Karen’s Comments (group member since Oct 24, 2020)

Karen’s comments from the Retro Reads group.

Kim wrote: "I just got a copy of Smouldering Fires by D.E. Stephenson, newish editions being put out by Furrowed Middlebrow, which I love as a name for a publishing imprint. It was first published in 1935 in t..."

I love what you said here Kim. "Just what I need from certain books, something that lets me sink in and does not challenge, stress or jangle" (what a great word).

I was wondering if this group has read anything by Dorothy Whipple. I have only read Someone at a Distance, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I went to Villanova University (outside of Philadelphia) for graduate school in Library Science. I not only had a priest for a professor, but there were several nuns in my class because they were librarians in their respective Catholic schools. Overall that graduate program taught me a lot besides the obvious library topics. I met Koreans, a Greek Orthodox, a couple of Ukrainian women, who were just so thankful to be in the U.S.

Elinor wrote: "I’ve never read anything at all by James Joyce. This would be a good place to start."

The Dubliners is a really good place to start with Joyce. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the stories in this collections.

Hana wrote: "The earliest gardeners in Japan were monks (of the Buddhist variety), recreating the dream of heaven on earth in the monastery grounds. I learned about them while reading The Garden of Evenin..."</i>

The [book:The Garden of Evening Mists is one of my all time favorite books.

I read Two Under the Indian Sun years ago, in fact that was my introduction to Rumer and Jon.

Thanks for the link Hana, I just downloaded one of their albums.

I didn't necessarily expect this book to be the page turner that it was. At the end I found myself wishing there was more to the story.

I am reading this for the first time. I have read other books by Godden multiple times. I am really enjoying it. I love how Godden fleshes out the characters, and what characters!

Thanks everyone!

Hi, my name is Karen, I recently found your group. I see you recently read Decision at Delphi, a book I read earlier this year and now In This House of Brede. I have read multiple books by MacInnes and Godden. Two Under the Indian Sun was the first book I read by Rumer Godden (and her sister Jon). North from Rome was the first book I read by MacInnes.