It’s too late for me to sort out the post I was *going* to write, so instead I’m going – as promised – to remind everyone that we’re halfway through October, and thus halfway to Manservant and Maidservant posting time! I must confess, this reminder is for me as well as you, as I haven’t started it yet… but I’m hoping Ivy Compton-Burnett is working her magic with some of you. I’m delighted that quite a few of you have got hold of a copy… let’s do the next thing and read it. I will start it properly this weekend, I think…
And, just to bulk out this post a bit, I thought you might be interested to see what my book group are reading over the next few months. We usually decide a couple in advance, but this time we really got excited, and have planned months and months… It’s a lovely, friendly, small book group – which, I’m delighted to say, Harriet of Harriet Devine’s Blog joined yesterday – and we just put down whichever books people suggest, a nice mixture of new and old.
November: Impassioned Clay – Stevie Davies
December: Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
January: Immortality – Milan Kundera
February: An Equal Music – Vikram Seth
March: Miss Mole – EH Young
April: A Long, Long Way – Sebastian Barry
May: Miss Ranskill Comes Home – Barbara Euphan Todd
June: The Debt to Pleasure – John Lanchester
As always, comments?
I have no idea about ICB, but your previous posts made me very curious. I went ahead and ordered Manservant and Maidservant (and one other ICB title just in case I like the first). It should arrive early next week, so I am glad that I am not the only one who hasn't started yet.
I think that you might enjoy "An Equal Music" by Vikram Seth. It is a book that I have returned to several times. I have not joined the Manservant and Maidservant read, I seem a bit behind with my own groups reading, and keep getting diverted. I await your comments with interest.
Oh no! I ordered the ICB a couple of weeks ago and your post just reminded me it hadn't arrived — and now I find that my Amazon order got sent to an address in France which I no longer use — entirely my fault for not picking this up, but I shall almost certainly not be getting that copy. What a pain.
Hmmm if I can find a bargain ICB then am in but so far sadly no luck which is a bit vexing as I so want to join in!
Lovely that Harriet has joined your book group am a fan of her blog!
I loved Immortality! But then I've never read a Kundera that I didn't. :) An Equal Music was okay but I didn't love it as much as Seth's A Suitable Boy. It's still very nice, though.
Claire, thanks for the recommendations, I'll look forward to them – lots of new authors to me, though I have read P&P (of course!) and the Barbara Euphan Todd.
Simon – beg, steal, or borrow a copy because I so want to hear your thoughts! I'm lending mine to Harriet when I'm finished, but you're welcome to join the end of the queue – otherwise I think one or two others in London might be joining in, and might lend to you…
On my TBR pile I have a book by Vikram Seth 'The Golden Gate' which is written in verse. I have also read a couple of books by Stevie Davies, but not the one you have; so looking forward to your comments on that one. I still haven't read anything by ICB; which book do you recommend I should start with?
Hi Jennifer –
If you can get your hands on a copy of Manservant and Maidservant, then a few of us are reading that this month – otherwise, I started with Mother and Son, and loved that one! Easily findable on Amazon, if I recall…
I wonder who suggested the Miss Ranskill, Simon?? I have read the Persephone (one of my favourites – but after Little Boy Lost) and I now own an original published under the name Barbara Bower.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/20565/two-very-different-islands.thtml
Barbara
It wasn't actually me, Barbara! There is another Persephone fan/addict in the group, and *she* suggested it.