Shirley Jackson and holiday reading – welcome to episode 59!
In the first half of this episode, we look at holiday reading – chiefly whether we prefer easy or difficult books when we go off on holiday, but we also look at other potential reading options. In the second half, we look at two novels by the wonderful Shirley Jackson – We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House.
The episode of Colin’s podcast isn’t live yet, but you can see The C to Z of Movies on Soundcloud.
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The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Beverley Nichols
E.F. Benson
By Auction by Denis Mackail
Greenery Street by Denis Mackail
Ian and Felicity by Denis Mackail
The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail
Chelbury Abbey by Denis Mackail
Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton
Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
Philip Larkin
Elizabeth Taylor
Dorothy Whipple
Virginia Woolf
Buttercups and Daisies by Compton Mackenzie
Illyrian Spring by Ann Bridge
A Favourite of the Gods by Sybille Bedford
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Stephen Leacock
Italo Calvino
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Tom Hanks
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson
The Sundial by Shirley Jackson
Daphne du Maurier
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin
Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson
Provincial Lady series by E.M. Delafield
The Bird’s Nest by Shirley Jackson
The Road Through the Wall by Shirley Jackson
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert Jenkins
Just read “Ian and Felicity” and am starting “Mr and Mrs Pennington” by Frances Brett Young hoping it will be similar.Both 1930s novels about newly weds.
Great podcast as always! But now I’m curious, what’s the name of the enormous book on the Brontes that Rachel was reading?
I have brought both kinds of books on holidays. In retrospect I think I’ve brought difficult books on vacation because I used to belong to a classics book group. I do remember reading An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser while on a beach in San Diego (I am not a fan of beaches but I didn’t much care for Dreiser either.) I also once read Germinal while on vacation in Florida, but again, it was for my upcoming book group. I think I just tend to bring whatever’s next on the pile, though I have tried to bring books related to my destination whenever possible.
I was also amused by your mention that Sebastian Stan was in a superhero movie! I’m sure I’d have no idea who he is if I didn’t have a teenager who loves Marvel (he plays Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s best friend). Of course I still don’t understand the rules of American football despite being married to a huge football fan, so there you are.
And I’m so pleased that you liked my suggestion for Patricia Brent vs. Miss Pettigrew! I’m chuffed!
Great PODCast, thank you, and, as ever, some titles & authors to watch out for.
As for holiday reads, I’ve recently started to hoard Christmas titles for December. The excellent British Crime Library is a good source, but there are one or two worth a re(-read) on my bookshelves.
If you’re ever Coventry way, you might enjoy a visit to The Astley Book Farm. Books, cafe, comfy chairs and a woodburner.
I just happened to be at a bookstore the day I listened to this episode. I have already read We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Haunting of Hill House, Raising Demons and Life Among the Savages. Still reveling from all the Shirley Jackson love and admiration, I went directly to the fiction section and found the only available Jackson title : Hangsaman. Yes, dear reader, I bought it.
I have noticed that I tend to be a re-reader on vacation. I think this is largely because vacations have so many new things for me to process that I need my books to be safe, comforting reads; I just have less physical and emotional energy for reading. However, my mom and I have established a yearly beach trip to our favorite Oregon coast town, and I’m hoping this will be a time to read all kinds of books, including the long and/or intellectually demanding reads. :)
I’m intrigued by the two Shirley Jackson books, but I’m really a scary-read wimp. Maybe someday…
I think personally it depends on what kind of holiday it is, and who you’re with. When I holiday with the Offspring I always had intentions to read something substantial and failed miserably, because I was just worn out with entertaining them all day! However, now when I go away anywhere I can read to my heart’s content – so I got through large amounts of War and Peace last year when off on my visits!