Reading the 20th Century discussion

We are pleased to announce a Reading Challenge for 2021 called...


Twentieth Century Women


This challenge is instead of the monthly moderators choice titles.

Each month we have chosen a book from or about a decade of the 20th century that we invite you to read and discuss with others in the group.

All the books are written by female authors and are often concerned with women's lives, options and emotions, and not just written by them.

As there are 10 decades, which means 10 months, we have added a special Halloween and Xmas selection so we have one book for every month of 2021.

Here are the list of titles we will be reading and discussing:

Jan 2021 - 1900-1909: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Feb 2021 - 1910-1919: Mrs. Woolf and the Servants: An Intimate History of Domestic Life in Bloomsbury by Alison Light

Mar 2021 - 1920-1929: The Artificial Silk Girl by Irmgard Keun

Apr 2021 - 1930 -1939: Travellers in the Third Reich: The Rise of Fascism Through the Eyes of Everyday People by Julia Boyd

May 2021 - 1940-1949: The Siege by Helen Dunmore

Jun 2021 - 1950-1959: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Jul 2021 - 1960-1969: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Aug 2021 - 1970-1979: Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor

Sep - 1980-1989: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Oct 2021 - Halloween: Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel

Nov 2021 - 1990-1999: Visitors by Anita Brookner

Dec 2021 - Christmas: High Rising by Angela Thirkell

As you can see it is an eclectic set of choices, and a mix of fiction and non-fiction.

Perhaps you are inspired to read them all? Go on, you know you want to.

We hope you are as excited as we are about this new challenge and you will join us for some, or perhaps all, of the books in our 2021 challenge

Great list but that's possibly because I've read all but two and really liked them. Although would quite happily reread them.

I'm glad you approve Alwynne


I hope you remember them well enough to discuss, even if you don't get round to a re-read.

The ones I haven't read are the Boyd, which I'd be like to try, and the Brookner although less sure. I've been thinking about re-reading Plath after following a discussion on it - possibly in this group - and I would happily reread Wharton, Light, Thirkell etc...

Hurrah! Looking forward to it.

Looking forward to it too! Roll on 2021.

Me too!

Ive read two, one of which I still have and I have 2 others. One I have started. I never thought I would like Heartburn and not sure if I do, but I do like Nora Efron. I can always read Mockingbird again.

Good to have you with us, Jan, even if you dip in and out.

I have read one, but do have two or three of the others.

The discussion threads for our Reading Challenge for 2021 are all up now and will open on or around the 1st of each month throughout 2021

Like you need reminding, our reading challenge theme is...

* Twentieth Century Women *

This challenge replaces the monthly moderators choice titles.

Each month we have chosen a book from or about a decade of the 20th century that we invite you to read and discuss with others in the group.

All the books are written by female authors and are often concerned with women's lives, options and emotions, and not just written by them.

As there are 10 decades, which means 10 months, we have added a special Halloween and Xmas selection so we have one book for every month of 2021.

Here are the list of titles we will be reading and discussing:

Jan 2021 - 1900-1909: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Feb 2021 - 1910-1919: Mrs. Woolf and the Servants: An Intimate History of Domestic Life in Bloomsbury by Alison Light

Mar 2021 - 1920-1929: The Artificial Silk Girl by Irmgard Keun

Apr 2021 - 1930 -1939: Travellers in the Third Reich: The Rise of Fascism Through the Eyes of Everyday People by Julia Boyd

May 2021 - 1940-1949: The Siege by Helen Dunmore

Jun 2021 - 1950-1959: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Jul 2021 - 1960-1969: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Aug 2021 - 1970-1979: Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor

Sep - 1980-1989: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Oct 2021 - Halloween: Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel

Nov 2021 - 1990-1999: Visitors by Anita Brookner

Dec 2021 - Christmas: High Rising by Angela Thirkell

As you can see it is an eclectic set of choices, and a mix of fiction and non-fiction.

Perhaps you are inspired to read them all? Go on, you know you want to.

We hope you are as excited as we are about this new challenge and you will join us for some, or perhaps all, of the books in our 2021 challenge

See you in January 2021 for the first discussion

Thanks so much for setting up all the threads, Nigeyb - super-efficient, as always! They do look inspiring...

Yes, thanks for all that work, Nigeyb. I have now read my first - but certainly not my last - Edith Wharton novel.

Yes, she's great, Susan, isn't she? - I've just started listening to House of Mirth on audio. Even though I've read it twice before, there are new things I'm noticing from the audiobook.

You'll have to go on to The Age of Innocence and The Custom of the Country, both fabulous.