Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

In November we will be reading The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen for our State of the Nation category - who's in?

I haven't read any Elizabeth Bowen before, and I usually enjoy (not quite the right term) a book about The Troubles (I love JG Farrell's Troubles), so I'm definitely in.

this was my first Bowen and I remember really liking it
I'm tempted to re-read now, but am completely choc-a til the end of year (and beyond!)
I usually allow one "group read slot" per month, but that has already been "bagsied" by a book in my "other" group (I'm only in two) that I already have a copy of, am keen to read, and surprisingly topped the poll right at the last moment

I've been off classics for a few years as the headspace just wasn't there but given I've recently finished The Secret History I might be ready to go back. So I'm tentatively in!

Eglė wrote: "I've been off classics for a few years as the headspace just wasn't there but given I've recently finished The Secret History I might be ready to go back. So I'm tentatively in!"

I love The Secret History, so atmospheric! One of the few books that I've read more than once.

I still have The Memory Police to read and then I can make a start on The Last September...

I'm about halfway through and while Bowen writes really well - her style feels, to me, crystalline and brittle - SO LITTLE HAPPENS! Like with the only other book by Bowen I've read, The Heat of the Day, it's so dull and slow and drags so.

At least it's only 300 pages...

I quite liked Last September, but if you think it's dull, slow and drags then you might want to pass on Death Of The Heart ;o)

No one asked, but... none of Bowen's books are found on Harenberg's book of 1000 books. or Wharton... or Alcott.. or either of Amises. It could be some kind of bias of course, but that works for me! I am still following other lists for now, but I am more and more frequently viewing potential reading selections through Harenberg prism as a form of additional filter for "non-essentials".