Retro Reads discussion

Please suggest books and authors that this group might be interested in! We can also use this thread to plan buddy reads and take votes on proposed reads, if we're not using a poll.

I'll start off by saying that I think Miss Buncle's Book was wonderful and would make a great buddy read. D.E. Stevenson also wrote a book that was, in part, an homage to Mansfield Park: Celia's House, which I thought was quite good as well.

Well I just downloaded Amberwell onto my Kindle this morning so I vote for that.

I also have Moonspinner and Nine Coaches Waiting sitting on my shelf.

I'm not really familiar with any of these authors. But, I'll be watching to see what is selected for BR and possibly join. I love the older books.

Celias house looks good!

Miss Buncles Book looks cute too. Or whatever the name is. I can't gonna and look. On the app. I'm sure I spelled it wrong. I'm not familiar with either of these authors. Time to remedy that!

Amy wrote: "Well I just downloaded Amberwell onto my Kindle this morning so I vote for that.

I also have Moonspinner and Nine Coaches Waiting sitting on my shelf."

Hi there Amy. Nine Coaches Waiting is coming up very soon at the Mary Stewart group. Tadiana moderates that group. :)

I'll say my earlier ideas.

Elizabeth Goudge Green Dolphin Country (aka Green Dolphin St) and The Dean's Watch

Anya Seton Katherine

Frances Parkinson Keyes The Royal Box and Honor Bright but I own quite a few of her titles. I didn't like her best known book Dinner at Antoine's

I thought The Dean's Watch was wonderful, and I'd love to read any other Elizabeth Goudge books.

Amy, we'll leave Mary Stewart books to the dedicated group, as with any other author (like Georgette Heyer) who has a GR group dedicated to her (or him). Otherwise this Retro Reads group is wide open though, as I've put in the new group description, I think we're focusing mostly on early- to mid-20th century authors. But I view that as more of a guideline than a strict rule.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I thought The Dean's Watch was wonderful, and I'd love to read any other Elizabeth Goudge books.

Amy, we'll leave Mary Stewart books to the dedicated group, as with any other author (like Georgett..."

+1 & I would mention that I am a member of Reading the Detectives which specialise in Golden Age mysteries. (mostly British authors) I would prefer not to offer books here they are already covering.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Thanks for the clarification!

Alrighty then ... my rules following vote is for Amberwell by DE Stevenson.

Amberwell is only $3.99 for the Kindle version. I could be tempted into that.

Miss Buncle's Book is a delight (though the follow-ups were not quite as wonderful). Margaret Campbell Barnes might be another author to consider--she wrote some terrific historical fiction (My Lady of Cleves is my favorite.) I think Sourcebooks is re-releasing her work.

Oh, I loved Anya Seton! I have Katherine on my Nook--grabbed it when several of her ebooks were on special.

Since this group began life as an M.M. Kaye group, I'd also like to nominate her "Death in" books. Death in Kashmir, Death in Zanzibar, and Death in Kenya were particularly memorable for me. Death in Zanzibar also ties into Trade Winds, which would be fun for those who've read that one.

@Marissa My Lady of Cleves: A Novel of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves is being covered by the Tudor group next month, March.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Since this group began life as an M.M. Kaye group, I'd also like to nominate her "Death in" books. Death in Kashmir, Death in Zanzibar, and Death in Kenya w..."

Those are all on my to-read list!

I bought all of the mm Kaye "death in..." eBooks from kobo.

I haven't read them though. I was waiting for a buddy read in the FP group.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I bought all of the mm Kaye "death in..." eBooks from kobo.

I haven't read them though. I was waiting for a buddy read in the FP group."

We can still make that happen! ;)

Great Tadiana!

I'll look forward to reading mmk "death in.." titles.

So many good suggestions! I just thought of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith to add to the list.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Since this group began life as an M.M. Kaye group, I'd also like to nominate her "Death in" books. Death in Kashmir, Death in Zanzibar, and Death in Kenya w..."

I'd like to read those.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Since this group began life as an M.M. Kaye group, I'd also like to nominate her "Death in" books. Death in Kashmir, Death in Zanzibar, and Death in Kenya w..."

I own Death in Zanzibar I also own M M kaye's children's book The Ordinary Princess (but I don't anticipate getting to that one for quite a while)

Would Nancy Mitford fit in?
The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate are her most popular. (I love the cover on the 2nd one!)

Candace wrote: "Would Nancy Mitford fit in?
The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate are her most popular. (I love the cover on the 2nd one!)"

Definitely! I like that suggestion.

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Since this group began life as an M.M. Kaye group, I'd also like to nominate her "Death in" books. Death in Kashmir, Death in Zanzibar, and [b..."

My daughters both adored The Ordinary Princess, but they loaned it out and lost it forever a long time ago. Obviously, we need to find another copy!

Oh no, Karlyne! I hate it when that happens. I've lost a few loaned books over the years too, but now I'm also thinking guiltily of a few books on my shelves that I borrowed from friends and never returned before we went our separate ways in life. :/ Make sure you get another copy that has Kaye's original lovely illustrations!

Don't forget that MM Kaye also wrote a 3 vol memoir. I've read the first (The Sun in the Morning) which covers her childhood in India. I have the other two in my TBR. I would love doing those. I have 'Death in Zanzibar' still, as it ties in with 'Trade Wind', but no longer have copies of her other mysteries, but wouldn't mind an excuse to re-acquire them.

I gobbled up Baroness Orczy and Rafael Sabatini in my younger days and would love revisiting them. How about Thomas Costain?
Or Elizabeth Cadell?

@Karlyne my copy of The Ordinary Princess has such a beautiful cover.

@ Candace I love Nancy Mitford. I read The Blessing Lat year. If that's her weakest fiction book, her strongest must be awesome! I own a copy of Frederick the Great that I haven't read yet. If there is interest, the other moderators & I could discuss offering non fiction as well. :)

By the way, everyone, I thinking this looks like a group where we might have multiple mini buddy reads going on at the same time, as well as (or perhaps instead of) one official "group read" at a time. One of the GR groups I'm in has a thread called "What would you like to read with some friends?" where group members solicit others to join them in buddy reads of certain books, with no expectation that the entire group will join. Thoughts?

Barb in Maryland wrote:

I gobbled up Baroness Orczy and Rafael Sabatini in my younger days and would love revisiting them. How about Thomas Costain?
Or Elizabeth Cadell?

I always thought Baroness Orczy was nineteenth century -but she isn't! Early 20th! Someone else mention Thomas Costain. I remember reading him when young. I'll check out Elizabeth Cadell as well.

My daughter moves to Australia today. We are leaving in a couple of hours as she still has things she needs to sort out in Auckland. I'll be back on deck tomorrow. :)

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "By the way, everyone, I thinking this looks like a group where we might have multiple mini buddy reads going on at the same time, as well as (or perhaps instead of) one official "group read" at a t..."

I think that will be the way we go Tadiana. Some beloved writers are already fading into obscurity & if they aren't on kindle only a few of us may be able to get hold of them.

A lot of Elizabeth Cadell is now on Kindle (and some discounted on Audible if you buy the Kindle book first).

I found a nice paperback of The Ordinary Princess at a thrift shop yesterday; I'll have to check the illustrations.

Barb in Maryland wrote: I gobbled up Baroness Orczy and Rafael Sabatini in my younger days and would love revisiting them. How about Thomas Costain? Or Elizabeth Cadell?"

All of those!

When do we decide what book to read? I'm planning on suggesting an MM Kaye mystery for a buddy read if it doesn't get picked here. :)

I've opened a new thread for group members to propose mini buddy reads for books they're planning on reading: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Feel free to start using it!

I haven't talked with Carol yet about how and when to handle the bigger, official group reads, but we'll get around to that soonish. She's out today, and my weekend is going to be crazy (I have a son coming home from an LDS mission this Friday that I haven't seen for 2 years! party time around our house!!). But I'll try to check in here periodically to keep things moving along while we've got momentum building.

@Tadiana CONGRATS, Where did he serve??

Candace wrote: "@Tadiana CONGRATS, Where did he serve??"

Columbus Ohio area. He really enjoyed his time there. Gah! I'm so excited to see him again!

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Candace wrote: "@Tadiana CONGRATS, Where did he serve??"

Columbus Ohio area. He really enjoyed his time there. Gah! I'm so excited to see him again!"

Party Central indeed! Don't forget to make him some singin' hinnies!

Lol, he would give me a weird look if I tried those singin' hinnies on him. I think we'll stick with barbequed ribs and sour cream chicken enchiladas for now. ;)

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Lol, he would give me a weird look if I tried those singin' hinnies on him. I think we'll stick with barbequed ribs and sour cream chicken enchiladas for now. ;)"

And those sound pretty delightful! Have a fun weekend!

Oh that sounds delicious!! I bet he's just as excited to get home!!

Peggy wrote: "A lot of Elizabeth Cadell is now on Kindle (and some discounted on Audible if you buy the Kindle book first).

I found a nice paperback of The Ordinary Princess at a thrift shop yesterday; I'll ha..."

Peggy wrote: "A lot of Elizabeth Cadell is now on Kindle (and some discounted on Audible if you buy the Kindle book first).

I found a nice paperback of The Ordinary Princess at a thrift shop yesterday; I'll ha..."
I have not read this author. But, I have noticed some of your updates on my news feed and they look like books I would enjoy. :-)

I've never read anything by Elizabeth Cadell. Does anyone have any particular recommendations for where to start with her?

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I've never read anything by Elizabeth Cadell. Does anyone have any particular recommendations for where to start with her?"

My all time fave is 'I Love a Lass'. Originally published in the mid-1950s. I read it in the mid '60s. After that I read whatever my local library had on hand. She had a deft hand with adding a touch of suspense to a romance. I enjoyed all of her books. She often featured a mature heroine, which I came to appreciate as I got older.

Glad u asked, Tadiana. I'd be interested in trying out one of hers.

I'd like to read Zemindar by Valerie Fitzgerald

I loved The Lark Shall Sing (Wayne Family); the sequels not as much. But I'd definitely be interested in reading more Cadell.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I've never read anything by Elizabeth Cadell. Does anyone have any particular recommendations for where to start with her?"

Are we just doing women authors? If we can let in a few gentlemen authors I'll nominate To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfieldand if we get in the mood for some action adventure stories Hammond Innes is terrific--The Wreck Of The Mary Deare is probably his most famous.

Kathy wrote: "I'd like to read Zemindar by Valerie Fitzgerald"

I have a copy of this.

This book won a memorial Georgette Heyer award for historical fiction.

Another retro author to consider: Henry de Vere Stacpoole he's most famous for The Blue Lagoon but I liked The Beach of Dreams: A Romance more.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "By the way, everyone, I thinking this looks like a group where we might have multiple mini buddy reads going on at the same time, as well as (or perhaps instead of) one official "group read" at a t..." That might work, especially since there are several sub-genres that fit the retro-read category--romance, action/adventure, family saga.

PS that's so exciting about your son coming home! Have a wonderful weekend reunion! And thank you for the excellent choice of logo and look.

Hana wrote: "Are we just doing women authors? If we can let in a few gentlemen authors I'll nominate To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfieldand if we get in the mood for som..."

We are an equal opportunity group. :) BTW we're driving to the airport right now. I'm going to get incoherent soon!