When Simon suggested, towards the end of last year, that we co-host a mini-project of reading books from a particular year, in this case 1924, I was delighted to join in. I don’t know that either of us foresaw how popular this would be, but loads of bloggers had great fun joining in. So we are reprising the event with a new year – 1938! The week concerned is 11th – 17th April and this time you have a reasonable amount of warning in which to start planning and reading.
I think this year might have been suggested by a number of participants (I’m sure Heavenali was one) and it’s a great choice. The thirties were an odd decade, full of fear and trembling and change in Europe, and 1938 in particular was a year where a cataclysmic event was brewing, which will no doubt be reflected in some of the works.
And there are some fabulous books to choose from! I’ve been ferreting through my stacks and I’ve come up with a number of possibles so far. Some would be new books which have been lurking on Mount TBR for a while:
Young Man with a Horn – Dorothy Baker
Enemies of Promise – Cyril Connolly
Antidote to Venom – Freeman Wills Crofts
The Gift – Nabokov
But there are quite a lot of possible re-reads too – for example, these ones, and I had no idea I’d read so many books published in 1938!!
Nausea – Jean-Paul Sartre
Out of the Silent Planet – C.S. Lewis
Homage to Catalonia – George Orwell
Appointment with Death – Agatha Christie
Death of the Heart – Elizabeth Bowen
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day – Winifred Watson
The Children Who Lived in a Barn – Eleanor Graham
Child of All Nations – Irmgard Keun
There are no doubt many, many more and we’ll look forward to your suggestions in due course. So please do join in with The 1938 Club and let’s get more discussion and thoughts and ideas going. I’ll do a separate page here where I’ll link to other reviews and you can leave comments. So here goes with planning for The 1938 Club – get reading! 🙂
Feb 11, 2016 @ 06:42:41
I like the sound of this, will have to see it what I can dig up. I’m sure I’ve got something already in house.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 07:14:30
There are a lot of fine books from 1938 so I do hope you have something in the stacks!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 06:53:08
I thought I had at least one book for this but looking at your list I have more than that although a few I have already read. Looking forward to the event.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 07:13:57
It should be fun Ali – you suggested a good year. I was surprised about how many books I already have, and I found another from 1938 since preparing this post!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 06:58:24
i really wanted to join in with the 1924 Club but was too disorganised – I’m going to aim to do better & join the 1938 Club!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 07:12:59
Well, you’ve got a bit more notice this time so hopefully it shouldn’t be an issue…. 😉
Feb 11, 2016 @ 11:41:19
I definitely had enough time last time and it still snuck up on me! I will seek to redeem myself 🙂
Feb 11, 2016 @ 07:30:32
Thank you for giving us plenty of time to get organised for this! It’s a great idea, so I will try to join in with this one (especially given the potential overlap with one or two books on my Classics Club list).
Dorothy Baker’s Young Man with a Horn is a tip-top read, very evocative of the period – I can’t recommend it highly enough. 🙂
Feb 12, 2016 @ 22:24:24
That’s one I’m very keen to get to, so I can imagine it will be high on the list! 😀
Feb 11, 2016 @ 07:42:37
Excellent idea. I’ll be joining in for sure.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 08:35:20
Great – the more the merrier!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 08:11:07
Darn, other than Rebecca, I discovered that all the books I thought I had from 1938 are out by a year or two (1939, 1936 etc.) The others must be back in my loft in England. I’ve always wanted to read Homage to Catalonia, so I may try to find that one at the library.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 08:35:13
That happened to me with the 1924 Club! But Homage to Catalonia is a wonderful book, so I do hope you can get a copy! I may re-read that one too.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 10:27:09
Hurray! So many exciting options. It is a great year – though I definitely sympathise with Marina’s dilemma of finding everything published at slightly the wrong date.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 10:58:32
Aren’t there some great titles? I really don’t know which to choose!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 10:42:04
Possibilities are jumping from the shelves this time. I have Margaret Kennedy, Francis Brett Young and Kate O’Brien in mind already, and I don’t doubt the I will find more when I look through me elderly hardbacks and my little orange Penguins.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 10:58:13
There are so many to choose from this time round – we really are spoiled with 1938!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 11:22:39
What fun! I shall start foraging the bookshelves immediately!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 22:25:11
Fab! Look forward to seeing what you find!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 13:36:28
I enjoyed the 1924 read so I’ll be lookingto join in with one or two. I have a couple in mind but may keep quiet as I like the element of surprise. 🙂
Feb 11, 2016 @ 13:51:43
Excellent! Surprises are always good and half the fun of this is finding out suggestions for good books to read!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 15:23:36
I really enjoyed joining in with 1924 (my first Schnitzler) so I’ll certainly be trying to fit one in for 1938 (even the searching for titles is fun!)
Feb 11, 2016 @ 15:37:54
Excellent! And yes, searching for the titles is half the fun here! 🙂
Feb 11, 2016 @ 15:49:39
I’ll definitely be joining in. I’m thinking about reading Homage to Catalonia too, as I’ve been enjoying some of George Orwell’s other books recently. I also have a book by Marjorie Bowen called God and the Wedding Dress which sounds intriguing, so I might read that as well.
Feb 11, 2016 @ 16:22:53
Fabulous! The Bowen sounds unusual – look forward to hearing about your reading experiences! 🙂
Feb 11, 2016 @ 19:54:04
I would love to participate. I have Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day sitting on my shelf and I will have to look around for some others to add!
Feb 11, 2016 @ 20:12:39
Fab! Miss Pettigrew is pure joy! 🙂
Feb 12, 2016 @ 04:07:03
I’m in! The Death of the Heart. The first one I saw on my shelf.
Feb 12, 2016 @ 06:56:34
Great! Bowen is such a wonderful writer!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 07:57:29
I’ll definitely be joining in, I love the 30s! The space between wars much have been such an interesting time to be alive, the value of life keenly felt with a war and flu pandemic still fresh in everyone’s minds, at the same time as getting ready for another war. All I can find right now is a Jeeves and Wooster from ’38, so alas I’m forced to buy more books… 😉
Feb 12, 2016 @ 10:03:42
Such a shame – I’m sorry to have caused you to buy books…… :))))))
Feb 12, 2016 @ 08:27:32
At last, no excuse now, that copy of A Child of All Nations that I have had forever will get read!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 10:02:53
🙂 It’s a good one – glad you can join in!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 09:05:32
Ooh, Karen. I’m in on this!! Young Man With A Horn was heaved on to the TBR Jacqui, so I shall earmark it for April. As for the idea of a re-read of beloved Homage to Catalonia – what a treat. Not to mention I was thinking of a re-read of Nausea at some point……. so I think all 3 are physical books already on the shelves. No doubt other titles will wriggle forwards. I re-read and reviewed Rebecca late last year, most impressed by it, found far more in it than I remembered from my reading in my teens and twenties of it. Brilliant year!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 10:02:40
Excellent – glad you can join in! There are *so* many good books that it will be impossible to choose!!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 12:10:54
I’m at that stage where I’m in mourning for all the wonderful books I will never get round to read. Not helped by the fact that I keep choosing ‘ooh just another one’ If my book addiction were a sugar or alcohol addiction I would have shuffled off this mortal coil a year after I first learned to read, I think!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 13:22:55
It *is* a bit depressing when you realise that you’re not likely to live long enough to read all the wonderful books you want….
Feb 12, 2016 @ 20:24:41
I would love to join you – thanks for giving so much advance notice! I followed your foray into 1924 with great interest. “Brighton Rock” is sitting here, for example, and would love to rise to the April challenge and see what everyone picks. Thank you!
Feb 12, 2016 @ 20:43:26
Fabulous! Brighton Rock is one of the few Greenes I don’t own (though I know I had a copy once!) Glad you can join in!
Feb 13, 2016 @ 09:03:22
Oooh’ what a wonderful excuse to reread one of my favourite feel-good books, namely ‘Miss Pettgrew Lives For A Day’ … mind you it was only last August when I east read it. 1938 has lots of detective stories as well.
Feb 13, 2016 @ 09:49:53
Any excuse to read Miss Pettigrew has to be a good one! And I must admit I’m tempted by Agatha…
Feb 13, 2016 @ 11:11:35
That sounds like fun and I hope I can join at least with one book. Just by coincidence I reviewed recently a book that was published originally in 1938, Kressmann Taylor’s Address Unknown: http://www.mytwostotinki.com/?p=2368 – a fast and very good read in my opinion. Another 1938 book: Murphy, by Samuel Beckett.
Feb 13, 2016 @ 15:07:34
Great – do hope you can join in! And thanks for mentioning Address Unknown – I’m sure I have this somewhere so I’ll search it out!
Feb 13, 2016 @ 18:39:57
Coincidentally, I just read Address Unknown last week. Wonderful book. I’ll check out your review.
Feb 13, 2016 @ 18:52:58
Oh, Thomas, it’s you. I didn’t recognize the name. It was he who recommended Address Unknown to me on GR! I shall subscribe to your blog. Small world.
Feb 13, 2016 @ 17:23:07
I’m not promising; it depends on what unmovable commitments I have that week but if it’s at all possibly I will be there.
Feb 13, 2016 @ 22:12:25
Excellent – hope you can make it!
Feb 14, 2016 @ 09:23:30
Drat..I was sure I would have something from 1938 among my vast TBR but all I have is Scoop. My husband just finished rereadi g that and recommended it but I’m leaning ,ore to the Elizabeth Bowen.
Feb 14, 2016 @ 10:40:49
Waugh is funny, but Bowen might be better for you – her prose is wonderful!
Feb 19, 2016 @ 15:05:38
I have a loan copy of that Pettigrew, it came highly recommended by a friend. What do you know about it?
I’d love to see your thoughts on the CS Lewis. I’ve read it, but ages back. First of a trilogy as I recall.
Young Man with a Horn I definitely want to read. I’ll try and bump it up the pile since you’re doing this.
You know, as a rule I don’t like book challenges and all that, but your year-club projects are much more interesting than usual.
Is the idea that the reviews get posted up in that week in April?
Feb 19, 2016 @ 20:35:07
Miss Pettigrew is a lovely, feel good, fairy tale kind of read which made me smile all the way through – fab when you need that kind of read. As for the Lewis trilogy, I read them over 30 years ago so i can’t remember as thing about them apart from liking them. Young Man is calling to me too.
Yes, the idea is to post your reviews during the week (so I admit I will be reading up in advance!) – the nice thing about these projects is that the year thing gives flexibility. I struggle with challenges too but this one is nice and manageable!
Feb 23, 2016 @ 14:17:20
That’s great to hear. I’ll try to take part – it gives me a reason to read the Pettigrew which I’ve already had far too long…
Feb 23, 2016 @ 14:42:44
Excellent – glad you can join us! 🙂
Feb 19, 2016 @ 18:47:50
Feb 28, 2016 @ 17:21:36
I’m in, though nothing on the immediate TBR fits … but I need that year for my century of reading!
Feb 28, 2016 @ 18:29:41
Excellent! An excuse to go book shopping!!
Wish List 2016 | Literary ramblings etc
Mar 06, 2016 @ 06:23:41
AN A TO Z OF INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES …. | Beyond Eden Rock
Mar 14, 2016 @ 07:03:23
Mar 14, 2016 @ 09:43:03
Great idea I’ll start scanning the bookshelves!
Mar 14, 2016 @ 10:04:30
I think the trouble with 1938 is going to be whittling down the list – there are so many good books from that year!
“Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle.” (Bob Hope) | madame bibi lophile recommends
Apr 11, 2016 @ 07:10:39
The 1938 Club: Three Guineas / Virginia Woolf | Somewhere Boy
Apr 11, 2016 @ 18:15:15
Nothing quite lifts the spirits like a weekend spent in 1938 with Angela Thirkell! | Hard Book Habit
Apr 13, 2016 @ 06:00:28
Apr 14, 2016 @ 18:35:48
George Orwell – Homage to Catalonia | Lady Fancifull
Apr 17, 2016 @ 21:07:30
Book review – Richmal Crompton – The Journeying Wave (1938 Club) | Adventures in reading, writing and working from home
Apr 17, 2016 @ 22:05:38
Apr 17, 2016 @ 22:07:02
I’ve just snuck in with The Journeying Wave! https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/book-review-richmal-crompton-the-journeying-wave-1938-club/
Apr 18, 2016 @ 09:09:59
Excellent! I’ll link!
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Oct 10, 2016 @ 07:29:52
Bingo – or, Not Quite, I’m Afraid. | Lady Fancifull
Dec 19, 2016 @ 17:01:07
Best of this funny old year’s reads: Reads of, if not from, 2016 | Lady Fancifull
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