2017 Virago Salon

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2017 Virago Salon

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1bleuroses
Modificato: Ott 1, 2017, 9:23 pm

Welcome to the 2017 Virago Salon and we begin with the most exciting news.

Virago Press is launching a Virago Modern Classics Book Club for 2017. Sam, from Little Brown UK/Virago, contacted us via the (FB) VMCReaders page to share in the promotion, etc. of the book club - which is beyond exciting! Laura began the VMCReaders page in 2012 and then I joined her as co-admin. For Virago Press to acknowledge our work is so gratifying.

Anyways - here's what they posted this morning.

"Introducing. . . The Virago Modern Classic book club!

Every month in 2017 we'll be picking a book from the list and encouraging you to read (or rediscover it) with us. We'll be sharing author biographies, extra content and leading discussions on the books we pick, and we want you to get involved too. First up is GOOD BEHAVIOUR, by Molly Keane. Will you be reading with us?"

Will keep you posted! Yay!

2romain
Gen 12, 2017, 3:51 pm

Great picture and yay to you and Laura for your hard work. Well done!!!!!

3kaggsy
Gen 12, 2017, 4:39 pm

How very exciting! Well done, ladies!

4lauralkeet
Gen 12, 2017, 8:35 pm

All credit is due to Cate. I created the FB page and was very active with it for a time, but Cate totally ran with it and does a wonderful job. I change the cover photo about once a week and I enjoy the fruits of Cate's labor.

Well done Cate for developing such a lively and well recognized community.

5bleuroses
Modificato: Gen 12, 2017, 10:27 pm

Aw, Laura, you're so sweet. It's truly a labour of love for me, but a massive thanks goes to you for creating the page that has provided another forum for VMC readers/collectors everywhere. I have to mention our dear Paola (aluvalibri) who founded this group 10 years ago - the foundation of VMCs in social media, I think. Big hugs and thank you, lovely Miss P! ❤️📚🍎

6LyzzyBee
Gen 14, 2017, 1:23 pm

Lovely photo and great news, too!

7Heaven-Ali
Gen 14, 2017, 4:40 pm

>1 bleuroses: I saw the FB post about the Virago book club, great idea, and Good Behaviour is a fab book.

8rainpebble
Gen 14, 2017, 10:05 pm

Wonderful, in so many ways! Thank you, ladies, for keeping us so well informed.
warm & gentle hugs all round

9Sakerfalcon
Gen 16, 2017, 5:02 am

How lovely to have your hard work acknowledged, Laura and Cate! And what exciting news!

10gennyt
Gen 16, 2017, 5:14 am

Exciting news indeed! It's encouraging that the publishers recognise not only the existence but the value of social media enthusiast groups. Of course they want help with publicity to sell more books, but to make more people aware of these treasures is an aim we would all share.

11bleuroses
Gen 31, 2017, 1:03 pm

Click below to read an extract from Molly Keane's biography...

http://www.virago.co.uk/molly-keane-life-extract/?utm_campaign=social&utm_me...

12bleuroses
Gen 31, 2017, 1:41 pm

And...

Virago is making a big push into the children’s market, by publishing 22 titles through its modern classics list this year.

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/virago-ventures-kids-classics-477921

13kaggsy
Gen 31, 2017, 2:39 pm

>12 bleuroses: Interesting. I'm not sure I can entirely understand the motivation here, as most of these books are not 'lost' classics by any means and don't particularly need a push. Rather naively perhaps I still think of VMCs as rescuing forgotten books by women... Also, I object violently on principle to the idea of publishing watered down young adult versions of grown up books! I read plenty of adult books in my early teens and it did me no harm at all...

14BeyondEdenRock
Gen 31, 2017, 6:30 pm

>13 kaggsy: My thoughts exactly. Almost every book is public domain and/or readily available in print, and there are so many other books out of print that would sit more naturally on the VMC list.

15romain
Gen 31, 2017, 6:45 pm

I agree Karen - I read the full versions of DuMaurier etc as a teen. Not hard at all. But today's kids are now often 'reluctant readers' and I have been forced to downgrade all my standards just to get a kid to open a book. Comic book version anyone? :))))

16Sakerfalcon
Feb 1, 2017, 7:35 am

>12 bleuroses:, >13 kaggsy: I hope that by "teen versions" they meant editions with a different cover but the same text (not that I'm convinced that alternate covers are necessary or a good use of the budget). I agree that watering down the text is pointless and rather insulting to the potential readers.

>15 romain: Now comic book versions are a different thing entirely, and can work brilliantly with the right combination of text and artwork.

It just seems so odd that when, for example, E. Nesbit has so many obscure, interesting children's titles that are out of print or hard to find (e.g. The magic city, Wet magic), they would choose to add yet another edition of a title which is already on the market. Maybe the new illustrations will make them stand out from the crowd.

It also amused me that they say they will publish "the complete What Katy did trilogy". This is actually a series of five books, with Clover and In the High Valley completing the story. Again, a missed opportunity to get some rare books back into print.

Oh well, what do I know about publishing?!!

17kaggsy
Feb 1, 2017, 8:37 am

>16 Sakerfalcon: You may be right Claire - I could well have assumed watered down text but it may just be young looking covers they're talking about. Though as you say, not a good use of budget...!

18Heaven-Ali
Feb 2, 2017, 4:58 pm

The #VMCbookclub that Virago Press is running on social media this year will be reading Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith in February. I have never read her before but have certainly meant to. So I am going to start it tonight.

19romain
Feb 2, 2017, 5:18 pm

Highsmith is wonderful!!!!

20europhile
Feb 2, 2017, 11:39 pm

>11 bleuroses: Oh my goodness! I'm very interested in Molly Keane and was going to suggest her for a future Virago Group read. I'll have to see if I can get my library to order it.

>18 Heaven-Ali: I have not tried Patricia Highsmith though I have seen some of the films based on her books. I do wonder why they are included in the VMCs list though. Echoing the comments above, I think this list should be for unjustly neglected or underrated woman authors which is what Virago Press (used to) do so well.

21romain
Feb 3, 2017, 8:16 am

But they sold the firm to Little, Brown and now they control the content, right? I am thinking there is money in Highsmith and not much money in neglected women authors? And Highsmith is now a little more front and center because of the film Carol and therefore very marketable?

But to be fair to Little, Brown - IMO the VMC list was seriously compromised after about the first 200 books or so. The Mae West novels, Peyton Place, Valley of the Dolls etc etc.

22lauralkeet
Feb 3, 2017, 8:45 am

>20 europhile: Molly Keane ... for a future Virago Group read.
Grant, while we have chosen our monthly authors for Jan-Mar, sometime in the next few weeks we will nominate and choose authors for April-June. So please keep Keane in mind for that!

23mrspenny
Feb 3, 2017, 4:56 pm

>21 romain: I agree with Barbara - the selection process seems to have totally lost its way.

Re: Patricia Highsmith - I am still undecided about those titles. I have only read Strangers on a Train but on the other hand, my husband (who is a very selective reader), read Strangers recently and was so hooked on Highsmith's writing, read all of her detective novels and loved them!

24romain
Modificato: Feb 4, 2017, 9:15 am

Mrs P - I read a few books in my teens and didn't like them. Not cozy, no guarantee that the right person wins in the end. In my 20s, however, I read the Ripley books and then read everything she had written up to that point. The Ripley books are - IMO - some of the best thrillers written. But again - not cozy. Tom Ripley has stolen someone else's identity and money and is living high on the hog in France. From book to book he is forced to murder someone who threatens that life style, which he does coolly, cleanly and with the minimum of fuss. The charming sociopath next door, ridding his world of a nuisance. I did not read them in order but would encourage others to start on book one.

25bleuroses
Modificato: Feb 4, 2017, 6:22 pm

>13 kaggsy: Kaggsy, I'm with you (and the others) against publishing a simplified version for teens - and perhaps that won't be the case in the end.

Virago has published quite a few titles that I thought were an odd edition to their list; however, I'm very glad that Virago seems to be thriving. Introducing new readers with their updated covers (I'm hoping) will lead them to the gems in their iconic green-spine backlist.

>20 europhile: europhile, Molly Keane is wonderfully original - I love her. Excellent choice to be included in the Virago Group read.

26Soupdragon
Modificato: Feb 5, 2017, 5:52 am

I think (and hope) that the Bookseller article is talking about different covers and new illustrators, not altering the texts. The language they use (versions) is worrying but the actual quote from Virago refers to editions and mentions the Daphne du Mauriers that I do remember being given alternate covers for the Twilight market a few years back.

Actually in that case, I could understand. Rebecca and Jamaica Inn are very readable page turners and a worthy looking cover combined with the word classics could put some younger readers off.

27LyzzyBee
Feb 5, 2017, 6:13 am

I finally got round to watching our recording of the Virago tv programme - wasn't it fab! So lovely to see them all. And led to some interesting conversations with the husband about why feminism is still necessary, etc.

28Soupdragon
Feb 5, 2017, 6:24 am

>27 LyzzyBee: I loved it too. Interesting on so many different levels. The dynamics between them were fascinating and what was and wasn't said, especially regarding Carmen!

29romain
Modificato: Feb 5, 2017, 8:58 am

The Townsend Press in Philly is one of the leading publishers of books for reluctant readers. They are famous for their Bluford High books which every teacher I know LOVES. This is the first chapter of their toned down version of Pride and Prejudice.
I find it really acceptable when it comes from them. Not so much from Virago.

http://www.townsendpress.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/Library%20Excerpts/PrideCh1....

http://bluford.org/

30Soupdragon
Feb 5, 2017, 11:27 am

>29 romain: I don't think we need to worry, Barbara. The quotes from Virago only mention different editions (which they did before for Rebecca and Jamaica Inn). I think the writer of the article has created a false impression by talking about different *versions*.

31Sakerfalcon
Feb 6, 2017, 9:56 am

>27 LyzzyBee:, >28 Soupdragon: It was great, wasn't it! The Angela Carter bio has a bit about her involvement with Virago in its early days which meant more to me having seen the women involved in the TV documentary.

32CurrerBell
Feb 12, 2017, 9:08 pm

Just checking in. I've been hanging more on the Big Fat Books and the Reading Through Time and the Read Our Own Tomes (ROOTs) groups lately.

I was in the hospital Wednesday and Thursday nights – "severe exacerbation" of my COPD caused by influenza (Type A). A really nasty bug, and I've been avoiding the whole world except when going out shopping occasionally in a face mask because this thing is contagious. Especially concerning since I did have my flu shot in October, so this particular strain I caught might be vaccine-resistant.

I'd been feeling pretty bad for a couple weeks, but I really got hit hard Wednesday afternoon. Difficulty breathing, like I was having an attack of congestive heart failure (which I've got experience with). But when I got into the ER they put a cotton swizzle stick up my nose and got a sample that they tested for the flu.

And it really hasn't given me that much extra time for reading. I took three books with me to the hospital (I wasn't so bad off I couldn't prepare with books and clothes and the like while the ambulance was coming to take me to the emergency room), but I didn't get very much read in the hospital and I've been sleeping a lot since I've gotten home.

Excellent hospital experience, though, at Delaware County Memorial Hospital (just a bit west of Philadelphia), as always at Delco Memorial. It's part of the Crozer-Keystone System, and all of my doctors – GP, cardiologist, pulmonologist, nephrologist, gastroenterologist – are part of it, so I get excellent continuity of care.

I'm finishing up my Tamiflu medication tomorrow night and my steroids (for COPD) Tuesday morning, then seeing my GP Wednesday afternoon. I want to check with her to be sure I'm non-contagious before I dispense with the face mask and absolutely not risk spreading this stuff around.

33romain
Feb 13, 2017, 7:44 am

God Mike, what a mess! So sorry. Thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. Get well soon my friend.

34kaggsy
Feb 13, 2017, 12:26 pm

>32 CurrerBell: Sounds like you've been through a tough time - hope things keep on improving!

36rainpebble
Feb 18, 2017, 2:20 pm

>35 Heaven-Ali:
I am finding you blog more & more fascinating, Ali. This visit today was a joy. I loved your Icelandic bit. Wonderful!

37Heaven-Ali
Feb 18, 2017, 5:22 pm

>36 rainpebble: Thank you.

38Soupdragon
Feb 25, 2017, 5:12 pm

In case anyone here's missed it and is interested, I have a thread up for nominations for the next Virago Author reads. Sorry no link, my ancient iPad still isn't copying and pasting, and elder boy took my laptop to university with him!

>32 CurrerBell:, I'm sorry to hear things have been so rough. I hope these last days have been better.

>35 Heaven-Ali:, >36 rainpebble: I enjoyed it too!

39rainpebble
Feb 25, 2017, 8:58 pm

>38 Soupdragon:
This should help those who may have missed it, Dee.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/249167

40Soupdragon
Feb 26, 2017, 3:14 am

>39 rainpebble: Thanks Belva!

41Soupdragon
Mar 2, 2017, 10:17 am

The final votes thread for the next author reads is here

42rainpebble
Modificato: Mag 28, 2017, 4:17 pm

In consideration of life changes from three years ago and more changes moving forward, we really need to downsize the contents of our home. And by far the items taking up the most space are my books; what with 13 bookcases, numerous shelves, stacks everywhere & boxes hidden in every nook & cranny..........well I know you all know how we get. :-)
So this beautiful weekend I have packed up 37 of my lovely greenies & beautiful dove grays. They are going to the home of my niece. I am so very happy that someone within the family stepped up and asked me what I was going to do with my books & that she would love to have these special ones. Happy, happy, joy, joy........... This is such a relief. I am keeping any that I think I will one day read again.
I also have a box of 4 that I need to get in the post when I feel better.
Yes, happy dance here.

43SassyLassy
Mag 28, 2017, 7:50 pm

>42 rainpebble: That's wonderful when that happens and you know that your books will be cared for and loved. I hope the downsizing goes as well as it can.

44LyzzyBee
Mag 29, 2017, 3:33 am

>42 rainpebble: How lovely that your niece asked and will obviously cherish and treasure them.

45Soupdragon
Modificato: Mag 29, 2017, 8:15 am

The next monthly reads final voting thread is here.

46kaggsy
Mag 29, 2017, 3:03 pm

>42 rainpebble: I can really sympathise with you on this Belva - I seem to be constantly pruning the books at the moment and yet the house seems to get no emptier. I'm offering a few Viragos on the dupe thread here, but I really wish I had a family member who was interested so you're very lucky to have found one. Trouble with my kids is they live in rented flats and are fairly mobile, so they don't want to be encumbered by stuff - which is probably a sensible way to live!

47romain
Mag 29, 2017, 3:51 pm

I put this up early this morning and then LT went off the air and refused to post it :)

I think a lot of us have been purging Belva. I will keep my Persephones because - so far - I have the complete collection but the Viragos are down to only unread or precious. And only the unread I think I will read. I've given up on Farrell, Stead, Carter et al. Life is too short at this time of my life (66) to waste a second on stuff I don't really fancy. That's not to say I don't want to be challenged, but for some reason I have not connected with the above mentioned authors so it was an easy decision. I am down to 5 bookcases (3 floor to ceiling) and NO stacks anywhere.

48rainpebble
Mag 29, 2017, 5:10 pm

We do become wiser in our aged years, eh? Nice to know I am in good company here. Hopefully by summer's end I will have cleared enough room on my bookcases & shelving to rid the house of my stacks of books. And I was clever enough to take 2 large boxes of books to Arizona last year when we knew we were going to rent our space there year round. Now I won't have to pack books back & forth like before.
Thank you, ladies, for your support in this huge endeavor. :-)

49mrspenny
Mag 29, 2017, 10:14 pm

>48 rainpebble:: How lovely to know that your VMCs and other treasured titles have found a caring and safe home with your niece.
I hope to do the same (one day soon) and hand over my collection to one of my nieces who is the only avid reader in our family.

50rainpebble
Mag 30, 2017, 11:20 pm

>49 mrspenny:
I hope that works out well for you, mrspenny. I was so thrilled when it worked out for me. We do love our Virago & Persephone but at nearly 70 it becomes more urgent.
Thinking positive thoughts................

51rainpebble
Ago 1, 2017, 3:06 pm

***hanging my head in shame***

I think I promised a couple of you that I would send you a book or two. If so please refresh my memory so I can take care of that commitment. We have had family issues ongoing ever since returning home from Az this spring and some days I don't know if I am coming or going.

I am thinking that I owe Safari West by Mary Hocking to you. :-(

Currently I cannot see any messages on my profile page so please email me at:

belvahullp@hotmail.com

with titles, your name & address. I don't want to let anyone down. Thanks.

52Soupdragon
Ago 19, 2017, 3:30 am

Nominations thread for our final 2017 VMC monthly reads here

53Limelite
Ago 24, 2017, 5:31 pm

Hope this is the correct thread for my post.

Is, or was Margery Sharp a VMC author? I've looked at blurbs on a couple of her novels and think I'd like her -- and like her to be a VMC author, too. Witty. Iconoclastic heroines.

54lauralkeet
Ago 24, 2017, 7:34 pm

>53 Limelite: You've come to the right place! This is a kind of general-purpose thread.

Yes, Margery Sharp's work has been published as VMCs. If you have a Google id, you can see a complete spreadsheet of VMCs here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LC-usyBqxRAFxCSwkgVtKiBKc4mW2qUGbeSOnxva...

We try to keep this up-to-date as we hear of new books. Group member mrspenny is particularly diligent.

55Limelite
Modificato: Ago 24, 2017, 8:40 pm

>54 lauralkeet: Thank you for update and link!
My Update:
Oh, dear. I see only one novel in VMCs by her. There are 26, I believe. Amazon has a large collection for Kindle.

Are we allowed to read a VMC author in any edition, or are we to adhere to VMCs only? Thanks in advance.

56lauralkeet
Ago 24, 2017, 9:06 pm

>55 Limelite: "Are we allowed ..."

Many of us collect VMCs (in which case the edition is important), but just as many read non-VMC editions of the same books, or read VMC authors' works beyond those on "the list".

Some of us also have a thing for Persephone Classics. Persephone also showcases lesser-known female authors, and their editions are so pretty. You might want to hide your credit cards before you Google them. :)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, this group is very flexible and there are few rules. I can confidently say anyone here would enjoy hearing about your Margery Sharp reading.

57BeyondEdenRock
Ago 25, 2017, 4:58 pm

>55 Limelite: I'd say that it is always interesting to hear about any book or author that is appreciated by lovers of VMCs.

Virago may not have been able to obtain the rights for some of the books that they wanted to publish, and I am quite certain that there are many wonderful books that they might have liked to publish but they knew wouldn’t find a big enough readership to allow them to do so.

I’ve read many of Margery Sharp’s books that Virago didn’t publish, and I would particularly recommend The Flowering Thorn, Four Gardens and The Innocents. I loved The Eye of Love but the two sequels that Virago didn’t publish feel more like VMCs that that book to me.

There are other authors – Margaret Kennedy is the first name that comes to mind – whose VMCs aren’t necessarily their best work. Lucy Carmichael really should have been a Virago heroine, and I know I’m not the only person who thinks that The Feast was probably her finest novel.

And one more thing before I stop rambling.

Word of mouth has introduced many readers to wonderful books, and sometimes even helped to get books back into print ...

58rainpebble
Ago 25, 2017, 5:36 pm

>57 BeyondEdenRock:
I absolutely loved your review of Margery Sharp's Four Gardens and
nothing will do but I must have it. I think I will be very impatient until I get it. Thanks for the rec, Eden.

59Limelite
Ago 25, 2017, 8:13 pm

>56 lauralkeet: - >58 rainpebble: Wonderful information, not only do I feel reassured that the "rules" are flexible but I'm gaining insight into the community of readers. You're a very welcoming Group!

Now, even though you have all whetted my appetite, the truth is I may not be a devoted VMCer at present as I've a rather LARGE reading interest that isn't amenable to Virago authors, past or present. I imagine the rest of this year will be devoted to it. However, I am not known for my ability to resist temptation and you have dangled an awful lot of attractive bait under my nose!

Thank you all!! (I think.)

60lauralkeet
Ago 26, 2017, 6:39 am

>59 Limelite: Welcoming, but also nosy: I'm curious about the nature of your "LARGE reading interest", if you're willing to share?

61kaggsy
Ago 26, 2017, 9:09 am

Me too! I think a lot of us here read very widely and although we love Virago and Persephone books we certainly don't limit ourselves!

62rainpebble
Ago 26, 2017, 2:58 pm

Ditto that, Lime. Another Nosy Parker here. Do tell.

63Limelite
Ago 26, 2017, 3:46 pm

>60 lauralkeet: - >62 rainpebble:
Ah Ha! I see that three of you are also easily baited. . .heh heh.

This year I've set a goal to read contemporary Chinese authors, using the goal as an excuse to buy many new books to add to my smallish Chinese authors library. Right now I'm reading Ha Jin's excellent novel about the Chinese POW experience at the hand of the Americans during the Korean War, War Trash.

And I am simultaneously indulging my secret reading passion as well. . .but you didn't ask about that. ;^)

64SassyLassy
Ago 26, 2017, 3:54 pm

>63 Limelite: War Trash is an excellent novel and Ha Jin is one of my favourite authors. I see we have a common interest in contemporary Chinese authors and that you also have Ma Jian's superb Beijing Coma.

For other authors, there was an effort to get some people reading Mo Yan at one time, which resulted in a now dormant I suspect Read Mo Yan group. I have read several of his works and have a doorstop of his on my TBR.

It's a long way from Viragos, but interesting all the same. Agnes Smedley who went on part of the Great March is a Virago author.

I have a small collection simply titled China in My Library if you are looking for a couple of suggestions.

65lauralkeet
Ago 26, 2017, 6:08 pm

>63 Limelite: that's a great idea for a project. Good luck with it! And about that "secret reading passion," now that you've let the cat out of the bag so to speak, you might just have to spill it. :)

66Limelite
Ago 27, 2017, 4:29 pm

>64 SassyLassy: I haven't checked out your Chinese collection yet, but I immediately copied your idea and catalogued all my Chinese writers in a collection, too, that you're invited to peruse. (I didn't include books about or set in China written by non-Chinese that I own.) Ha's War Trash is one of the best novels by contemporary writers that I've read so far in revealing the character of ordinary Chinese men and the national characteristics of Chinese people.

I loved Beijing Coma, a novel that helped fuel my enthusiasm for contemporary Chinese authors, after Dai Sijie's Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress and Nien Cheng's autobiography, Life and Death in Shanghai.

67Limelite
Modificato: Ago 27, 2017, 4:39 pm

>65 lauralkeet: Here's a clue -- the cat in the bag belongs to Erwin Schrödinger. Can you guess my secret reading hobby?

========================================

Request for the Salon:

I wish listed a Barbara Pym VMC but have never read anything by her. I'm having faint apprehension since a quick scan of a selection of her titles makes her sound like a straight up romance writer, a genre that I avoid.

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has an opinion of her body of work and any recommendations of where I should start in her oeuvre and what I should pass on. The book I listed is Some Tame Gazelle. Yes, it was the title that captured me. Thanks in advance.

68romain
Ago 27, 2017, 5:53 pm

Thinking about any of our members who are down in Texas at the moment. So awful.

69lauralkeet
Ago 27, 2017, 6:56 pm

>67 Limelite: I adore Barbara Pym. She's another author this group read -- during her centenary year (2013) -- similar to our Elizabeth Taylor group read and as with Taylor, there are links to all of the talk threads in our Virago Group Wiki.

But anyway, back to her books, I would not consider her a romance novelist, rather her books are more comedy of manners. I enjoyed them all to varying degrees. Excellent Women was my introduction to Pym and her characterization of "church ladies" was very funny. Quartet in Autumn is more melancholy than most of her books, but I found it quite touching. I'm sure there's will weigh in.

>68 romain: Oh yes, Barbara, me too. I know Christina (christiguc) lives there, but she hasn't been active here in quite some time. I hope she is okay.

70kaggsy
Ago 29, 2017, 2:38 pm

Just watched the wonderful Atwood documentary on the BBC - that woman is amazing! It'll be up here for a while for UK people:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b093tw95

Not up on YouTube yet as far as I can see.

71lauralkeet
Ago 29, 2017, 3:27 pm

>70 kaggsy: Karen, you're the second LTer who has mentioned this positively and I'm so glad. The Guardian's review was "meh". Still, I will look out for it here.

72Limelite
Ago 29, 2017, 3:27 pm

>69 lauralkeet: Thanks very much for the Pym evaluation, I'm encouraged since comedy of manners novels have been favorites of mine since I read Austen and Heyer as a teen. I shall probably become a fan of Pym on your assurances and my overcome timidity.

73kaggsy
Ago 29, 2017, 4:45 pm

>71 lauralkeet: I can't imagine why - there was of course focus on Handmaid, and in a programme of that length you can only skim the surface of a subject as prolific and complex as Atwood. Nevertheless I thought Yentob got under the surface a little and the glimpses of her archive and clips of early tv appearances were fascinating. Any Atwood is good in my view.

74Heaven-Ali
Modificato: Ago 30, 2017, 12:47 pm

>70 kaggsy: I agree a wonderful program. I recorded it so I can keep to watch again sometime. It made me want to re-read those earlier Atwood novels like Cats Eye Lady Oracle, The Edible Woman, Bodily Harm and Surfacing which I read more than 25 years ago. I recently re-read The Handmaid's Tale before watching the new TV series and was blown away all over again.

75lauralkeet
Ago 30, 2017, 7:18 pm

>73 kaggsy:, >74 Heaven-Ali: Have you voted for our monthly Virago authors for October-December? The lovely Ms Atwood is a nominee ... just sayin'.

76kaggsy
Modificato: Ago 31, 2017, 2:15 am

I have most certainly voted for her, Laura! 😁😁😁

77kaggsy
Ago 31, 2017, 5:44 am

>74 Heaven-Ali: I've done the same - realy made me want to pull all her books off the shelves!

78lauralkeet
Ago 31, 2017, 8:23 am

>76 kaggsy: We should start campaigning. :)

79kaggsy
Ago 31, 2017, 9:43 am

>78 lauralkeet: Definitely! :)))

80Limelite
Modificato: Set 3, 2017, 2:14 pm

Just acquired a Kindle edition issued by Furrowed Middlebrow of Landscape in Sunlight by Elizabeth Fair that (if it isn't) should be a VMC. But I LOVE the name of the publishing company -- had never heard of it 'til now.

http://furrowedmiddlebrow.blogspot.com/2015/06/buried-treasure-elizabeth-fair-19...

Doesn't it sound like "FM" has a similar mission to VMC? Are the two houses rivals over the same literary territory?

81LyzzyBee
Set 3, 2017, 4:16 am

Ah, I love Fair, I was sent the complete set of her novels as e-books to review, but am only half-way through them. Very Virago-y, I agree!

82Heaven-Ali
Set 5, 2017, 3:16 am

>75 lauralkeet: I have voted for Margaret Atwood and yesterday reviewed
Stone Mattress if anyone needs further persuading.

https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/stone-mattress-nine-wicked-tales-marg...

83CurrerBell
Set 29, 2017, 2:08 pm

I just got an email from the Library of America to tell me that, for one week, they're offering a free ebook of "Edith Wharton’s overlooked World War I novel" A Son at the Front, available in Kindle, iBook, Nook, and Kobo. I just downloaded Kindle, and I assume the other three versions in fact are free on the respective websites, but be sure to confirm that yourself. (And also confirm that Kindle is still free at the time you order it, cuz it's only one week.)

84Limelite
Set 29, 2017, 10:40 pm

>83 CurrerBell: Thanks for the heads up in re Wharton novel. I'm a big fan of her writing and didn't have it. Still free at Kindle ebooks/Amazon.

85kaggsy
Set 30, 2017, 1:11 am

But alas only in the USA!

86CurrerBell
Set 30, 2017, 5:48 pm

>85 kaggsy: Sorry to hear that! I hadn't noticed.

By way of extenuation, LoA publishes on a rather short profit-margin (in fact, I think LoA itself is a non-profit, and it used to be and probably still is subsidized in part the the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities). It's only been in the past couple of years that they've started issuing e-books and this special offer is of course a promotion for their e-books. Outside the U.S., they may not be that well known or have that many subscribers.

In treeware, a standard hardcover LoA volume will run maybe from 900 to 1500 pages or thereabouts and include multiple titles. Personally, a quick count shows me with 80-some LoA books catalogued, and that doesn't include the volumes that may be still uncatalogued on shelves.

87europhile
Modificato: Ott 13, 2017, 7:47 pm

I haven't read The Beth Book yet but I was intrigued by the following from Reading on the Farm: Victorian Fiction and the Colonial World: "After reading Sarah Grand's novel The Beth Book (1897), John Vaughan Miller destroyed it, and wrote a leading article for the Wairarapa Daily Times in which he condemned the novel and its author:
'The Beth Book' (which bears the most originally stupid title ever given to a book) turns the 'X-rays' on to original depravity; but the only original thing about the book is the horrible nastiness and blasphemy of the woman who wrote it and still calls herself a woman. As for the women who read it! 'Filth' (exclaims Maartens) 'a woman's soul may pass pure, if such be her terrible fate, through fact, but not through fiction.'

The man who wrote this was very well read, opinionated and pedantic, but he obviously did not have much time for the 'New Woman'!

88CurrerBell
Nov 6, 2017, 10:52 am

Virago-published biography of Molly Keane by her daughter scheduled for publication November 7.

89LizzieD
Nov 25, 2017, 12:00 am

>88 CurrerBell: Wow! Thanks, Mike!

90kaggsy
Dic 10, 2017, 6:36 am

A quick heads-up to those in the UK that BBC4 are showing a documentary on Leonora Carrington tonight which will probably be worth checking out!

91Heaven-Ali
Dic 10, 2017, 7:46 am

I'm going to miss our author of the month next year.

Just an idea but 2018 is Muriel Spark's centenary. Virago are bringing out some new editions of her books.

Any interest in a LT read-a-long of her novels - similar to the Elizabeth Taylor one we did in 2012?.

92kaggsy
Dic 10, 2017, 10:03 am

That's a good idea, Ali!

I can't promise I'd read every month but I certainly would like to dip in when I can!

Do you fancy being the host????? ;))

93Heaven-Ali
Dic 10, 2017, 11:05 am

>92 kaggsy: - well I suppose I could do that. :)

94BeyondEdenRock
Dic 10, 2017, 11:52 am

We could keep Author of the Month running, as there are plenty of interesting authors we haven't covered yet.

I couldn't promise to read Muriel Spark every month, because I've read most of her books already and history shows that I don't do well at these one author events, but I'd certainly read something of hers along the way.

95lauralkeet
Dic 10, 2017, 11:57 am

It would be great to keep author of the month going, it was a wonderful way to guide my reading this year. I'll try a bit of Muriel Spark as well.

96Heaven-Ali
Dic 10, 2017, 12:28 pm

>94 BeyondEdenRock: great idea. There are lots of authors to do.

97Soupdragon
Dic 10, 2017, 12:48 pm

I'd like author of the month to continue too, but will have to leave the hosting to someone else I'm afraid. It was frustrating that I didn't have the time to devote more to it this year, and next year looks to be even busier.

When life gets quieter again one day, I will be back hosting, reviewing and reading. Well actually I'm still reading, that's the last thing to go!

98BeyondEdenRock
Dic 10, 2017, 3:15 pm

>97 Soupdragon: You've done lot of work very well this year, and it is much appreciated.

Maybe we can divide responsibility between a group next year now we have a good idea how things work.

99romain
Dic 10, 2017, 6:03 pm

I've also read all of my Sparks. I didn't love all of her books but those I have loved, I have LOVED. My faves are Girls of Slender Means and Jean Brodie which I read in the 60's, and The Mandelbaum Gate and A Far Cry From Kensington, both of which I read while new-mothering in the 90's.

So I would vote for a more varied list, with Spark as only one author.

100Soupdragon
Dic 11, 2017, 1:51 am

>98 BeyondEdenRock: Thank you, Jane.

I have a suggestion. I have some time off over Christmas and could facilitate a vote for all of next year's monthly reads then.

And if others could organise the opening posts each month, that would be wonderful.

101lauralkeet
Dic 11, 2017, 8:09 am

>100 Soupdragon: that's a lovely suggestion, Dee, thank you! I'm sure we could establish a monthly thread organizer rota as well.

102Heaven-Ali
Dic 11, 2017, 5:02 pm

>100 Soupdragon: lovely idea thank you.

103Heaven-Ali
Dic 19, 2017, 12:08 pm

Glad the author of the month is carrying on but if anyone wants to join the Muriel Spark reading event too, details are on my blog.

https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2017/12/12/muriel-spark-centenary-read-a-long-re...

104CurrerBell
Dic 19, 2017, 3:47 pm

>103 Heaven-Ali: The only Spark I've read is Jean Brodie, Memento Mori, The Girls of Slender Means, and some of the stories. Slender Means was so long ago I could do with a reread, but Jean Brodie and MM are recent enough rereads that I won't be doing them. I've got quite a backlog of Spark, though, quite several along with the biography that are catalogued and boxed so that I can put my hands right on them for 2018 ROOTing, so I'll be in on this.

105LizzieD
Dic 30, 2017, 12:09 pm

I don't know that I can join a GR either. My reading time is more limited than it was when I joined LT, but I'll see. I have most of MS yet to read.
Meanwhile, I hope that all of you are staying warm and continuing to celebrate. Hope 2018 holds good things for all of us!

106Soupdragon
Gen 2, 2018, 4:44 am

I hope to get a thread up to organise the monthly author reads either later on today or tomorrow.