answer to her advertising for a summer tenant for her prized house at the heart of Tilling- thus setting the state for the epic match of titans to follow!🤣

I think it helps to meet Lucia and Mapp first, each in her own book, then bring them together in book 4 - that’s why I wanted to add book 4 as a book pool entry this year! Next year, might make all the Lucia books my pool entries - a year of Lucia, frabjous joy!

But I’ve never been sure of the placement of Lucia in London, honestly. I’ve always thought it could be read at any spot in the order, I don’t remember much about it, honestly. I know at the beginning of Queen Lucia, it opens with her returning to Riseholme from a visit to London, so maybe it’s an early prequel?!

Thank you, I'll read Queen Lucia first then join for Miss Mapp. Very helpful to have a kind of summary of the series progress, Susan!

You’re very welcome! You can probably tell, I’m kind of a fan…;)

Yes, I'm interested in reading any or all of the Mapp and Lucia books.

Amanda wrote: "Yes, I'm interested in reading any or all of the Mapp and Lucia books."

Cool! The Miss Mapp read starts the 20th of August.

I’ll try to join. I’ve already read Queen Lucia and have been meaning to get back to the series.

Would there be any interest in reading Lucia in London in October? I would be looking at the 20th of October as the start date. :)

I’ve only read it once, it's always seemed oddly disconnected from the rest of the books, as it’s never referred to that I can recall. I have a used paperback and would be willing if anyone else is interested!

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve only read it once, it's always seemed oddly disconnected from the rest of the books, as it’s never referred to that I can recall. I have a used paperback and would be willing if anyone else is..."

Well, I definitely am! :)

I have just finished it, and it is very good.

Well, there isn't a lot of interest, but I am still keen to read it.

I'll make the starting date for the read the 15th of October. :)

I'll join in if I can. I do have a copy somewhere, and don't remember this one very well.

Tania wrote: "I'll join in if I can. I do have a copy somewhere, and don't remember this one very well."

Great! :)

Thanks for giving me the excuse. ☺

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Well, there isn't a lot of interest, but I am still keen to read it.

I'll make the starting date for the read the 15th of October. :)"

Thanks, Carol!

I know we discussed reading the final two Lucia books - but group search isn't working properly in any group on Goodreads & I can't find it! So frustrating!

If anyone can find it can you link to it here? Otherwise I would like to look at the 5th of March for The Worshipful Lucia

I looked a while back and couldn't find anything.
March works for me. 😊

Tania wrote: "I looked a while back and couldn't find anything.
March works for me. 😊"
👍

I will always find time for Lucia! March works for me.

Lucia's Progress aka The Worshipful Lucia is good for me.

Will we read the last book, Trouble for Lucia, in March also, or eke out our pleasures and read in a later month?

This might be the thread I am thinking of - but I'm sure there was also discussion of someone leading the Thirkell books.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'll lock The Worshipful Lucia in for the 5th of March though.

Lesley wrote: "Lucia's Progress aka The Worshipful Lucia is good for me.

Will we read the last book, Trouble for Lucia, in March also, or eke out our pleasures and read in..."

Later in the year. I'm going out shortly but we can work out a month when I get back.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "This might be the thread I am thinking of - but I'm sure there was also discussion of someone leading the Thirkell books.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'll lock..."

Yay!

I read the first two Mapp & Lucia books in 2023, am about to read 3&4. I read a bunch of them as I came across them years ago. My husband is reading them after I finish & thinks they are hilarious.

Your husband sounds like a man of taste and distinction!

I have started early, but loving this one all over again.

Tania wrote: "I have started early, but loving this one all over again."

I reread it early too, after a couple of disappointing starts that becam e DNFs, I needed a surefire enjoyable read - for me that’s a favorite mystery, a Thirkell, or Lucia!