Yes, time for another week of reading, discovering and discussing books from a particular year – and this one is 1977. We reach a more modern decade than we’ve been covering up until now, and one which certainly takes us away from Simon’s comfort zone of the 1920s! :)) However, I was initially unsure of what I would read from the year until I began to dig, and I actually came up with a bit of a pile of books that I already own:
Yes, I really *do* own three copies of “Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams”. No, I don’t know why…
I also own two other books from 1977 that piqued my interest, but alas I cannot at the moment lay hands on them – “The Women’s Room” by Marilyn French is a feminist classic and I have a battered old Virago copy, but it’s currently lurking on a shelf in Middle Child’s flat as I have loaned it out – so I won’t be reading that one… I also own Patrick Leigh Fermor’s “A Time of Gifts” but several trawls through the shelves have failed to find it (although I *did* find some other books I was looking for). So I may well choose from the above – some are re-reads, some unread, and I’d like to go for a mix if I can.
And then there’s this, lurking electronically:
I really want to read Barthes but frankly, I’m a Bit Scared. I’m *not* an academic and I fear I will fail miserably to understand this and then feel stupid. Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained….
So do join Simon at Stuck in a Book and myself in the #1977club – it’s great fun, great reading and always fascinating to see what books people come up with! Here goes…!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 06:38:27
I’m really looking forward to seeing what people read this week – thanks to you & Simon for arranging! I find Barthes more understandable than a lot of academics so he may be ok (I’ve not read Lovers Discourse though)
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:36:04
I do enjoy these reading weeks – and I shall read and link to your post later. And thank you for the encouraging words about Barthes – I may try to get to that one if time doesn’t run out on me… 😉
Apr 16, 2018 @ 07:26:07
So so many years since I read Johnny Panic… I hadn’t realised it was a 1977 book I’m sure I have the same edition as two of your three copies. 🙂
I considered buying The Passion of New Eve but resisted as I did have four other books to choose from.
I’m currently reading The Dancing Girls by Margaret Atwood.
Apr 17, 2018 @ 09:19:49
Johnny Panic is just so good! My experience with the Carter has been less pleasant…. Review coming later this week!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 07:26:49
Good luck everyone. I hope to get my first post up today.
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:35:14
Look forward to seeing what it is! 🙂
Apr 16, 2018 @ 08:34:26
Here’s a contribution! http://harrietdevine.typepad.com/harriet_devines_blog/2018/04/staying-on-by-paul-scott-the-1977-club.html
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:35:03
Hurrah! I shall link later! 🙂
Apr 16, 2018 @ 08:40:57
Ha ha….when i visit used bookstores, i always find books that entice. Often I don’t remember that i already own a copy….especially with different covers. It’s only when i get home & look through my piles that i see my other copy. Must stop re-purchasing books 😉
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:34:50
I do this *so* often – and it’s got even worse since the books started taking over the house…
Apr 16, 2018 @ 08:50:53
The 1970s are a huge literary void for me so this will be an interesting week! I’m reading Barbara Pym and if I have time I’ll squeeze in Ruth Rendell.
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:34:26
Bearing in mind I lived through them, I still find the books from the era a bit mixed! But good luck with Pym and Rendell! 🙂
Apr 16, 2018 @ 09:09:42
Hurrah! And the two books I’m reading are even true 1970s – not just books about 1920s authors 😉 (though both non-fiction, so I’m not quite getting a taste of the 1970s literary scene).
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:27:12
Well done! :)))) I would have perhaps liked non-fiction (as I’ve been drawn to that a lot lately) but mine are likely to be all fiction I think!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 09:47:18
Time flies! Hope you have fun getting through your pile. I am most keen on The Dancing girls and The passion of eve. I look forward to reading the reviews of those from the participants. Sadly I could not participate this year.
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:26:34
I don’t think I’ll make it through all of them, but I do want to get to the Carter and the Atwood if I can!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 10:27:02
Initially I thought 1977 was well out of my comfort zone, but on checking what was published that year I’m surprised to find I have quite a few… Whether I can find any of them is another matter!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:25:54
It’s a bit of a mixture – some books I love, some which are not me at all, but we shall see what I will actually read! 🙂
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:17:13
Looks like fun! Which Voinovich are you reading?
Apr 16, 2018 @ 11:25:06
LOL! It’s not clear from the picture, is it? 🙂 The book is “The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin” but whether I shall get to it or run out of time remains to be seen!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 12:56:35
It’s a laugh fest of a very Soviet story, so I hope you get time to read it!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 13:14:19
I really want to, as it sounds right up my street. Even if I don’t manage it this year, I should keep it to hand….
Apr 16, 2018 @ 12:22:41
Didn’t think I’d be able to join in, then checked a list of 1977 texts and find my post last month on B Pym’s Quartet in Autumn qualifies (ok, retrospectively). I’m not usually a big fan of the 70s in most cultural senses. As for book-buying; I was tempted by several in a shop yesterday (including A Bennett’s Grand Babylon Hotel that I’d read an enthusiastic blog post about), but resisted the temptation – except for one little novel that’s been on my wish list for ages, so would have been foolish to pass over…Good luck to you and Simon with this project.
Apr 16, 2018 @ 13:15:51
Hurrah! Yes, I find it an odd decade (although I lived through it….) But I’ve found some titles that work for me so I’ll be reading a few interesting sounding books this week. I’m a bit tempted by the Arnold Bennett too – all these temptations on other people’s blogs!!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 14:14:39
I have Sylvia Plath’s Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams sitting on my TBR shelf, where it has been gathering dust for many years. I hadn’t realised it was published in 1977 until I spotted it amongst the pile of books in your photograph. If I can possibly fit it into my reading schedule before 22nd April I will do so. I would love to join in the fun!
Apr 16, 2018 @ 18:53:53
It really is a wonderful, wonderful collection – hope you can squeeze it in! 🙂
Apr 16, 2018 @ 19:53:37
I just submitted a review of A Time of Gifts to Simon, and I’ll be reviewing The Women’s Room tomorrow. I’m looking forward to your reviews.
Apr 17, 2018 @ 09:18:30
Excellent. I’ve linked to some of your posts already and I’ll look forward to your thoughts on the French!
Apr 17, 2018 @ 16:23:41
Thanks!
Apr 17, 2018 @ 16:29:27
Oops! I’m wrong. The Women’s Room review is coming out on Thursday.
Apr 17, 2018 @ 18:55:13
That’s fine – just pop a link on the 1977 page and I’ll do a link!
Apr 17, 2018 @ 22:46:20
Oh, I confused myself. It was today after all.
Apr 18, 2018 @ 10:03:47
:)))))
Dancing Girls | 1streading's Blog
Apr 16, 2018 @ 20:08:37
The year so far | BookerTalk
Apr 16, 2018 @ 22:19:11
Apr 16, 2018 @ 22:20:27
I’ve dipped into Barthes and indeed he is rather intense….. I’ll be taking a much easier path by reading Olivia Manning’s The Burning Tree
Apr 17, 2018 @ 09:16:58
Yes, I got that impression. I think Manning would probably be a lot less of a strain…. 😉
The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter | Pining for the West
Apr 16, 2018 @ 23:01:26
The Golden Child by Penelope Fitzgerald | JacquiWine's Journal
Apr 17, 2018 @ 07:11:02
Apr 17, 2018 @ 11:36:53
I’d forgotten about Charmed Life and now I want to re-read that, too! Sorry to hear about the Carter (now I can’t wait to hear what you didn’t like – does that make me toooooo weird?) and the Barthe will be fine, he’s quite a clear and accessible writer in what I’ve read by him.
Apr 17, 2018 @ 11:45:49
Well, the unremitting rape, really…. I think I get the point Carter is trying to make but I don’t find the book particularly pleasant reading. Maybe I might have been more tolerant of it when I was younger but I just can’t get to grips with it now. Maybe I’d get on better with Barthes…!
Apr 17, 2018 @ 15:10:42
Oh, I’ve read this book about three times but not for decades and had obv blanked out the unremitting rape. Jolly good, will look forward to opening that tonight (rushes to Diana Wynne Jones instead).
Apr 17, 2018 @ 15:15:41
Well, maybe I would have been more resilient about that kind of stuff when I was younger. Not to worry – not all books are for all people and this certainly wasn’t for me right now!!
Apr 19, 2018 @ 09:19:11
Well turns out I couldn’t even get as far as the unremitting rape – I left it at a soiled bed. I’m so glad I’d had your warning so I didn’t feel rubbish at having to give up! Anyway, I have done one book for the challenge https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/book-reviews-georgette-heyer-april-lady-and-diana-wynne-jones-charmed-life-a-1977club-fail-and-a-confession/
Apr 19, 2018 @ 13:16:22
LOL! It’s pretty grim, isn’t it? I’m glad it’s not me. I guess had I read it at a different time I might have reacted in a different way, but it just seemed to be doing nothing to advance the cause of women at all….
Apr 17, 2018 @ 16:13:01
I think I’ll manage this time. I’ve almost finished te novella I started. 🙂
Thanks to you and Simon for hosting. It’s such a cool idea.
Apr 17, 2018 @ 16:16:20
Hurray! Look forward to reading about your choice! The clubs are such fun – and as they’re only twice a year, quite manageable! 🙂
Apr 17, 2018 @ 18:03:03
I agree.
Melancholy Beauty: ‘The Hour of the Star’ by Clarice Lispector (translated by Giovanni Pontiero) | Shoshi's Book Blog
Apr 17, 2018 @ 22:53:45
Carol Shields’ The Box Garden (1977) – Buried In Print
Apr 18, 2018 @ 13:56:20
Book reviews – Georgette Heyer – “April Lady” and Diana Wynne Jones – “Charmed Life”, a #1977club fail and a confession | Adventures in reading, writing and working from home
Apr 19, 2018 @ 09:16:13
No 573 A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo (for the 1977 Club!)
Apr 20, 2018 @ 13:33:57
Apr 21, 2018 @ 13:31:44
Apr 22, 2018 @ 00:42:47
Devotion – Die Widmung by Botho Strauss – A 1977 Club Review | Beauty is a Sleeping Cat
Apr 22, 2018 @ 12:20:37
The Danger Tree by Olivia Manning | BookerTalk
Apr 27, 2018 @ 18:20:46
Jan 31, 2020 @ 07:04:14
Jun 04, 2020 @ 06:25:19