Normally, during one of our reading weeks, I can go back over books I’ve previously read from the year in question and point you to older reviews. However, strangely enough, there seems very little on the Ramblings from 1951 and a limited number of books I can direct you to!
One of the major works I’ve covered from 1951 is the first book in the sequence by Anthony Powell now known as “A Dance to the Music of Time” – “A Question of Upbringing”. Back in 2013 I read through the whole series of 12 books a month at a time, and a very rewarding experience it was too. If you ever have the time to undertake this I’d recommend it!
Another major book from the year is “The End of the Affair” by Graham Greene but I hesitate to send you to my review as it was one of the first I did on the Ramblings and it’s hardly in depth. I loved some parts of the book but struggled with the endless guilt and agonising – though my Middle Child tells me that’s the whole point! I don’t imagine I’ll get to a re-read this week, but maybe another time I should give it another chance.
And I began the Ramblings midway through a year of reading Elizabeth Taylor’s novels along with members of the LibraryThing Virago Modern Classics group; and had read “A Game of Hide and Seek” before I started blogging. It ended up being one of my favourite Taylor books and I can highly recommend it too!
Of course there are other books I’ve read from 1951 – “The Daughter of Time” and “Forbidden Colours” are the other two I can be sure of – but it’s so long ago that I can’t really offer substantial opinions! I don’t think there will be much re-reading this week – the new titles are very appealing, particularly the crime ones, and I can feel they’ll be grabbing most of my attention! Looking forward to hearing what everyone else is reading! 🙂
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Apr 11, 2017 @ 08:45:43
I’ll second the recommendation for A Dance to the Music of Time, and gosh, yes, anything by Graham Greene:)
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:00:53
Yes, Greene *is* wonderful, isn’t he? And Dance was a really amazing experience – worth the commitment!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 09:33:58
I’ve just revisited a previous read with a rehash of an old review – here it is:
http://harrietdevine.typepad.com/harriet_devines_blog/2017/04/a-game-of-hide-and-seek-1951.html
Apr 11, 2017 @ 09:59:38
Excellent! Thanks for sharing and I’ll add it to my list of links later in the week!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:22:13
Yes indeed guilt is part and parcel of End of the Affair and though I dont have an atom of faith in my body I still find it fascinating. I’m just coming to the end of Daughter of Time and wondering if I have time to squeeze in the E. Taylor.
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:29:30
Oh, the guilt is fascinating but not something I could necessarily relate to personally. I would feel guilt on a moral, personal level if I had betrayed someone, but not in relation to a deity – which is perhaps where I strugged to fel with the book. As for the Taylor, it’s probably my favourite of hers so I do hope you can fit it in!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:23:02
Er, haven’t you read ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ as well. It’s interesting that I haven’t heard much mention of that book so far but I would say it’s the biggie from ’51.
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:27:56
Oh, indeed I *have* read Catcher – I had a huge Salinger phase many years pre-blog and read everything by him and loved it, of course. But I guess because it’s the big, obvious book from that year I kind of felt it didn’t really need any championing. I’d like to revisit it any one day, but I also wonder how I’d feel about it now I’m so much older and have read so much more! 🙂
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:56:06
I have those very same editions of the Powell and the Greene … just showing off as I am usually in awe of your catches!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 11:19:45
:))) They’re pretty books, aren’t they? I really *must* read more Greene!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 11:34:48
That goes without saying – QUIET AMERICAN, THE HONORARY CONSUL and BURNT OUT CASE all deserving of much love. Mind, unlike you, I loved END OF THE AFFAIR, so …
Apr 11, 2017 @ 16:33:38
The problem with “End” is probably me, not the book – I imagine I’d have a different reaction to it now, especially as I’ve read a fair amount of Greene in the interim!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 17:08:25
It is one of my absolute favourites (and I’m not even remotely religious)
Apr 11, 2017 @ 17:47:44
High praise indeed! 😀
Apr 11, 2017 @ 13:12:01
I really want to read that Graham Greene though I don’t seem to have a copy. I loved A Question of Upbringing – loved the whole twelve novel sequence and A Game of Hide and Seek is – in my opinion – Elizabeth Taylor’s best novel.
Apr 11, 2017 @ 16:32:31
I think I’d have to agree about the Taylor – it’s probably my favourite too!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 14:34:18
I think my new rule is that I will never cull unread books from my library, ever! I always regret it. I once had all twelve of A Dance to the Music of Time, decided I’d never read them, and gave them to my previous local library. Now I want to read them! This happens all the time.
Apr 11, 2017 @ 16:32:06
Same here – mind you, I’ve been known to buy back a book I’ve donated only to find I didn’t donate at all and I now have two…
Apr 12, 2017 @ 14:48:46
Ha! That’s funny. I don’t think I’ve ever done that.
Apr 13, 2017 @ 08:47:45
I’ve done it too many times…
Apr 11, 2017 @ 19:45:37
I am so delighted by your utterly gorgeous-as-if-an-alter photo, with that dearly, dearly loved Greene, in my eyes, in pride of place.
It is strange, I have started the Powell so many times, and each time, and delightedly, I get to the end of book 3 and something happens so I lose momentum and don’t pick up book 4 in the right time. This necessitates, after the passage of several years, the need to pick up book 1 again. It may be that the copies I have are in trilogies, and bought from America
Apr 11, 2017 @ 20:19:41
🙂 My hall table features Russian memorabilia and (artificial) Japanese cherry blossom – two of my favourite things – plus carnations!
As for the Powell, you’re having the same problem I have with Proust – I got to the end of the first big omnibus volume and got stuck! My Powells are in four volumes and very hefty.
Apr 11, 2017 @ 21:08:11
I had considered reading both The End of the Affair and A Game of Hide and Seek for the club, but in the end I was drawn to other books instead. I would still like to read them at some point, though.
I’ve just posted a review of Georgette Heyer’s Duplicate Death: https://shereadsnovels.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/duplicate-death-by-georgette-heyer-1951club/
Apr 12, 2017 @ 08:01:18
Excellent – I’ll add that to my links later in the week!
Apr 11, 2017 @ 21:22:39
I’m so tempted by A Dance to the Music of Time – I’m going to give serious consideration to following your year long project…
Apr 12, 2017 @ 08:00:40
It’s a commitment certainly, but worth taking the time!
Apr 12, 2017 @ 02:22:40
Happy 1951! If I can find my copy of The End of the Affair I will definitely reread it. I looked for it earlier today–in vain. Maybe I can find something by Elizabeth Bowen? I’ll have to look at the dates.
Apr 12, 2017 @ 07:55:02
I hope you can join in. I looked for a Bowen but failed to find anything unless there are short stories.
Apr 12, 2017 @ 21:49:24
Oooh, rereading that Elizabeth Taylor was my biggest temptation too. Ultimately I opted for a fresh read, but I’m still kinda longing for that one. Hope you are pleased with the participation so far!
Apr 13, 2017 @ 08:44:49
It’s been excellent to read everyone’s posts so far – such fun! The Taylor was a temptation for me too but time is against me…
Apr 16, 2017 @ 17:32:25
Here’s my 1951 Club entry: https://leavesandpages.com/2017/04/16/a-primer-on-aging-gracefully-the-loved-and-envied-by-enid-bagnold/
Gorgeous novel, right up there with Vita Sackville-West’s All Passion Spent.
I’ve given the link to Simon, too – not quite sure who wants these to compile the final list.
Thanks for the project – great fun to see what everyone else is finding for the year.
Apr 16, 2017 @ 20:52:20
Oh, excellent! Thanks for joining in – it’s been such fun! I don’t know if Simon or I ever get a complete list together, but I try to link to all the posts I can!