Reading the 20th Century discussion

For our January 2025 group read we invite you to nominate a twentieth century classic (a classic book written in the twentieth century)


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

As I've recently been enjoying revisiting old favourites I am going to nominate an all time favourite that I have returned to a few times since first reading it in the mid 1990s




My nomination is....



American Tabloid (1995)

by

James Ellroy



More about American Tabloid....

We are behind, and below, the scenes of JFK's presidential election, the Bay of Pigs, the assassination—in the underworld that connects Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, D.C....

Where the CIA, the Mob, J. Edgar Hoover, Howard Hughes, Jimmy Hoffa, Cuban political exiles, and various loose cannons conspire in a covert anarchy...

Where the right drugs, the right amount of cash, the right murder, buys a moment of a man's loyalty...

Where three renegade law-enforcement officers—a former L.A. cop and two FBI agents—are shaping events with the virulence of their greed and hatred, riding full-blast shotgun into history....

James Ellroy's trademark nothing-spared rendering of reality, blistering language, and relentless narrative pace are here in electrifying abundance, put to work in a novel as shocking and daring as anything he's written: a secret history that zeroes in on a time still shrouded in secrets and blows it wide open.

Chosen by Time magazine as one of the ten best books of the year.

"Hard-bitten ... ingenious ... Ellroy segues into political intrigue without missing a beat." —The New York Times

"Vastly entertaining." —Los Angeles Times

"One hellishly exciting ride." —Detroit Free Press

"A supremely controlled work of art." —The New York Times Book Review

Ooh, Ellroy! Good choice.

I'm going for a different mood: Dubliners by James Joyce

This work of art reflects life in Ireland at the turn of the last century, and by rejecting euphemism, reveals to the Irish their unromantic realities. Each of the 15 stories offers glimpses into the lives of ordinary Dubliners, and collectively they paint a portrait of a nation.

Joyce's first major work, written when he was only twenty-five, brought his city to the world for the first time. His stories are rooted in the rich detail of Dublin life, portraying ordinary, often defeated lives with unflinching realism. He writes of social decline, sexual desire and exploitation, corruption and personal failure, yet creates a brilliantly compelling, unique vision of the world and of human experience.

I'd like to nominate Akenfield by Ronald Blythe as part of my interest in and exploration of the corners of recent English history and experience I know little about. It's supposed to be a classic, and I don't think it's been widely read in our group.

In this rich, rare book, which John Updike called "exquisite", forty-nine men and women, from a blacksmith and a bell ringer to the local vet and a gravedigger, speak to us directly, in honest and evocative monologues, of their works and days in the rural country of Suffolk. Composed in the late 1960's, Blythe's volume paints a vivid picture of a community in which the vast changes of the twentieth century are matched by deep continuities of history, tradition, and nature.

Tough competition for my choice! I've never read Ellroy, and Dubliners is next on my Joyce-reread pile.

Ben wrote: "I'd like to nominate Akenfield."

Haha, I had to read this for GCSE (it was a weird year!) - I still remember the excruciating bell ringing chapter! But ever since someone - I think Nigey - mentioned Blythe had a fling with Patricia Highsmith, I'd be ready to give him a chance.

Ellroy is turbo-charged fantastic.

Ben, on rural English history, I'd recommend Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy

Always meant to read Akenfield


I’ve struggled with Joyce but perhaps this early novel might be more accessible and compelling?

Dubliners is short stories, including the wondrous The Dead.

It's very different from Ulysses and is an ideal taster to Joyce, I'd say, without the overt experimentation that can be off-putting.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Dubliners is short stories, including the wondrous The Dead.

It's very different from Ulysses and is an ideal taster to Joyce, I'd say, without the overt experimentation that can be off-putting."

Yes, very readable, and The Dead is one of the best stories ever!

Roman Clodia wrote: "Ben, on rural English history, I'd recommend Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy

"

And available for 99p! Purchased.

I don't know if there is the group interest in Joseph Roth but I'll go ahead and nominate his The Radetzky March.

The Radetzky March, Joseph Roth's classic saga of the privileged von Trotta family, encompasses the entire social fabric of the Austro-Hungarian Empire just before World War I. The author's greatest achievement, The Radetzky March is an unparalleled portrait of a civilization in decline, and as such a universal story for our times.

Vesna wrote: "I don't know if there is the group interest in Joseph Roth but I'll go ahead and nominate his The Radetzky March.

The Radetzky March, Joseph Roth's classic saga of the..."

Maybe that would get me to finish it. I didn't know anything about Roth before stumbling across a Michael Hoffmann essay while on a hunt for some of the Stefan Zweig work that Wes Anderson used for The Grand Budapest Hotel, in which Hoffmann argues that Zweig is grossly over valued and Roth is not only a better writer, but also a more honest chronicler of what many people turn to Zweig for. I tried the Radetzky march in audio, but that did not go well. Some things don't work as well for me in audio as they do on the page.

G wrote: "I didn't know anything about Roth before stumbling across a Michael Hoffmann essay while on a hunt for some of the Stefan Zweig work that Wes Anderson used for The Grand Budapest Hotel, in which Hoffmann argues that Zweig is grossly over valued and Roth is not only a better writer, but also a more honest chronicler of what many people turn to Zweig for..."

G, there are two translations. One by Michael Hoffmann and the other by Joachim Neugroschel. I have Neugroschel. That's very surprising what Hoffmann said about Zweig! I was actually debating between Zweig and Roth for nomination. :-)

I read The Radetzky March a few years ago and thought it was a fascinating picture of a vanished world.

Vesna wrote: "G wrote: "I didn't know anything about Roth before stumbling across a Michael Hoffmann essay while on a hunt for some of the Stefan Zweig work that Wes Anderson used for The Grand Budapest Hotel, i..."

It looks like the audio I tried was the Neugroschel. I was surprised, because I remember Zweig having a prominent place in my undergraduate curriculum, but can recall no mention of Roth, despite my having taken at least 3 courses that I thought had covered the first 3/4 of the century fairly well.

Vesna wrote: "I don't know if there is the group interest in Joseph Roth but I'll go ahead and nominate his The Radetzky March."

I haven't read Roth so great nomination, Vesna.

I recently picked up And Other Stories’ reissue of Gerald Murname’s Inland. It doesn’t look like this group has read Murname lately. Are there Murname fans here?

Gerald *Murnane :) I’m on a mobile device that can’t edit.

I've never read him but I'd be interested

If you want to read the Murnane it's currently available for instant download via Edelweiss US, and David you mentioned you were going to be reading Sister Deborah and Lesser Ruins those are both currently available for instant download on Edelweiss too. If people in your group want to save a few bob, or can't source them easily.

I can recommend Akenfield , The Dubliners and Radetsky March . What a wonderful list . Have to say Akenfield is a fabulous piece of writing and prompted a cycle tour of Easter Anglia many years ago . The term psychogeography hadn't been coined back in the day but the landscape breathed it's people into my bones through that book .

Yes, some corkers already.


East Anglia seems to inspire psychogeographical work - thinking Sebald here too

Yes ...it's those huge churches standing like lost ships in the landscape ....and the tiny baptist chapels on the outskirts of each village for the rebellious working people

Beautifully put 👏🏼

Twentieth century classic nominations so far....


American Tabloid (1995) by James Ellroy (Nigeyb)
Dubliners by James Joyce (Roman Clodia)
Akenfield by Ronald Blythe (Ben)
The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth (Vesna)
Inland by Gerald Murname (???) (David)


Please confirm David whether you are nominating Inland by Gerald Murname, or another title by Gerald Murname, or....?

Anyone else nominating?

I'll put the poll up on Friday morning (UK time) - so about 48 hours left to nominate

Alwynne wrote: "If you want to read the Murnane it's currently available for instant download via Edelweiss US, and David you mentioned you were going to be reading Sister Deborah and [book:Lesser..."

Thanks, Alwynne. I always forget to check Edelweiss, but I'll look for those now. Both books have been on my list.

Nigeyb wrote: "Please confirm David whether you are nominating Inland by Gerald Murname, or another title by Gerald Murname, or....?"

It sounds like there may be interest so I will nominate Inland by Australian writer Gerald Murnane. This review from the Guardian might be helpful, either as enticement or to steer toward another nominee: https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

I couldn't recall but did we read The Hound of the Baskervilles? If not, I would nominate that? It is something like 99 cents on Kindle US.

Jan C wrote: "I couldn't recall but did we read The Hound of the Baskervilles? If not, I would nominate that? It is something like 99 cents on Kindle US."

I don't remember us doing any Sherlock Holmes so go for it!

David wrote: "I recently picked up And Other Stories’ reissue of Gerald Murname’s Inland. It doesn’t look like this group has read Murname lately. Are there Murname fans here?"

I haven't read Murnane either so would be interested.

Never done any Holmes

then that's my nomination!

Hurrah 🙌🏼

Twentieth century classic nominations....


American Tabloid (1995) by James Ellroy (Nigeyb)
Dubliners by James Joyce (Roman Clodia)
Akenfield by Ronald Blythe (Ben)
The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth (Vesna)
Inland by Gerald Murname (David)
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (Jan)
The Wreath by Sigrid Undset (G)


Poll going up tomorrow morning (UK time)


Last chance to nominate

I've been thnking of nominating The Wreath, the first volume of Kristin Lavransdatter. Given that there are already several nominations, is it better to hold off?

We don't have limiting rules here, G, so feel free to nominate your choice.

It's in G

Poll's up


VOTE VOTE VOTE....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...


Twentieth century classic nominations....

American Tabloid (1995) by James Ellroy (Nigeyb)
Dubliners by James Joyce (Roman Clodia)
Akenfield by Ronald Blythe (Ben)
The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth (Vesna)
Inland by Gerald Murname (David)
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (Jan)
The Wreath by Sigrid Undset (G)

Akenfield has taken an early lead


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Akenfield in front by two votes, with Dubliners, Radetzky, and Baskervilles in hot pursuit...


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Love the commentary Nigey, not sure what to root for, the only ones I haven't read are the Murnane and the Undset both of which sound tempting, been wondering about the Undset for quite a while. Although for Holmes would probably start with A Study in Scarlet so get the backstory of how Holmes and Watson met etc

I'd love to read your response to Undset, Alwynne - the first volume worked best for me but the sin-infused Catholic mindset was a struggle. My review is here, spoilers hidden:

www.goodreads.com/review/show/2078205651

I'd like to try Murnane at some point - and Holmes would be huge fun!

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'd love to read your response to Undset, Alwynne - the first volume worked best for me but the sin-infused Catholic mindset was a struggle. My review is here, spoilers hidden:

www.goodreads.com/..."

Sin-infused Catholicism definitely lacks appeal!

Alwynne wrote: "Sin-infused Catholicism definitely lacks appeal!"

It certainly took me by surprise as it wasn't at all what I expected.

At the time of posting....


Akenfield 5
Radetzky 3
Dubliners 2
Hounds 2
Wreath 1


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...



Twentieth century classic nominations....

American Tabloid (1995) by James Ellroy (Nigeyb)
Dubliners by James Joyce (Roman Clodia)
Akenfield by Ronald Blythe (Ben)
The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth (Vesna)
Inland by Gerald Murname (David)
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (Jan)
The Wreath by Sigrid Undset (G)

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle will be discussed on the Backlisted extra Locklisted episode, for any subscribers.

They recently discussed Round The Fire Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle for Halloween at Foyles and do an extra discussion at the end, which is released for members.

I know that Judy is a huge Arthur Conan Doyle fan. I have never really read much, but my husband loves the books and the Basil Rathbone films.

The books are fab


I read them a lot as a young un and have returned to them a few times over the years

Yes, I really like Sherlock Holmes, Susan, though I haven't read much of Conan Doyle's other work. I recently read a biography of him and it made me think I must try some of his non-Holmes fiction. But I voted for The Radetzky March as I bought it 2 years ago and haven't read it yet!

Me too, Judy. I have The Radetzky March but haven't got to it yet. I haven't read much Holmes either, to be fair.