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I have been thinking about this for a while.

I'm in another group that has a Book Pool.

Members who want to take part select 3 books. There is no obligation to read any book. On the thread when you have read a book, you say what number read it is for you, date finished, brief review & a star rating (if you want)

We don't have to be an exact copy. I was thinking each member could choose 5 books & we could run it from January- November.

I think we would need at least 6 members (+ me) to get a broad enough choice, but it has been a great way for me to discover different books.

Here it is running now. /topic/show/...

Sign up here if you are keen to try this!

* * *

Because there has been a bit of confusion, I will add the rules I posted in message #17 here as well.

* No Georgette Heyer (I moderate a group for her books)

* Time period the book is written should be 1920-1980. If it is just a couple of years outside that time though we can probably be a little flexible!

* Non fiction, later books in a series, YA & books for older children all fine by me!

* I would like to close the adding books to the pool on the 31st of Dec (PST) although anyone can join in & read after that.

Sounds great! In deference to the inclinations of this group I have selected only books from my extensive TBR piles that are by retro authors. The pool in the other group specified they had to be available in both paperback and ebook; I don’t know whether you want that rule here, but I had enough TBR books that I (with regret) eliminated Elizabeth Goudge from the running, since I don’t find most of her works in ebook.

1. Elizabeth Cadell, The Lark Shall Sing
2. Stella Gibbons, The Woods In Winter
3. Dorothy Lambert, Much Dithering
4. Adrian Bell, Corduroy
5. Margery Sharp, The Stone of Chastity

This is an intriguing idea, Carol!

1. Apricot Sky by Ruby Ferguson
2. Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier
3. Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering
4. Bramton Wick by Elizabeth Fair
5. Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis

Only problem, I want to read all of my titles, and all of Abigail’s - and I haven’t even seen what other members might post! My TBR pile is going to topple for sure next year…I have excluded Elizabeth Goudge as well, because my library only has The Dean's Watch, and I have not seen her books as ebooks, either.

Personally I don't think the books have to be available as ebooks/kindles. & I would be ok with books not being the first in a series as well.

But I will go with the majority. :)

Thanks, I agree with you - if I understand the system correctly, each participant can choose from the pool, so if one book is not readily available, choose another, right? I like this idea, one can choose based on what they are in the mood to read!

Yes & if someone has already chosen a book you were going to list, don't list it again. & there is no obligation to read any book.

Thanks!

I like the concept, Carol. Give me a day or so to think about the books and I'll join.. I already want to read most of the books Abigail and Susan listed!

It doesn't look like there is much interest in this idea, which is a shame. It really has been a way for me to discover different authors in the BLK group. But I will give it another couple of days. :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "It doesn't look like there is much interest in this idea, which is a shame. It really has been a way for me to discover different authors in the BLK group. But I will give it another couple of days..."

That is a shame, I liked the sound of it; especially because often, I have a hard time getting the books we choose to read. This would have given us more choices based on availability!

I think I've selected my books. Carol, if you add 5 books we'll have 20 to choose from and we can start from there. I'm sure others will join as we progress.

Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden
A Gull on the Roof by Derek Tangye
The Soul of Kindness by Elizabeth Taylor
Village School by Miss Read
Runaway Bride by Jane Aiken Hodge

Okay, here's 5 from me

Ice Station Zebra by Alistair Maclean
Death in the Andamans by MM Kaye
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen
Dinner at Antoine's by Frances Parkinson Keyes

Barb in Maryland wrote: "Okay, here's 5 from me

Ice Station Zebra by Alistair Maclean
Death in the Andamans by MM Kaye
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Out of Africa by..."

I was looking at my MM Kaye's a few minutes ago and thinking I should have added one to my list! Now there is one in the list, thank you, Barb.

Wonderful selections, ladies! And selfishly, many new-to-me titles, or titles that were movies when I was a kid, but I never read the book, so here’s my chance��

This is exciting- I agree with Carolien, if you add your five, Carol, we’d have a diverse, interesting pool to start! As she points out, other mods or members will probably join in, and if we want more, I’m sure we could each come up with one more title - I wanted another humorous title, and Barb’s list reminds me, another mystery or adventure title would be welcome! So many books��

I don't have a large TBR featuring books from our designated time period, so I've been putting Google to work. Type in the query 'best sellers', with a year (ie 'best sellers 1937'), gives me a nice selection of titles to prod my memory.
There's a marvelous, though very US-centric, site--PopCulture--that lists fiction and non-fiction best sellers, as well as Book of the Month Club selections when available, by year from the early 1900s to the present. Warning--this is a rabbit-hole of epic proportions!
So many books, so little time...

Oooh, thanks Barb, I will check that out! My local big used book sale was a great source for Book of the Month Club selections - original covers, great shape, just old - you just know people read (or not) once, put on the bookshelf, and forgot about them. Covid has canceled the sale for the last couple years, hopefully it’ll be back next spring. Fond memories of browsing with my mom��

I didn’t have a lot on my TBR list, I remembered mentions of the Middlebrow Press (imprint?), anyway, looked up one on GR, and the “other titles readers enjoyed�� feature lead my down the rabbit hole! I was going to add an EF Benson title, but I think the Lucia titles are the only ones fairly widely available.

Susan in NC wrote: "Oooh, thanks Barb, I will check that out! My local big used book sale was a great source for Book of the Month Club selections - original covers, great shape, just old - you just know people read (..."

Funny you should mention that - last week was our town's Book Fair & I picked up Make Way for Lucia which has six Lucia novels. I also got Cold Comfort Farm. I was especially excited to get a Nancy Mitford Don't Tell Alfred but it is the third part of a series. Likewise I got a book by NZ literary great, Robin Hyde but it is the second part in a series.

Ok, I am encouraged by your support! I want to wait a bit longer before I put my list up though.

A couple of rules that (of course) I forgot about mentioning;

* No Georgette Heyer (I moderate a group for her books) or Mary Stewart (Tadiana moderates a group for her books)

* Time period the book is written should be 1920-1980. If it is just a couple of years outside that time though we can probably be a little flexible!

* Non fiction, later books in a series, YA & books for older children all fine by me!

* I would like to close the adding books to the pool on the 31st of Dec (my time) although anyone can join in & read after that.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "It doesn't look like there is much interest in this idea, which is a shame. It really has been a way for me to discover different authors in the BLK group. But I will give it another couple of days..."

I like the idea. I’ll try to come up with five.

Peggy wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "It doesn't look like there is much interest in this idea, which is a shame. It really has been a way for me to discover different authors in the BLK group. But I will..."

Yippeee!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "It doesn't look like there is much interest in this idea, which is a shame. It really has been a way for me to discover different authors in the BLK group. But I will give it another couple of days..."

I'm glad more people are joining in. I don't think I will officially but I am happy to read everyone's suggestions. I've already seen several I want to read.

I need a good, functioning TBR list! I think I will create a thread and see what others are doing. what I really need is a list of books that I know are not available for free (between the internet generally and my libraries) for when I am in an actual bookstore.

Jackie wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "It doesn't look like there is much interest in this idea, which is a shame. It really has been a way for me to discover different authors in the BLK group. But I will..."

That’s what I do, Jackie - first I check my library for a book, either physical book, ebook or audiobook, then check my subscriptions - Scribd and Audible. Then try used book sources - sometimes, it’s a shocker - $700 for an old paperback! That’s when I respectfully decline to take part in that particular reading challenge��;) But sometimes I get lucky!

Barb in Maryland wrote: "I don't have a large TBR featuring books from our designated time period, so I've been putting Google to work. Type in the query 'best sellers', with a year (ie 'best sellers 1937'), gives me a nic..."

You were right, it’s fun to google “best sellers�� and plug in a year, look at the PopCulture lists! I did the year I was born, my siblings, the year I turned 10, etc. Saw several titles my parents had on their shelves! If Carol wants some nonfiction for our pool, that would be a great source.

Interesting concept. I'm starting with a book that I just added today, but I'll need a bit of time to finish my list. But I should be able to get there before your deadline *fingers crossed*

1. Black Alibi by Cornell Woolrich
2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
3.
4.
5.

Here are my five. They’re all old favorites of mine, and all available as ebooks.

1. Tryst by Elswyth Thane
2. Suds in Your Eye by Mary Lasswell
3. Anybody Can Do Anything by Betty MacDonald
4. Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace
5. Britannia Mews by Margery Sharp

Allegra wrote: "Interesting concept. I'm starting with a book that I just added today, but I'll need a bit of time to finish my list. But I should be able to get there before your deadline *fingers crossed*

1. [b..."

Hi Allegra

Great that you are going to participate but this doesn't start till January 2022.
& the Count of Monte Cristo is outside this group's range as it was first published in 1844. This group is predominantly for books published between 1920-1980.

I'll add the rules I put in Message #17 to the first post now.

I'll be in, but I will have to ponder my picks and add them later. Of late I've been thinking about some of my favourites from both my childhood and early adult years and wondering if they'd still hold the magic today as they did for me back then. This could be a good way to find out!

Peggy wrote: "Here are my five. They’re all old favorites of mine, and all available as ebooks.

1. Tryst by Elswyth Thane
2. Suds in Your Eye by Mary Lasswell
3. [book:Anybody Can Do..."

Oh, Tryst--I loved that one so much when I read it as a teen. Good choice!

I'd like to participate! I found out about this group from Peggy (hi!), but have pretty much just lurked since I joined. This would be a good way to get me to more vocal and active.

I'll work on figuring out my selections and will post before the deadline.

Jenn wrote: "I'd like to participate! I found out about this group from Peggy (hi!), but have pretty much just lurked since I joined. This would be a good way to get me to more vocal and active.

I'll work on ..."

Cool! I am the organiser & I will probably leave it to just before the deadline to post my selections. :)

Me!

1 Lonely Road Nevil Shute
2 Whanau by Witi Ihimaera (author of The Whalerider)
3Demelza by Winston Graham
4An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden
5The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

Part of the low participation might be due to the quiddities of ŷ������. I got the first post for this thread but then ŷ������ stopped sending me notifications. So maybe people just didn’t receive the notice!

My five selections are

1. On the Beach / Nevil Shute (last time I read this the really good story had become a little too real - scary)
2. Tom's Midnight Garden / Philippa Pearce (read a couple of others of hers as a child, but never got to read this!)
3. Roots: The Saga of an American Family / Alex Haley (the book and TV miniseries that got me started in researching my family history)
4. Savannah Purchase / Jane Aiken Hodge (the entire series was serialised in Mum's English Woman's Weekly - had to grab it before she got to the knitting pattern)
5. The Vines of Yarrabee / Dorothy Eden (remember reading many of her books with Mum, but this title sticks in my mind)

Known for my being indecisive, I reserve the right to change any of the above before December. ;)

Just seen this and I love the idea. That and I have tons of books in my TBR. Let me have a think which ones I’d select :0)

Edit:
So many titles mentioned that I am interested in ;O)

Lesley - Tom’s Midnight Garden is wonderful! Hope you like it.

Tempted to read another Shute and finally get to MM Kaye, whether Far Pavilions or Shadow of the Moon.

I have read one Cadell, The Corner Shop, ages ago and really liked it.

My problem is choosing only a handful!


Mrs Harris Goes to Paris & Mrs Harris Goes to New York by Paul Gallico (1963)
The first story but I may very well read both since they sound so charming and fun.

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (1967)
Somehow I’d never heard of this Australian novel until recently. I know - where was I? Anyway, better late than never.

Which Way? by Theodora Benson (1931)
Unsurprisingly, I am collecting the British Library Women Writers collection, so I want to read them all. I’m opting for this one but reserve the right to choose another :O)

Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery (1923)
I did like Anne of Green Gables but loved The Blue Castle. High time I read more from Montgomery.

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively (1987). It is a few years off our time frame but it feels like an ‘older�� book. Just let me know if it is acceptable or not.
If not, I have quite a few other titles in mind such as Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, The Feast by Margaret Kennedy that has just been republished, Kaye’s epic The Far Pavilions, and The Makioka Sisters by a Japanese writer.

Ursula Le Guin—what a good thought!

Abigail wrote: "Ursula Le Guin—what a good thought!"

:O) Thanks. I just read Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing and it was fascinating.


Been looking for Elizabeth Cadell books since I enjoyed the one I read so much (Corner Shop). They all sound so good...

I found a bunch of Elizabeth Cadell books for cheap on Abe Books.

Abigail wrote: "I found a bunch of Elizabeth Cadell books for cheap on Abe Books."

Oh! Forgot about Abe Books. Thanks :O)

Veronique wrote: "My problem is choosing only a handful!


Mrs Harris Goes to Paris & Mrs Harris Goes to New York by Paul Gallico (1963)
The first story but I may very well read both since they sound..."

Hi Veronique

I think Moon Tiger may be a bit too far off our time period. I was thinking about changing the time period to 1920-ish-1989, but I would need agreement from at least one of the other mods.

The Christmas reads usually start in the early 1900s though.

I was wanting to list Missus but even though it is a prequel to The Harp in the South it wasn't published till 1985. Quite a gap!

That’s fine, Carol, I thought it might be.
I’ll go instead for the Le Guin book The Dispossessed

If anyone has books they want to add & they aren't already on ŷ������, let me know. (yes it is possible! I have an E.R. Punshon & a Vicki Baum that weren't up when I last looked.) I am a GR librarian.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "If anyone has books they want to add & they aren't already on ŷ������, let me know. (yes it is possible! I have an E.R. Punshon & a Vicki Baum that weren't up whe..."

The Book Pool looks grand, Carol! That thread is frozen, but wanted to let you know- very excited about reading possibilities for next year! So many choices��

Susan in NC wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "If anyone has books they want to add & they aren't already on ŷ������, let me know. (yes it is possible! I have an E.R. Punshon & a [author:Vicki B..."

Yes, I will leave it frozen a bit longer. Anyone who still wants to join, just add your selections here!

& thank you! I do think all the pretty covers look very enticing! :)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "If anyone has books they want to add & they aren't already on ŷ������, let me know. (yes it is possible! I have an E.R. Punshon..."

They really do!

May I add to the pool? I checked the bookshelf so as not to repeat.

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham
These Thousand Hills by A.B. Guthrie Jr.
Saratoga Trunk by Edna Ferber
M.C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton
The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

CindySlowReader#Boosted wrote: "May I add to the pool? I checked the bookshelf so as not to repeat.

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham
These Thousand Hills by [author:A.B. Guthrie Jr.|1177..."

Sure you can - the more the merrier! :) & since you have added Ross Poldark, I will add Demelza! I was hoping to get it read this year, but I can see that won't happen!

I'll go ahead and add my choices, since you're getting organized. Plus, once I post them I will stop second-guessing my options. Glad to see that some of what I was considering have already turned up in the pool! All titles that I've been meaning to read for ages ...

1. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos
2. Assignment in Brittany by Helen MacInnes
3. Stoner by John Williams
4. Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym
5. Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin

I love Helen MacInnes books! And am way overdue for revisiting Barbara Pym. This pool is going to be so much fun!

Jenn wrote: "I'll go ahead and add my choices, since you're getting organized. Plus, once I post them I will stop second-guessing my options. Glad to see that some of what I was considering have already turned ..."

Added! I do

Abigail wrote: "I love Helen MacInnes books! And am way overdue for revisiting Barbara Pym. This pool is going to be so much fun!"

I think so - it is a no pressure challenge! Anyone who doesn't believe me can look at my progress in the BLK challenge - haven't even completed my own nominations!