Forgotten Classics and Other Lesser Known Books (or No One Has Read this but Me!) discussion

Please help me, nominators, by putting the date of publication, and maybe a bit about the book or why you're nominating it, in the mention. I see two titles that mean nothing to me, and no idea why I should investigate them further.

carissa wrote: "Nominations are now open for our April selection. Usual rules apply. As usual the nomination may be either a Forgotten Classic or a Lesser Known book.

Rules
1. One book per person and the nominato..."

Carissa, can you change this to May, please? I reviewed our last nomination thread and the home page. We are set with The Shooting Party for April, so I will delete that nomination and we can focus on a May choice.

I downloaded your nominated book last week, as it happens, and am excited to support it.

carissa wrote: "I nominate The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by Mary Sinclair"

That one looks really good Carissa

I have changed the title but I am not allowed to edit the introduction and can't replace it without deleting the rest of the comments...

Hugh wrote: "I have changed the title but I am not allowed to edit the introduction and can't replace it without deleting the rest of the comments..."

Thanks, Hugh!

I've been wanting to read the Chronicles of Carlingford.

"This witty and popular series, set in the delightful country town of Carlingford, was inspired by Anthony Trollope's Barsetshire series, and yet has a content and style all Margaret Oliphant's own."

The Doctor's Family by Margaret Oliphant (first published in 1861) is the first novel in the series and has only 76 reviews in Goodreads.

There are two short stories that come before it chronologically. This website has brief descriptions and links to free digital versions of, I believe, all the stories.

During the Victorian era Margaret Oliphant was a tremendously popular author, many of her works best sellers -- in fact, she was critically acclaimed and compared to Jane Austen, George Eliot, and Anthony Trollope.

Danada wrote: "I've been wanting to read the Chronicles of Carlingford.

"This witty and popular series, set in the delightful country town of Carlingford, was inspired by Anthony Trollope's Barsetshire series, a..."

Another intriguing one that's new to me.

:)

Sometimes, just when it seems like there are too many interesting books and waaaayyy too little time, all of a sudden you learn about 20 new ones that you have to read! D: ;-)

I nominate another one I already have on the shelf. 104 ratings.
The Quarry Wood by Nan Shepherd. Shepherd is better known as a nature writer thanks to her classic The Living Mountain, but she also wrote three novels.

Sandy (CA) wrote: "Isn’t that just the truth, though?"

hehehe it is!

Sandy (CA) wrote: "Thanks for the links ... I had no idea that she had written so much and was such a popular author in her own time. "

you're welcome! I didn't realize either -- gosh! 176 works (short fiction and novels) according to their count woah! 8-O

carissa wrote: "Carol wrote: "fix that, lady!"

whoops! done;)
Thanks Hugh.

Did I see the title in your feed Carol? It's at the top in my library listing for this group. That's how I chose it, but don't recall wh..."

Yes! A friend read it last week and loved it. It looked up my alley and was a female author with whom I'm not familiar; It's short and, bonus, it's free on Kindle.

I expect these members would enjoy both. I certainly would.

They all look so good. I would like like to read them all too.

carissa wrote: "Carol wrote: "Yes! A friend read it last week and loved it. "

Can you wait until May?"

Yes. Here is a link to Agnieszka's intriguing review, btw.

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

carissa wrote: "Carol wrote: "I wanna read all the noms...so. Can we just pick months for the ones already nominated? I vote for all 3."


Cordelia wrote: "They all look so good. I would like like to read them all too."

This sounds good to me too :)

I have no preference on months.

I can access H. Frean no problem.

Looks like I can get hold of an old copy of Quarry Wood any time. But the new release in July - but it will still have to be processed by the library.

I think there is a problem with Mrs Oliphant.s "Doctors Family". Library has others of her books. But not that one.

carissa wrote: "so?

May-The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by Mary Sinclair

June-The Quarry Wood by Nan Shepherd. (It's being re-released on June 5th by Canongate Books...so maybe this one in July??)

July-Th..."

I’m fine with this. Since I will have to buy Quarry and Doctor’s, I support your proposal to move Quarry to July so I can catch that new release.

When we’ve got this schedule set, I’ll set up a thread that lays out the months and books to make it easy for members to find and participate.

Sandy (CA) wrote: "The text of The Doctor’s Family is available online at the link mentioned by Danada a couple of days ago. — http://www.oliphantfiction.com/x0200_...
Unless you prefer ..."

Sandy, I don't see a Kindle option for Doctor's Family. If you have a link handy, would you mind sharing it?

The Doctor's Family

I would join in for this.

Yuno wrote: "I nominate The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."
That one looks really good too

Sandy (CA) wrote: "Carol wrote: "Sandy (CA) wrote: "The text of The Doctor’s Family is available online at the link mentioned by Danada a couple of days ago. — http://www.oliphantfiction.com/x0200_......"

No problem, Sandy. I had gone to Amazon and didn't see it, which was why I asked. Thanks!

i got the delphi :)
i have a bunch of their products.
not fancy, but nice, with linked contents.
generally a very good deal for what you get imo.

Yuno wrote: "I nominate The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

Heart be still. I have not read any Dazai novels and want to very much of his year.

Sandy (CA) wrote: "Carol wrote: "No problem, Sandy. I had gone to Amazon and didn't see it, which was why I asked.”

Did you find it, Carol? I was on Amazon.ca and it showed up on the second page but it was much more..."

Thank you! I had not found it. And free, too -- woohoo!

I have the life and death of Harriet frean on my tbr so I second that one.

This is really good. There are other people interested in reading books with us.

carissa wrote: "May-The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by Mary Sinclair

June-The Doctor's Family by Margaret Oliphant

July-The Quarry Wood by Nan Shepherd. (It's being re-released on June 5th by Canongate Bo..."

this works fine from my perspective. I'll post it in an obvious place and everyone has plenty of time to obtain the books. that's a win!

carissa wrote: "May-The Life and Death of Harriett Frean by Mary Sinclair

June-The Doctor's Family by Margaret Oliphant

July-The Quarry Wood by Nan Shepherd. (It's being re-released on June 5th by Canongate Bo..."

I dont think we need a poll. What's the point. We all want to read all the books and it means that we are set up for the next few months.

Sandy (CA) wrote: "Do you get the complete works or the parts edition? "

I usually try to get the complete works if I can. I've got 10 or 12 and only the Pushkin and Oliphant are partial works -- I think that is all that was available when I got them (or all I saw).

Wait, I see what you are talking about now.... I don't have any of the "Delphi Parts Editions" its just that the Oliphant and Pushkin aren't the complete works, just a selection of their works "collected works" instead of "complete works"... I never even noticed these "parts editions" I'm afraid.

I think the Delphi Parts look like individual books instead of collections. Just like other individual ebooks, but put out by Delphi? If so they would definitely be easier to navigate!

They also have the "Delphi Poetical Works" series which collects just the poetry of a particular author even if they wrote in multiple formats/styles/? I just recently noticed this.
ETA: I now find one that is the "Novels"... either they only write in one form or the collection is one form and they write in other forms too... not sure and it could possibly vary?

I usually just used the linked tables of contents to navigate. Navigation has always been more challenging for me on the ebook readers :sigh: I love carrying a library's worth of reading with me wherever I go, but miss the ease of paper navigation/bookmarks/note taking....

Sandy (CA) wrote: "The terminology is quite vague, isn't it? I must have another look at the website."

I've never gone to their website before.... just peeked and it is very interesting.

I think the parts version (as opposed to the single file) must take up more space on your device. All the front matter and end matter and the associated metadata/coding.... but I'm not sure if it would be a significant difference.

I did notice some fun freebies if you go to their website!
hahahehe! I love freebies :D

Erato wrote: "I suggest Beyond the Rocks by Elinor Glyn."

Erato, Thanks for introducing me to a new author! September will be the next month where our book selection is open and, if you're interested, we can add this to a poll when we get closer to the date. For the next several months, our group reading selections are set out in message 39. You can, of course, also set up a buddy read, if you and another member want to read it together before September.

I am going to close this thread and create a new one for September (and possibly beyond).