I started the year resisting any sort of organisation to A Century of Books – I didn’t want to decide my books in advance, as that would remove the spontaneity which is the cornerstone of my love of reading. But, as 2012 creeps away, I have pencilled in the books I will read for the remaining 10 years – spending quite some time opening books on my bookshelf to look at the publication date, and being frustrated by how many of the books I want to read fall in the 1920-1950 category (quelle surprise!) But I have my list, and there are nine wonderful books waiting on it, all of which I’m excited to read… but only nine.
What on earth was published in 1909?
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I’ve consulted Wikipedia, and a very useful Chronology of Literature reference book that my Dad gave me, so it’s not quite true that I’ve found no books for 1909. I just haven’t found any books that I have – except Ann Veronica by H.G. Wells, which is on the maybe list (but quite long to fit in alongside all the rest, and one or two people have told me that it’s not great.)
So I don’t really want suggestions for books simply published in 1909 – I also want them to appear in My Library, which you can search here. So if any of you fancy doing some homework… let me know your ideas! You see, sometimes I delude myself into thinking that I’m Mildly Internet Famous, and that Blog Readers will run around being my minions… so if you want me to come back to reality, then ignore me ;)
It's not in your library but I'm going to suggest it anyway, because it really should be: The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter. It deserves bonus points for being so outstandingly short.
Or you could reread The Caravaners (which is in your library). It was my pick for 1909, though I still need to review it.
It's not in mine, but it might well be in my parents'! I will have a hunt when I'm at home. It would definitely save me some time! Although I loved The Caravaners, it feels a bit soon to re-read it.
Thanks, Claire!
have you looked at that list? http://www.goodreads.com/book/popular_by_date/1909
Oo, I hadn't… thanks! That has given me an idea or two…
There are some cracking books on that list – Ethan Frome is short (and I think you can get a cheap Wordsworth Classics edition) and of course the Sherlock Holmes stories are a great read!
I have read Ethan Frome, but not for many years – so perhaps I should track down a copy and give it a quick re-read. Thanks so much for the help!
I quite liked Ann Veronica – it was so long ago that I first read it that I decided I could count it for 1909, but I haven't got round to starting it yet. It is a bit frustrating picking up something you *really* want to read, only to discover that you've already read three books for that year…
Thanks for offering an alternative view – maybe I *should* read it so I can make up my mind where I fall.
And I know, that feeling hasn't hit me much until the end of the year, but now it is a little frustrating!
My own 1909 read was Elizabeth von Arnim's The Caravaners but Wikipedia's 1909 novels list also has some suggestions: a novel called "Mike" by P G Wodehouse and Andre Gide's "Straight is the gate" being just two that might attract you.
I see the Gide novel in secondhand shops so often, why have I never picked it up? Frustrating!
Anne of Avonlea, the sequel to Anne of Green Gables. (sorry, didn't check your list)
And I think Claire's got it with the Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies. Danger and suspense, and a heroine to the rescue. And instead of writing down to children, Miss Potter used the word 'soporific'.
I do own Anne of Avonlea, actually, but I've never read Anne of Green Gables… (shocking, I know!) I want to, but not sure I'll have time for both…
but it might well be Potter!
I was going to suggest The Caravaners too – a truly splendid novel. Could be an interesting comparison to the wit of Jerome K Jerome?
I love it very much! But… maybe too soon. I was hoping to get a von Arnim in this year, but I don't seem to have done.
The Secret Garden which you own was published in 1909. Sure you have already read it but worth reading again surely?