Reading the 20th Century discussion

Our August 2021 theme will be Schooldays


Please choose a book about schooldays written or set in the 20th Century that you would like to read and discuss. Schooldays can include books set in or about universities and colleges.

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.

Here's some links I found....

https://inktank.fi/best-years-life-5-...

https://www.betterreading.com.au/book...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/only-in-b...

https://earlybirdbooks.com/novels-tha...

Ha, brilliant photo! I was always at the front as one of the smallest in my class :(

So many fab suggestions on the other thread, I'm still thinking...

Having completely missed the vote last month (!) I will nominate:

Gentlemen & Players

At St Oswald's, a long-established boys' grammar school in the north of England, a new year has just begun. For the staff and boys of the school, a wind of unwelcome change is blowing. Suits, paperwork and Information Technology rule the world; and Roy Straitley, the eccentric veteran Latin master, is finally - reluctantly - contemplating retirement.

But beneath the little rivalries, petty disputes and everyday crises of the school, a darker undercurrent stirs. And a bitter grudge, hidden and carefully nurtured for thirteen years, is about to erupt.

I will nominate

School is 'wet and weedy', according to Nigel Molesworth, the 'goriller of 3B', 'curse of St Custard's' and superb chronicler of fifties English life. Nothing escapes his disaffected eye and he has little time for such things as botany walks and cissy poetry with an assortment of swots, snekes and oiks. Instead he is very good at missing lessons, charming masters and putting down little brothers, in fact he is exceptional at most things except spelling. Wildly funny and full of sharp observations on life, the 'Molesworth tetralogy' is magnificently complemented by the illustrations of Ronald Searle

I recently reread one of those Molesworth books Rosina and loved it - keen to read more

Thanks for two great nominations. Looking forward to seeing what else people choose to nominate


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

SUSAN: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
ROSINA: The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans

I'll nominate Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld:

"A stunning novel in the great tradition of American coming-of-age novels from Catcher in the Rye to The Secret History.

Lee Fiora is a shy fourteen-year-old when she leaves small-town Indiana for a scholarship at Ault, an exclusive boarding school in Massachusetts. Her head is filled with images from the school brochure of handsome boys in sweaters leaning against old brick buildings, girls running with lacrosse sticks across pristine athletics fields, everyone singing hymns in chapel. But as she soon learns, Ault is a minefield of unstated rules and incomprehensible social rituals, and Lee must work hard to find - and maintain - her place in the pecking order."

OK, since it attracted some interest on the other thread, I will nominate Abigail by Magda Szabó. I prefer the British version of the blurb to the NYRB one, though if there is any kind of trilogy, it is thematic rather than anything that requires knowledge of the other books and their characters:

"A teenage girl's difficult journey towards adulthood in a time of war.

Of all her novels, Magda Szabo's Abigail is the most widely read in her native Hungary. Now, fifty years after it was written, it appears for the first time in English, joining Katalin Street and The Door in a loose trilogy about the impact of war on those who have to live with the consequences.

It is late 1943 and Hitler, exasperated by the slowness of his Hungarian ally to act on the "Jewish question" and alarmed by the weakness on his southern flank, is preparing to occupy the country. Foreseeing this, and concerned for his daughter's safety, a Budapest father decides to send her to a boarding school away from the capital.

A lively, sophisticated, somewhat spoiled teenager, she is not impressed by the reasons she is given, and when the school turns out to be a fiercely Puritanical one in a provincial city a long way from home, she rebels outright. Her superior attitude offends her new classmates and things quickly turn sour.

It is the start of a long and bitter learning curve that will open her eyes to her arrogant blindness to other people's true motives and feelings. Exposed for the first time to the realities of life for those less privileged than herself, and increasingly confronted by evidence of the more sinister purposes of the war, she learns lessons about the nature of loyalty, courage, sacrifice and love."

If part of a loose trilogy, where would this stand in reading order, Hugh? Just out of interest.

Two more wonderful nominations.


Re: Abigail, I had a quick look and could see no references to a trilogy in the reviews and note that Hugh states "if there is any kind of trilogy...."

Having read about all four nominations so far, I am not going to nominate this time out (despite being quite keen to suggest The History Man)

There's too many tempting titles already.

Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

SUSAN: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
ROSINA: The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans
ROMAN CLODIA: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
HUGH: Abigail by Magda Szabó

Susan wrote: "If part of a loose trilogy, where would this stand in reading order, Hugh? Just out of interest."
In my view it is not a trilogy - there is no continuity and no common characters, and the only links are thematic. I really don't think the order matters.

I thought I'd read Gentlemen and Players but actually turns out I read the sequel Different Class - typical of me to have read them out of order so it's tempting to correct that. But I'm also very drawn to Abigail - another tough choice coming up :)

Nigeyb wrote: "Having read about all four nominations so far, I am not going to nominate this time out (despite being quite keen to suggest The History ManThere's too many tempting titles already. Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?
..."

I can't let you tantalise me in this way, Nigel.

I nominate The History Man

I have a feeling that in terms of discussion the Bradbury might stimulate more responses, the gender politics alone would be interesting to think about.

Ooh


Thanks Jonathan

Thanks Alwynne

I would very happily reread it

I really wasn’t expecting any enthusiasm

#exciting

Hugh wrote: "Susan wrote: "If part of a loose trilogy, where would this stand in reading order, Hugh? Just out of interest."
In my view it is not a trilogy - there is no continuity and no common characters, and..."

Thanks, Hugh. I haven't read anything by Szabo, but she has been on my reading radar for a long time.

Such wonderful nominations - I would love to read them all. I already have, "Prep," and "The History Man," also looks a great read. Molesworth I have never read, but also looks fun.

Alwynne wrote: "I have a feeling that in terms of discussion the Bradbury might stimulate more responses, the gender politics alone would be interesting to think about."

That's a good point. I've never read Bradbury (in my head I was thinking of David Lodge, must be the campus setting) but just reading the blurb I can feel opinions coming on!

Are you nominating, Alwynne?

Think Jonathan has that sewn up RC, but looking at it, and reading Nigey's review it sounds as if there's a lot of potential for debate, and comparisons between Bradbury's vision, a particular representation of the 1970s, and now. I loved the Szabo, and Molesworth is hilarious but not sure I'd have that much to say about them.

Wise words Alwynne


I have the sense we might now have all the nominations.

Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?

If there's no affirmative replies in the next 20 hours or so then I'll post the poll


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

SUSAN: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
ROSINA: The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans
ROMAN CLODIA: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
HUGH: Abigail by Magda Szabó
JONATHAN: The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury

I recently bought Abigail at the suggestion of someone in this group in the Nervous Conditions (Book of Not) thread and, just yesterday, decided to start it in a few days after I finish Paradise Postponed and before starting next months' The Sympathizer and The Bell Jar.
Since I'd rather read it as a Group Read, I will await the poll outcome and choose another already owned TBR book to fill in. Perhaps, as often happens here, Abigail might end up as a Buddy Read if it fails to win the poll.
I wouldn't mind reading both a Brit boarding school and a non-Brit boarding school novel like Abigail in August. In the U.S. A Separate Peace is probably the most classic example of such a book,. I confess to not knowing about Prep before this thread.

All of the entries interest me (with the caveat noted below), so I won't nominate anything else.

I read Abigail with another group and enjoyed it, but thought it wasn't quite up to the standard and complexity of her later book, The Door. Both are worth reading though for their writing quality and the inside view of Hungary.

That makes sense Ben since 'Abigail' was written for a YA audience not adults, unlike the other Szabo novels available in translation.

I'd like to nominate the Australian classic novel Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay, first published in 1967.

It was a cloudless summer day in the year nineteen hundred.

Everyone at Appleyard College for Young Ladies agreed it was just right for a picnic at Hanging Rock. After lunch, a group of three of the girls climbed into the blaze of the afternoon sun, pressing on through the scrub into the shadows of Hanging Rock. Further, higher, till at last they disappeared.

They never returned.

Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction the reader must decide for themselves.

Ooh, good choice, Judy! I've been meaning to read that since the TV series a couple of years ago.

I read it some years ago and remember loving it. Choosing this month is going to be difficult!

Thanks Judy - splendid nomination


Last call for nominations


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

SUSAN: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
ROSINA: The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans
ROMAN CLODIA: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
HUGH: Abigail by Magda Szabó
JONATHAN: The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury
JUDY: Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

It definitely will be difficult to choose - we also have an amazingly varied list there!

A very tempting list. I suspect at least a couple will reappear as buddy reads. Hope so anyway!

The poll is up


VOTE NOW....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Ooh, a draw at the moment... Very close.

Susan wrote: "Ooh, a draw at the moment... Very close."


#exciting


VOTE/CHANGE YOUR VOTE NOW....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...


Abigail by Magda Szabó - 6 votes, 31.6%
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay - 6 votes, 31.6%
The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury - 4 votes, 21.1%
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris - 2 votes, 10.5%
The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans - 1 vote, 5.3%
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - 0 votes, 0.0%


NOMINATIONS:

SUSAN: Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
ROSINA: The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans
ROMAN CLODIA: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
HUGH: Abigail by Magda Szabó
JONATHAN: The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury
JUDY: Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

Exciting! I liked other people's nominations more than my own this month :)

I've read Prep, and liked it. Just too many good nominations to choose from, I think and Judy threw us all with her last minute, inspired suggestion!

All change again


Abigail by Magda Szabó is now out in front by one vote. A vote switch from The History Man


VOTE/CHANGE YOUR VOTE HERE....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

We have a winner. We shall be enjoying....


Abigail by Magda Szabó


THE OUTCOME...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...


Abigail by Magda Szabó - 9 votes, 37.5%

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay - 8 votes, 33.3%
The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury - 3 votes, 12.5%
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris - 3 votes, 12.5%
The Compleet Molesworth by Geoffrey Willans - 1 vote, 4.2%
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - 0 votes, 0.0%


Thank you for another wonderful set of nominations and interesting discourse

Looking forward to August 2021

Thanks for organising all our votes so slickly, Nigeyb.
I'm looking forward to Abigail, my first Szabo.

With so much interest in Picnic, who else would be interested in a buddy read?

I have never read Picnic at Hanging Rock, so I could be tempted.

I'm interested in Picnic, I've never read it. Maybe in the fall?

Replied on the other thread RC but yes I would be, keep meaning to try it, I really rated the Szabo highly but too soon for me to want to re-read it.

I've started Picnic - I think it was chosen in another group, but I haven't finished yet. Maybe by the Fall? That's optimistic. But at least I know where it is.

I'd love to have a buddy read of Picnic, thank you, RC.

Me too - I am fine whenever you schedule it.

When I saw Abigail and Picnic breaking away from the pack, based on previous experiences, I presumed whichever one lost would be a Moderators Choice/Buddy Read so it really didn't matter.
While I preferred Abigail, I would join in a read of Picnic at Hanging Rock because:
1) Now is a great time to read it as it has been over 30 years since I saw the movie so my memory has faded, and I should read it before trying the miniseries, though it hasn't been well reviewed;
2) Most editions are only 180 -200 pages, so it can both easily fit in a schedule and quickly finished if unfulfilling.
3) Non-Group Reads are good here too - several books I had thought had been Group Reads I then discover in the Archives had actually been a Moderators Choice or a Buddy Read.

So, to quote a moderator :"Me too - I am fine whenever you schedule it."

I very often read books which were nominated but didn't win the vote. That's why nominations are so important, as they can introduce you to a gem, even if it gets few votes.

Glad to see so much enthusiasm for Picnic: how about September as we don't have any buddy reads that month? I'll post this on the Buddy Reads thread as well.

Brian, did the mini-series not have good reviews? I watched it at the time and loved it. It's on Prime and I'm tempted to rewatch but I think I'll wait now till after we've read the book.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Brian, did the mini-series not have good reviews?.."

I only looked at the ratings and comments on IMDb where it received a 6.2 rating, a moderately low rating for a TV miniseries. Really good shows are usually rated at around 8.0. Movies generally average slightly lower ratings than TV series.
Many reviewers thought the directing was overly inventive and the setup for key scenes poorly done. I would likely watch it just for Natalie Dormer who I have liked ever since she played Anne Boleyn in TV's "Tudors."
Check it out: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6038954/

Also, while I'm available any month for this Buddy Read, September is a very good choice for me.

Brian wrote: "I only looked at the ratings and comments on IMDb where it received a 6.2 rating"

A lot of the comments are complaints that it's not the Peter Weir film (which I haven't seen) and that it expands on the book. I guess I came to it cold - and so didn't have a problem with its modern concerns, music, visual technology that many reviewers hated. Natalie Dormer is a strong presence from what I recall - I like her too.

I enjoyed it RC and I liked the film too but I like watching different adaptations/interpretations, like seeing a new staging of a play or a ballet.

Roman Clodia wrote: "...A lot of the comments are complaints that . . . it expands on the book"

I see a similar complaint made on the new Underground Railroad miniseries - more that it gets slow and drags out scenes. That happens when you stretch a 300 page book into a 10 episode series. For Picnic at Hanging Rock, it is a short book for a 6 episode series.

See also The Hobbit - a short children's book stretched out to three feature-length films.