Retro Reads discussion
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message 353:
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Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!
(last edited Apr 14, 2024 01:38AM)
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Book #7 Summerhills (finished April 14)"
How did you like it, Mela?"
More than Amberwell. A charming continuation of the stories of the Ayrton siblings.



I also read Summerhills, finishing it up on April 2. (was out of town, so just now catching up)
It is book 2 for me and I gave it 4 stars (although I'd have given 3 1/2 if possible).
I liked it for the most part, but there were a few things/characters I got frustrated with and bits where I wanted a little more. But as always with Stevenson, the delight of spending time with the characters and the setting greatly outweighed any minuses.
message 359:
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Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!
(last edited Apr 15, 2024 08:30PM)
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Added for you Jenn. :)
I round down - except when it is a Kiwi author. Then I round up. If you ever see me give a New Zealand book 1� you had better believe it is bad! 😁
I round down - except when it is a Kiwi author. Then I round up. If you ever see me give a New Zealand book 1� you had better believe it is bad! 😁

that's a shame; the premise sounded interesting but I see reviews are mixed.
message 364:
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Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!
(last edited Apr 18, 2024 01:01PM)
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#1 here
#3 read
Breakfast with the Nikolides 2.5�
I normally love Godden's books, so this was a big disappointment. Both main characters really repellent. Finished 18/4.
#3 read
Breakfast with the Nikolides 2.5�
I normally love Godden's books, so this was a big disappointment. Both main characters really repellent. Finished 18/4.

I round down - except when it is a Kiwi author. Then I round up. If you ever see me give a New Zealand book 1� you had better believe it is bad! 😁"
Haha, good to know. I don't think there's much logic to if I round up or down - it's probably highly dependent on my mood and not at all scientific or logical!

#3 read
Breakfast with the Nikolides 2.5�
I normally love Godden's books, so this was a big disappointment. Both main characters really repellent. Finished 18/4."
Oh, what a bummer!

Jackie wrote: "#15 and just finished (4/19) my #3 book Uncle Dynamite. I'm giving it 5 stars because, like every other book I've read by the same author, I literally laughed out loud. The Earl, AK..."
Added for you, Jackie!
Added for you, Jackie!

And the narrator is delightful!

I loved this one, it doesn't reach the heights of The Fortnight in September, but hardly anything ever does, however R.C. Sherriff is just such a brilluant writer and it was so nice to have another novel of his available to me.
Tania wrote: "#7 Book 3 The Wells of St. Mary's by R.C. Sherriff finished 22/04/24 - 4*s
I loved this one, it doesn't reach the heights of [book:The Fortnight in September|363303..."
Added for you, Tania. :)
I loved this one, it doesn't reach the heights of [book:The Fortnight in September|363303..."
Added for you, Tania. :)
CindySR wrote: "#16
book number 6
Near Neighbors
finished 4/28
3 stars, as good as everyone said!"
Added for you, Cindy!
book number 6
Near Neighbors
finished 4/28
3 stars, as good as everyone said!"
Added for you, Cindy!

The Covered Wagon

I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this favorite from my teenage years.
So I give it 4 stars for nostalgia's sake.
But--a warning to those who haven't read it-- oh boy, it has a lot of the flaws that come along with an older text (It was published in 1922, but stylistically it reads like something from the 1890s). I'll go into all that when I write my review.
Note: the cover is from the (falling apart) hardback I own. I read the Kindle edition of this book (which has a generic cover).
Barb in Maryland wrote: "#3 with book #4
The Covered Wagon
, finished 30 April 2024.
I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this favorite from my teenage years.
So I..."
Added for you Barb!
The Covered Wagon

I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this favorite from my teenage years.
So I..."
Added for you Barb!
Amanda wrote: "#18
Book #3
Linnets and Valerians 4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It's a very good story."
Yes, I liked this one too.
Added for you, Amanda. :)
Book #3
Linnets and Valerians 4 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It's a very good story."
Yes, I liked this one too.
Added for you, Amanda. :)
Cphe wrote: "No 19
book 13 - The Dud Avocado - found it disappointing."
Added for you Cphe - you are the second one to say that!
book 13 - The Dud Avocado - found it disappointing."
Added for you Cphe - you are the second one to say that!


The Covered Wagon

I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this favorite from my teenage years.
So I..."
I read a lot of old books, kind of comes with the territory, if you’re referring to racial/gender/ethnic stereotypes. I look forward to reading your review!

book 13 - The Dud Avocado - found it disappointing."
Added for you Cphe - you are the second one to say that!"
Normally the Virago modern classics have great novels but found this one strangely disappointing. Couldn't emphasise with Sally at all.
Carol Fiji Bound! wrote: "OK - that one has moved to the 'only if I can get hold of free' category."
It's here
but if the Dud is a dud I don't want to read it 😆
It's here
but if the Dud is a dud I don't want to read it 😆

It's here
but if the Dud is a dud I don't want t..."
😁

Loved this one, Uncle Fred is a hoot, even if he is completely potty. It turns out this is one I haven't read before, (I can never be sure when I start them, the plots can be so similar that I think PGW himself said that sometimes he'd start writing a book and realise halfway through he'd written it before). 😀

Had not come across this part of PGW, Read synopsis, looked very good, and ordered copy. John

The Covered Wagon

Here's a link:
/review/show...

Had not come across this part of PGW, Read synopsis, looked very good, and ordered copy. John"
Great, I hope you enjoy it. My favourite one with Uncle Fred is Uncle Fred in the Springtime, so if you enjoy Uncle Dynamite, I'd recommend that one too.
I'm still thinking I might want to read the Dud Avocado, so thanks for the link, Cindy!
I'll just start updating now...
I'll just start updating now...
... & updated for you, Tania!
I'm very close to having finished one of my books, but I didn't read much while I was away.
I'm very close to having finished one of my books, but I didn't read much while I was away.
message 393:
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Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ , She's a mod, yeah, yeah, yeah!
(last edited May 18, 2024 12:31PM)
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Susan in NC wrote: "I hope you had a fabulous time with the sisters!"
We did thanks! :)
I'll mention being on Fiji time is an expression over there & it is going to take me a day or 2 to get back on NZ & ŷ time. :)
We did thanks! :)
I'll mention being on Fiji time is an expression over there & it is going to take me a day or 2 to get back on NZ & ŷ time. :)

I rated it 5 stars but haven't (yet) written a review. I absolutely loved the main character and all the other characters as well and the mystery was fine.
The humor made me literally laugh out loud many times as Lupin completely mistakes what is going on.
ETA: link to review /review/show...

Jackie wrote: "#15 here with my 4th book Who Killed the Curate? which I finished 5/15 and then forgot to post about.
I rated it 5 stars but haven't (yet) written a review. I absolutely loved the ..."
Hi Jackie
I entered this one for you, but forgot to post that I had done so.
Sorry about that.
#1 here with Book #4 The Saint Meets the Tiger
Finished 19/5. 3� This was the first Saint book & I would recommend trying to get an edition with the introduction Charteris wrote in 1980. This book has lots of flaws, but Charteris wrote it when he was only 20 & he wasn't intending to write a series. In spite of a relatively low rating I recommend this one.
I rated it 5 stars but haven't (yet) written a review. I absolutely loved the ..."
Hi Jackie
I entered this one for you, but forgot to post that I had done so.
Sorry about that.
#1 here with Book #4 The Saint Meets the Tiger
Finished 19/5. 3� This was the first Saint book & I would recommend trying to get an edition with the introduction Charteris wrote in 1980. This book has lots of flaws, but Charteris wrote it when he was only 20 & he wasn't intending to write a series. In spite of a relatively low rating I recommend this one.
CindySR wrote: "#16
book number 7
Something Light by Margery Sharp
finished 5/20
Not bad. 3 stars
/review/show..."
Added for you, Cindy!
book number 7
Something Light by Margery Sharp
finished 5/20
Not bad. 3 stars
/review/show..."
Added for you, Cindy!

my review /review/show...
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Books mentioned in this topic
Cheerfulness Breaks In (other topics)Breakfast with the Nikolides (other topics)
Who Killed the Curate? (other topics)
The Conqueror's Wife (other topics)
Blue Camellia (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Elizabeth Fair (other topics)Elizabeth Goudge (other topics)
Elizabeth Goudge (other topics)
D.E. Stevenson (other topics)
D.E. Stevenson (other topics)
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book number 5
The Joyful Delaneys
finished 4/4
I didn't like it, 1 star. At least I finished it!"
Added for you Cindy! Sorry it was a dud!