Retro Reads discussion

There were a few more of our beloved Retro Writers around than I thought.

I have put the Anne Golon & Richard Gordon threads in our shiny new Archive folder, but here are the links

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

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

I thought it would get a bit depressing if each author was listed separately. Feel free to make any comments here! :)

Science fiction writer Brian Aldiss died about a week ago;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_A...

Another one I've not heard of...

Sadly Ursula le Guin has died

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/ob...

I just read several of her quotes yesterday. She was a clever woman.

Philip Roth has died

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_...

Carol- Self-Doubt Sister?!?

Karlyne wrote: "Carol- Self-Doubt Sister?!?"

Ha! It was a joke with a friend. I'll probably change it back soon! :)

Ha! As long as it's a joke!
I remember reading Good bye, Columbus, but I have a vague impression of distaste about Portnoy's Complaint. I dont remember anything about either of them, though!

Karlyne wrote: "Ha! As long as it's a joke!
I remember reading Good bye, Columbus, but I have a vague impression of distaste about Portnoy's Complaint. I dont remember anything about either of them, though!"

I didn't finish either of them. Anyone who ever enjoyed Roth, post here!

...crickets chirping...

Pretty sure I had to read Portnoy's for a class on "Controversial Literature" in grad library school back in the early 70s. Have few memories beyond vague recall of not enjoying it. We also had to read The Godfather- hated that too. Have still not forgiven the death of that horse.

I didn't like The Godfather, either!

Karlyne wrote: "I didn't like The Godfather, either!"

I think I did but didn't like the films. (I saw two of them)

Couldn't understand a word Brando said - & I wasn't deaf then!

Carol ꧁꧂ Self-Doubt Sister wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "I didn't like The Godfather, either!"

I think I did but didn't like the films. (I saw two of them)

Couldn't understand a word Brando said - & I wasn't deaf then!"

Haha!

All of Roth's books were DNFs for me. I think I gave up on my second or third try. I pretty much loathe the whole semi-autobiographical, life is angst-pointless sex-more angst genre. I wonder if there were ever any redeeming qualities....the literati seem to think so. But life is too short and there are too many really great uplifting books to read.

And lol Carol, you are so right about Marlon Brando and the mumbles. I might give it another try now that closed captions are required for U.S. DVDs.

That's it, Hana - the books that are downers just don't get us anywhere!

Harlan Ellison has died;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_...

Some of the book covers on my Wiki link are pretty cool! :)

I had never heard of him, but he was pretty prolific, so I might have seen some of his early tv stuff!

I liked the Talese description of Sinatra not liking Ellison's boots. I mean, wow!

William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride & Marathon Man has died

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...

The Princess Bride is one of our favorites- so many great lines!

I loved The Shell Seekers. RIP Rosamunde Pilcher.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Herman Wouk has just died at 103.

His wife also lived to a ripe old age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_...

Oh noes! Judith Krantz has died. Her best known books, 'Scruples', 'Princess Daisy' were not exactly romances. However, they were vastly entertaining. RIP Judith.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Oh noes! Judith Krantz has died. Her best known books, 'Scruples', 'Princess Daisy' were not exactly romances. However, they were vastly entertaining. RIP Judith."

What!!! I loved Scruples! RIP. :(

Cphe wrote: "It was reported over here that Judith Kranz had passed away. I wasn't familiar with her work at all."

She was the grande dame of the 'sex and shopping' sub-genre of women's fiction in the late 1970s and through the '80s. She only published 10 novels, but they were all massive hits. Several of them were made into TV movies.

I'm positive I read at least one of hers "back in the day", but I don't remember a bit of it!

Literary giant Toni Morrison has died (she was first published in the 1970s)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

I have read bits and pieces of her, but not whole books. I really need to...

New Zealand author Ian Cross has just died, aged 93.

I suppose I should try The God Boy once again. We had to read it for school & I thought it was one of the worst books I'd ever read.

I might have a different perspective as an adult.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "New Zealand author Ian Cross has just died, aged 93.

I suppose I should try The God Boy once again. We had to read it for school & I thought it was one of the worst books I'd ever re..."

Sometimes, but rarely do I find that my initial perception was wrong. If it's a stinker, it's a stinker.

Wise words...

Karlyne wrote: "Sometimes, but rarely do I find that my initial perception was wrong. If it's a stinker, it's a stinker.."

Sometimes I think I was a bit young to understand some books we read. But I've never met anyone who liked The God Boy & I do remember it being described as the book that turned generations of young New Zealanders off reading.

My mother, who read and enjoyed a lot of the NZ literary authors, described The God Boy as tortuous to read. Like one of those people trying to tell you a story who have long pauses while they try to think of the right words to use, and generally just make it a lot more drawn out than need be.

Since he has died, TV might resurrect the made for TV movie. It was the first feature TV movie that NZ TV made as I recall. It starred Ian Mune. I think it was a bit better than reading the book but you didn't need to wait for the ad breaks to make that cuppa!

She just squeaks into our time period for her early romances.

Marion Chesney (aka M.C. Beaton) died at the end of last year.

A late bloomer as a writer - sounds like she had an interesting life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_...

Oh, no, I did not know that! I have read so many of her books, especially her Hamish MacBeth, but also some of her romances. Thanks for posting, Carol.

I didn't know. I've read a couple of her Agatha Raisin books. They're fun and have interesting titles, so she's great for GR challenges. Sounds like a good life.

I'm a bit late with this. Best selling author Mary Higgins Clark started writing in the 1970s. She died last month aged 92.

http://maryhigginsclark.com/

Clive Cussler has died (first published in the 1970s.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_C...

Raise the Titanic (and Dirk Pitt) -- terrific events for me in the '70s!

& Pulitzer prize winning author Alison Lurie has died.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_...

I keep meaning to read The Nowhere City—maybe I’ll do that to honor her memory after my move.

Spy novel great John le Carre has died.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

Last book published (which has positive reviews on here) in 2019.

Christmas Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Spy novel great John le Carre has died.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

Last book published (which has positive reviews on here) in 2019."

Thanks for the link - what a life he had!

Just saw in another group that historical fiction author Sharon Kay Penman has died.

Abigail wrote: "Just saw in another group that historical fiction author Sharon Kay Penman has died."

:( I have a couple of her books but I haven't read anything by her yet.

Edit; Penman's author page on Goodreads shows she wrote a blog post on the 26th of December.

Edit; rest of the discussion about Sharon Kay Penman is here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Two obits--both of which hit me hard:

First--beloved children's author Beverly Cleary, age 104 (!!). Creator of Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and others See:
https://tinyurl.com/kw427aaz
Second--Larry McMurtry, age 84, best known, I think, for Lonesome Dove. See:
https://tinyurl.com/mk86nv5p

Oh, me too. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, until I saw her obit today I had no idea that Beverly Cleary was still alive. She had a great impact.