I haven’t bought very many books lately, but I had the urge a few weeks ago for a little book splurge and these are the result.
The Group by Mary McCarthy – I’ve read this book before as a teenager, but can’t really remember it now. I love books about women’s lives and this book that scandalized readers in 1963 ticks all of my boxes for a potential great read.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – Can you believe that I’ve never read Tolkien? I’m not much for fantasy novels, but I’ve enjoyed the movie adaptations of his works. I recently watched the first Hobbit film and decided that I want to read the book for a chance to stay in the world a little longer.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe – I just finished The Moonstone and one of the narrators, Gabriel Betteredge, constantly quotes from Robinson Crusoe and really sees it as his bible. It made me curious to read it for myself.
Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell – I’m not really sure why I bought this one! Sometimes a book pops up on the Book Depository site that excites me at the moment so I put it in my cart, buy it and then can’t remember why. But it’s Elizabeth Gaskell and it’s gothic so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it!
The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers – I also read this book when I was a teen (sometimes I think I did my best reading during those years). I have a goal to read more American classics so this will be added to that growing collection.
The Collected Stories by Jean Stafford – I liked The Mountain Lion so much that I want to read more of Stafford’s work and she was known for her short stories. This collection won the Pulitzer Prize in 1970.
Other things:
I will be reading Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf for the Classics Club spin.
September 15 is less than a month away! Have you chosen your Mary Stewart book yet? I’ve narrowed down my choice, but I’m not quite sure which one I’ll be reading. I’m leaning toward Airs Above the Ground. I’ve decided there will be a giveaway during the week and a possible Twitter chat, too.
Have a gorgeous Sunday!
A Certain Fondness 
That’s a wonderful stack of books! I’ve been meaning to read Robinson Crusoe myself, because it turns up in so many other books. I loved Defoe’s Moll Flanders (a very different kind of book of course). I’ve been a Tolkien fan since my teens. I’ve also been meaning to re-read The Hobbit. I mean no disrespect to it or its author when I say it’s a slighter book than The Lord of the Rings books, and I can’t for the life of me figure out how Peter Jackson is getting three films out of it. He must have added quite a bit to the story – so I hope you won’t be disappointed with the book.
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I have a friend who says Jackson padded the movies out with stories from The Silmarillion – I watched the movie with her and she explained the differences to me so I don’t think I’ll be disappointed. I will enjoy the book for what it is – I hope!
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I loved The Group, and am about to start her The Company She Keeps. That is a nice stack of books (although, unfortunately, a lousy teacher turned me off Tolkien for life). I’ve got my Mary Stewart lined up for next month: The Gabriel Hounds in a lovely secondhand copy with dust-wrapper. Looking forward to that!
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The Gabriel Hounds sounds really good – it is one of her books I am considering. It will be so much fun to see what everyone reads and thinks!
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That was exactly what made me read Robinson Crusoe too. I think it must be the book most mentioned in other books, it pops up constantly. I read The Hobbit as a teenager but couldn’t get into the others. I’ll be interested to read what you say about the other books as I don’t know them at all. I’m all geared up for Mary Stewart.
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It seems like a lot of people read Tolkien in their teens, but I don’t think I even knew about him at that age. I hope I’ll enjoy The Hobbit as much as those who read it in their teens did.
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I also loved The Group when I was a teenager. I read it over and over. I hope it stands up to time. I’ve been meaning to try Stafford. I understand her short stories are quite good.
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I can’t wait to read Stafford’s stories – I hope I find the time soon. The Mountain Lion was just fantastic.
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I found The Hobbit difficult to read, there were no characters as a gateway in for me to enjoy the story – and the lack of any female characters bugged me. I remember studying Robinson Crusoe at University, I enjoyed it, but it was a slog to read. Love that The Moonstone lead you to Crusoe, it’s one of my favourite books.
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I loved The Moonstone and will write about it soon. It took me a while to read, but I’m glad I persevered.
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I love that edition of The Hobbit I really hope you will enjoy it. I have a lot of childhood memories of this book as my father read it to me at bedtime.
I’m still not sure which Stewart novel to read?! I also have Airs Above the Ground to read but I’m mainly finding myself pulled towards The Gabriel Hounds. I am really looking forward to the week!
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You have a hard choice between two fascinating sounding Stewarts! I can’t wait to see which one you choose.
What a lovely memory of The Hobbit!
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I quite liked The Hobbit, more than the trilogy itself (I only read the first there). There’s a nice simplicity to it. A book called Gothic Tales, by a writer from a ‘perfect’ era from it, sounds too good to miss!
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The Gothic Tales volume was too enticing to pass up. It will be perfect to read around Halloween.
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What a lovely selection of books. I fell in love with The Hobbit aged eleven, and with The Group some years later. Both books I could happily read all over again.
I’m drawn to Nine Coaches Waiting for Mary Stewart Reading Week, but I don’t have a copy and I’m not supposed to be buying books at the moment, so what I read will depend on whether the library has a copy and whether it gets to me in time.
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I’m pondering reading one of my library’s Stewart books for the week just to give more circulation to them! They have very retro, 70’s looking covers.
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loving the Retro hobbit cover ,hope you enjoy it ,I loved it as a kid ,all the best stu
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I love the cover, too! It is gorgeous.
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Is this your first time reading Mrs. Dalloway? It is one of my very favorite books. I can’t wait to hear what you think about it! Have a wonderful weekend!
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Yes, it will be my first time! I’ve avoided her because I am afraid of her style, but I think I am ready.
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