I hope you’re all looking forward to the start of the #1956Club tomorrow as much as I am! I’ve spent a good part of this week reading and exploring books from the year, but that *has* thrown up a few anomalies…
Lots of lovely online people have been coming up with suggestions of what we can read, and I was excited to find that I owned a couple of titles I hadn’t considered before; so I went and dug them out and this is them: “The Lost Steps” by Alejo Carpentier and “A Charmed Life” by Mary McCarthy, both in somewhat gnarled old Penguin editions.
However, both of these present challenges… Below is an image of the copyright page of the Carpentier, and as you can see, although the translated version was first published in 1956, the book itself came out originally in 1955. So in my mind it’s disqualified for the club, which is a shame as I’ve had it for ages and was intrigued…
The McCarthy has similar issues. As you can see below, it was first published in the UK in 1956, but originally in the US in 1955; once more I think this definitely isn’t one I think I can include in the club, although McCarthy is an author I really want to explore more.
So – two near misses for the #1956Club. Let’s see tomorrow what I *did* end up tackling as my first read of the week! 😀
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Oct 04, 2020 @ 08:39:23
The only book I own published in 1956 is the American Civil War book Andersonville which is a tome. I think I’ll be watching from the sidelines.
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:48:03
Mmmm, if it’s a bit of a chunkster maybe not for now. But there should be plenty of interesting posts this week to keep you entertained!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 10:05:56
Oh, I am sorry about the McCarthy. I’d have liked to see what you thought of that.
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:47:28
It’s a shame because I’ve yet to get to McCarthy – I have several of her books, but others keep getting in the way…
Oct 04, 2020 @ 16:44:20
Always the way…
Oct 04, 2020 @ 16:50:50
LOL, yes!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 11:00:52
Turns out I have quite a number of 1956 books. Do I take it that the qualifying issue is the first date of publication? And what a great year – Everything from Enid Blyton – “Five on a Secret Trail” will be my pick from her – to Saul Bellow and everyone else. And then we have John Ashbery and Gwendolyn Brooks! Have to work on not just re-reading though – tempting though that is with so many delicious choices and memories to rekindle.
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:46:55
Yes, first publication date is the thing. It really is a great year and I’ll look forward to your thoughts. It’s such a hard year to choose from!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 11:03:31
I am supremely curious about what you did finally read!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:46:26
All will be revealed… ;D
Oct 04, 2020 @ 12:06:27
Oct 04, 2020 @ 13:31:43
Well, I’ve gone with the year the book was published rather than translated in the case of Romain Gary and Mrs Pepperpot. So I hope that’s acceptable…
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:45:56
Definitely – that’s what I would say. First publication date is the thing.
Oct 04, 2020 @ 14:46:41
Even though I can’t join in as such, I am going to love reading about everyone’s adventures in 1956!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:45:34
I think there might be the biggest variety of books we’ve had in this club year!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 19:47:34
I HAVE GOT ONE AFTER ALL!!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 20:04:16
HURRAH!!!! 😀
Oct 04, 2020 @ 14:51:26
Still today, much fiction is published in Great Britain first then US and visa versa.
Oct 04, 2020 @ 15:45:14
Indeed – it does complicate a little when we’re doing a club though! 😀
Oct 04, 2020 @ 17:55:42
Even though I’ve never read Mary McCarthy, I feel she’s an author I would like. What a shame A Charmed Life doesn’t fit. Ah, well. I have a post lined up for Tuesday, so I’m all set.
Oct 04, 2020 @ 20:04:49
Me too! I really want to read her! But I’m glad you’re joining in and I’ll look forward to your post!
Oct 04, 2020 @ 21:06:41
Oh dear, that’s a shame about the Mary Mccarthy, I have never read her. I have found that I shall only get one book reviewed now. Tomorrow my blog post revisits some 1956 books I read before, and my review of The Last Resort comes out later in the week.
Oct 05, 2020 @ 09:23:43
It *is* a pity because this would have been a great choice. And one book is fine – our club weeks are meant to be fun and read as much or as little as you like! Look forward to your thoughts on The Last Resort!
Oct 05, 2020 @ 00:22:18
I’ve never participated in this but think I’d like to finally read Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin.
Oct 05, 2020 @ 09:22:06
Excellent – wonderful choice!
Oct 05, 2020 @ 03:37:14
There are so many good books from that year it is hard to decide. I’ve narrowed it down to three: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, The Fall by Albert Camus, or The Last of the Wineby Mary Renault.
Oct 05, 2020 @ 09:21:11
It is – so many choices. But I think you’ve picked three excellent books there! Look forward to your thoughts!
Oct 05, 2020 @ 07:43:44
Oct 05, 2020 @ 07:51:05
I saw this challenge mentioned on HeavenAli’s blog and was intrigued to see what I could find. Rather than wade through the shelves, I looked up the year on Goodreads and discovered very few still on Mount TBR. I read Look Back in Anger at school; not a fan. My Family and Other Animals was another I read as a teenager and was wonderful. Somehow I always manage to miss the TV series, sadly. My husband has a copy of Diamonds are Forever, which doesn’t appeal much and Giovanni’s Room does appeal, but I don’t own it. Very frustrating!
Oct 05, 2020 @ 09:19:10
Ah, such a shame you haven’t got anything lined up – there are some great books from the year, but I have been trying to read from the stacks rather than get anything new. We do the Clubs every six months so keep an eye out for the next year being announced – then you have plenty of time to get prepared! 😀
Oct 05, 2020 @ 15:46:08
I had date troubles too—when I started doing these I looked at Best-seller lists. You’d think a librarian would pay closer attention! Lol. I have learned to look at the cataloging like you have done.
Oct 05, 2020 @ 17:09:03
It does take some researching – I usually end up looking at the actual book and going by that!
Book review – Sam Selvon – “The Lonely Londoners” #1956Club | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Oct 07, 2020 @ 10:08:53
Oct 11, 2020 @ 08:31:01
Here’s mine: https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/10/11/a-haunted-land-by-randolph-stow/
Randolph Stow published this first novel, A Haunted Land, in 1956 when he was just 21. He went on to win Australia’s most prestigious literary award, the Miles Franklin and the Australian Literary Society’s Gold medal in 1958. Thanks for the nudge to read the novel that started his literary career!
Oct 11, 2020 @ 10:15:20
Most welcome and thanks for taking part – I shall link later!