2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

Group reads and discussions for Penelope Fitzgerald.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penelope...

I was just about to create this thread :) I have The Bookshop / The Gate of Angels / The Blue Flower from Everyman's Library and the Hermione Lee biography. Hoping to start soon with The Blue Flower.

Carrie wrote: "I was just about to create this thread :) I have The Bookshop / The Gate of Angels / The Blue Flower from Everyman's Library and the Hermione Lee biography. Hoping to start soon with ..."

Carrie -- will be interested in your reactions to The Blue Flower. Novalis turned out to be too obscure for my background the last time I tried it, despite the high positive critical reviews the book received.

Offshore is my favorite among those of hers I have read/attempted, but I also found The Bookshop hauntingly, if not overwhelmingly, memorable. (I would be hard pressed to retell its story, but still the name draws up feelings of a simple life -- lived well or wasted, depending on the values or spin one brings to one's reading.)

Hi, I have the Hermoine Lee biog too and am looking forward to reading it. I read The Bookshop years ago and did not think much of it, but I gather that I must have missed something, so I would like to now read the biog and one or two of Fitzgerald's books. I agree that Novalis seems a bit obscure (although I have read most of his book Chimeras (?).

Is anyone interested in April for the HL biog and/or a PF novel?

That works for me, Lesley -- definitely for the biography. What novel do you have in mind?

I'd be happy with "The Bookshop" (a re-read for me ) and/or "The Beginning of Spring". They are both short books.

I would also be interested in reading the biography in April (and maybe a novel, too).

I'd love to join. I have The Bookshop and the biography...April would work for me!

OK, should we plan to read The Bookshop in April, then? And anyone interested in reading the biography should check out the Hermione Lee thread for info on that.

I wish you were reading Offshore or one I don't know, like The Beginning of Spring. But I'll intend to at least peek in, even if I don't reread.

I'd like to read Offshore as well -- would August or October read work for that, Lily?

Kris wrote: "I'd like to read Offshore as well -- would August or October read work for that, Lily?"

Kris -- I basically had a full 2015 reading list before you all opened this group! With your 340+ Challenge, I know you can carry a prodigious reading schedule, far beyond what I even attempt (~50). Choose your time to read Offshore and let me know. If I possibly can, I'll review my copy and respond to your posts. But I most want to meet up on a discussion for Patricia Grace this year; Fitzgerald is secondary in my priorities. (Offshore isn't particularly long.)

I just started Offshore. Excellent stuff, can't wait to read more of her in the new year, perhaps with this group...

Okay, Kris, is there a chance you could slip Offshore in now and we could discuss it with Andrew? It is only 141 pp. It is the one that won the Booker (in 1979). I have my copy -- just retrieved it. (I apparently do not own The Bookshop .) Now is easier for me than committing to some time later in the year that I am still very unsure about.

(Oh, just opening the first pages and comparing the language with Fourth of July Creek is such a shock and reminder that sloppy grammar is not necessary to write about those who may use such! Yes, I'm currently reading FoJC and trying to decide whether to continue.)

It reads quite briskly, I'm nearly a third through it just from my morning commute... regardless of the pace, I'd love to compare notes with any of you. PF is someone who has always been on my list and (physical) shelves, and the rave reviews of Hermione Lee's bio have finally inspired me to dive in...

Can do! I can create the discussion thread in about an hour, unless one of you would like to do it.

Sorry -- that was closer to four hours! At any rate, here's the thread for Offshore: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hello Goodreaders, I'm not in this group, but came across this article about Penelope Fitzgerald that I thought I would share with you:

Michael Dirda reviews ‘Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life,’ by Hermione Lee

http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...

Cheers,
Reem

Yes, that was a good piece! I have Hermione Lee's book on my shelf and hope to get to it this year. Thanks again.

Andrew wrote: "Yes, that was a good piece! I have Hermione Lee's book on my shelf and hope to get to it this year. Thanks again."

Sure thing Andrew. :)

Interesting review, Reem. Thanks for the link.

ReemK10 (Paper Pills) wrote: "...

Michael Dirda reviews ‘Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life,’ by Herm..."

I didn't know Dirda was back writing book reviews at Washington Post! (Maybe he never completely left, but he hasn't been a regular as far as I know for a number of years. I used to follow his column. I've always liked his attitudes towards books and reading and I use his Classics for Pleasure if I ever get stuck for reading ideas.) Ron Charles is the name I have most often associated with W.P. reviews the past couple of years.

P.S. From the end of the review:
"Dirda reviews books for The Washington Post every Thursday."

Have I somehow just missed M.D. these several years since the call-ins were discontinued?

I have read and enjoyed The Blue Flower and The Beginning of Spring and would always enjoy to read more. I was especially interested in these novels because they linked to topics I have some knowledge in. Both impressed me in that regard... in addition to being beautifully written and engaging as human interest stories. I reviewed them both on GR in case you are interested.

Friederike wrote: "I have read and enjoyed The Blue Flower and The Beginning of Spring... I reviewed them both on GR in case you are interested...."

Friederike -- would you link your reviews or tell us how to find them? I just tried for The Blue Flower and was unsuccessful. Thx!

Friederike wrote: "I have read and enjoyed The Blue Flower and The Beginning of Spring and would always enjoy to read more. I was especially interested in these novels because they linked t..."

I'm seeing that you rated both books very highly, but did not write reviews, Friederike. I always enjoy your reviews about literature from all over the world. Maybe you reviewed Fitzgerald's books on another website.