Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts discussion

Hello, everyone. It's time for the May nominations.

There is no theme this month and you can nominate two books that haven't been read in the past three years.

Obviously they must have been written by a woman. Please make sure the books were published before 1972. Please state if you can lead.

Nominations will end on the 15th.

I am looking forward to your selections!

Another group I’m in is seeing a lot of raves for Molly Clavering books, so maybe I can nominate Dear Hugo? I’d love to get started on her books!

It didn’t do well last time around but I really think people would enjoy Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner so I’d like to try again. I’d describe its style as “twisted Austen.”

Abigail wrote: "Another group I’m in is seeing a lot of raves for Molly Clavering books, so maybe I can nominate Dear Hugo? I’d love to get started on her books!

It didn’t do well last time around..."

I have not heard of Molly Clavering.

It isn't that I don't want to read Lolly Willowes but we always have such great choices it is difficult to choose sometimes.

I am new to the group so pardon my ignorance. I expect you mean the book must be 50 years old and not the author?

The book must be have been published more than 50 years ago in order to meet our definition of a classic.

Charlene wrote, “I have not heard of Molly Clavering.

Molly Clavering has been described as somewhat similar to Angela Thirkell, if that gives you a better sense of her. She writes village tales from between WWI and WWII, I believe. Reprinted in Dean Street Press’s Furrowed Middlebrow series.

Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden and Hester by Margaret Oliphant

I can lead.

My Cousin Rachel. Daphne du Maurier
Willa Cather
Edith Wharton
If you want to do a girls just want to have fun - Nancy Drew!

Pearl Buck

Jan, you can name two specific books. Usually we have a month where we nominate a mystery, so Nancy Drew could be nominated at that time. This group did read My Cousin Rachel in 2017. You can nominate it, but I am not sure how many will want to reread it. This is the link to our bookshelf: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

I nominate The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch and

Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf.

Sorry, I can’t link them, I am using app.

yes - I back up The Sea, The Sea - Iris Murdoch, not read, so interested.

The Sea, The Sea

Between the Acts

Don't worry about linking. When I get to work, I can link the books for you. I usually have to wait about 5 minutes for my CADD files to open anyways.

Thanks Charlene.

Charlene wrote: "Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden and Hester by Margaret Oliphant

I can lead."

I’d be excited to read Black Narcissus. Great nom.

Thank you explaing the rules.

1. Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

2. Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

The Song of the Lark

The Mysteries of Udolpho

Nominations end tomorrow.

We had a lot of nominations. Thanks.

It is now time to vote.

The selections are:

1. The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
2. Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering
3. Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden
4. The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
5. Hester by Mrs. Oliphant
6. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
7. Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
8. Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf

Please have your votes in by the 26th! You may inbox me with your choice or reply in this thread.

You are eligible to vote if you have made a comment within the past year in one of the monthly book discussion threads.

Those eligible to vote are:

Emily
Ginny
Carol She’s So Novel
Hannah
Anastasia Kinderman
Francis
Charlene
Carolien
Marilyn
Carol
Kathleen
Suzann
Nidhi
Eileen
Lisa - South Africa
L
Florence
Quinn Smells Books
Lauren
Nanette
Janice
Abigail
Lusy
Lisa Bianca
Elizabeth
CindySR#HasBrokenNotifications
Indeneri
Jan Z

Please let me know if I missed your name and I will correct that.

Thinking that lighthearted reads are good in troubled times, I’ll vote for Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering.

These all sound really good! I'm going to vote for:
Between the Acts

Thanks!

The Song of the Lark

I vote Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf

I vote for Between the Acts.

I vote for Black Narcissus.

Black Narcissus

Black Narcissus

Black Narcissus is the winner! Between the Acts was a close second.

☯Emily wrote: "Black Narcissus is the winner! Between the Acts was a close second."

Fantastic. Off to find a copy !

Good to know.

What is the April book?

Jan wrote: "What is the April book?"

Passing by Nella Larsen

Thank you.

☯Emily wrote: "Black Narcissus is the winner! Between the Acts was a close second."

I didn't vote, but I should be able to get hold of a copy. :)

GreatI I recently bought Black Narcissus so I’m all ready.

I am going to put off the library books I have to read and start this instead tonight. I should be able to get discussion threads up tomorrow for those participating.

It is a hard book to come by. I reserved a library copy last night.

Charlene wrote: "I am going to put off the library books I have to read and start this instead tonight. I should be able to get discussion threads up tomorrow for those participating."

Excellent. I am very much looking forward to this read and discussion.

Jan wrote: "It is a hard book to come by. I reserved a library copy last night."

I didn’t have a problem, even though my library has zero copies of any Godden; however, I noticed that if you search for the most prominent ISBN here and on Amazon, it looks scant and out of print. It wasn’t until I identified another edition that it became easy and I think I paid $12.99 or so.

Reading it now and looking forward to the discussion!

There are 2 copies in our library consortium - one regular, one large print. 53 libraries including Madison, WI's branches. So not all tiny little places. Plenty more of the movie.

I just checked Thrift Books. They have a couple.

Kindle + used copies on Amazon under $9.

It is available on hoopla, if your library has access.