March is a month that in many ways I’m happy to have out of the way; it’s always screamingly busy at work and I end it exhausted and often struggling to read. Looking back, 2021’s month wasn’t too bad for books and here’s what I *did* read:
Fortunately, there were no duds, although I’m still behind in my reviewing. I also have a large chunk of review books lurking, many for Shiny New Books, so I think the rest of the Easter break may be spent wallowing in words! These are a few of the delights I have to come – though I’m not quite sure what I shall read first!
The observant amongst you will of course realise that April also sees the return of the Club reading weeks I co-host with Simon at Stuck in a Book, and this time we’re focusing on 1936. If you’re new to these, we basically choose a year and everyone reads, enjoys, posts and shares wonderful books and discoveries from the year in question. If you look at the menus at the top of the blog, you’ll see a page for each of the previous clubs, each of which has links to interesting reviews. You could be going down a bit of a wormhole…. ;D
Anyway. I am starting to get my head around what I want to read for the club, and I have to say that I think we’re really spoiled for choice – 1936 seems an incredible year packed with some amazing books, and I really will struggle to choose from them. Here are some possible options I’m considering:
Will I read any of these? That remains to be seen! The #1936Club starts on 12th April – watch this space! 😀
Apr 01, 2021 @ 08:49:40
Ah, I see Circles and Squares in your March reading pile. What did you think of it?
Apr 01, 2021 @ 10:45:29
It was interesting and I enjoyed it, but it’s not without it’s problems. I’m currently working out how to review it for Shiny. She’s obviously done masses of research and work on it, but it just has too much stuffed into it for a book of 250 pages.
Apr 01, 2021 @ 12:54:55
Ha, wow, an enormous pile of possibles!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 14:20:33
There are sooooooo many!!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 13:38:19
Behold Here’s Poison by Heyer and Murder in Mesopotamia as well as The A. B. C. Murders by Christie can be added to the classic crime options, also Death at the President’s Lodging/Seven Suspects, the first John Appleby mystery by Michael Innes.
Apr 01, 2021 @ 14:20:22
Good suggestions, all! I have the Christies in a neat little pile and I’m sure I will get to something by her! 😀
Apr 01, 2021 @ 19:07:38
Here’s a list of 340 1936 mysteries, though granted quite a few are rather hard to find!
Apr 02, 2021 @ 11:08:22
Thanks for this wonderful resource. I really *could* spend the whole of the 1936 week reading nothing but crime!!!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 13:39:55
So many interesting titles in those photos!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 14:09:37
There’s so much I could read for 1936!!!!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 15:06:08
Some nice choices! I’m going for Double Indemnity by Dashiell Hammet and I also have Nightwood by Djuana Barnes.
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:25:10
Ah, Nightwood is one I can’t remember if I’ve read or not, and I don’t think I have a copy. Tempting, though…
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:51:58
I’ve heard it’s hard work so I’m a bit nervous of it 🤣
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:54:00
Yes, her writing is very modernist as I recall. It’s been a while… But I *would* like to visit/revisit this one!!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 15:19:46
Nice list! I will join the club for the first time. So far in 2021, I have read 3 books published that year, and I’m planning on reading two more. I will do a post on that next Tuesday
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:24:37
Hurrah! So many wonderful books from 1936. We kick off the club on 12th April – look forward to seeing what you read! 😀
Apr 01, 2021 @ 16:07:28
That looks like a pretty good reading month to me, especially when you have been so busy. I will probably read from my kindle for the 1936 club but have to finish my current book and read my book group choice next.
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:24:04
It wasn’t too bad in the end. Hope you can join in with 1936 and look forward to seeing what you choose!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:02:58
1936 does seem to have been a pretty amazing year. I’ve been piling up some books, or will I just reread War With The Newts one more time?!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 18:23:30
I’m really struggling, I must admit. A re-read of War is tempting but there are so many great titles!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 19:13:40
I’m definitely planning to read Murder in Mesopotamia this month as it fits perfectly with a Christie reading challenge I’m taking part in, but there are lots of other 1936 books I’m interested in too. It seems to have been a particularly great year for publishing!
Apr 02, 2021 @ 11:07:58
I’m tempted by that, and I’m sure I’ll read a Christie. So many wonderful books to choose from!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 21:38:53
I have the grand total of 2 books published in 1936. One is a definite – The General by C S Forester. The other is a book from the National Library of Wales collection of re-issued classics, “Old Soldier Sahib” by Frank Richards. It’s an account of his experiences in the army in India and Burma at the start of the 20th century, It’s not calling to me!
Apr 02, 2021 @ 11:06:52
Um. Yes, I don’t know that the Richards would call to me either. Do you have library access in Wales? Maybe you could source a 1936 title that way…
Apr 02, 2021 @ 17:37:17
I’m sure there will be something in the library system or Gutenburg given so much material will be out of copyright
Apr 03, 2021 @ 13:43:02
Definitely! Hope you can find something enjoyable!
Apr 01, 2021 @ 22:05:44
Well I’ve cracked and just ordered Minty Alley by CLR James – I’d wanted to read some of Bernadine Evaristo’s curated reprints, so …
Apr 02, 2021 @ 11:06:19
Hurrah! :DDDDD
Apr 02, 2021 @ 01:33:19
Publishers, especially those publishing mysteries, really had a banner year in 1936. Looks like you got some great reading in, in spite of the difficult work month – look forward to your write-ups!
Apr 02, 2021 @ 11:05:28
It certainly is a year stuffed full of good books! I shall struggle with reading choices but think I’ll enjoy what I get to! 😀
Apr 03, 2021 @ 05:04:46
Apr 03, 2021 @ 11:44:42
Good luck with your choices. March was a reading slump month but April has more enthusiasm as well as lots of photography challenges happening. Keeping a balance, reading and books.
Apr 03, 2021 @ 13:39:43
I hope April is a better reading month for you. I have slumps sometimes, or get stuck with a book I should be getting through more quickly but am not. So far April is good – fingers crossed!
Apr 03, 2021 @ 16:32:10
Apr 03, 2021 @ 20:53:56
How on earth do you find the time! I read about one to two non-fiction books per month. What is your secret?
Apr 04, 2021 @ 11:42:05
LOL! I’ve always read very quickly anyway – and it’s my main hobby. And since I haven’t got out much in the last year…. ;D
Apr 04, 2021 @ 00:18:15
What a wonderful pile of books you got there! I am planning to participate in the 1936 club. Can’t wait! I, too,will be reading Simenon. Thank you for hosting it!
Apr 04, 2021 @ 11:41:12
Thank you – so hard to choose! And Simenon is always wonderful – look forward to hearing what you think!
Apr 04, 2021 @ 09:47:37
Currently reading Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie and I’ve got Keep the Aspidistra Flying on the TBR.
Thanks to you and Simon for hosting this event, it’s fun.
Apr 04, 2021 @ 11:39:58
Oh, excellent choices! I’m hoping to get to the Orwell myself – but there are so many options. So glad you can join in! 😀
Apr 04, 2021 @ 13:02:53
I hope I can finish the Orwell on time.
Apr 04, 2021 @ 13:09:10
That’s my worry too…. ;D
Apr 05, 2021 @ 04:41:08
I’ve only posted on your blog a few times, but often check it out, planning to take part in your reading week. I plan again this month but who knows. However, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve done one of my weekly Monday Musings posts on 1936 (posting Monday night, 5 April, Eastern Australian time) with a link to you and Simon. I’m assuming you’d be happy for the “promotion” of this week.
Apr 05, 2021 @ 11:06:03
Glad you’ll be joining in and of course very happy for you to link to us. Look forward to seeing what you read! 😀
Apr 05, 2021 @ 12:35:20
Thanks Karen
Apr 05, 2021 @ 12:40:38
😀
Apr 05, 2021 @ 14:00:15
Friday’s Forgotten Books: And Call it Accident and The Injured Lover by Marie Belloc Lowndes (1936) – a hot cup of pleasure
Apr 09, 2021 @ 16:11:04
Apr 10, 2021 @ 07:17:30
Maybe I will manage to join. Maybe. I’m suffering from a colossal reading slump.
Apr 10, 2021 @ 13:10:37
I’m sorry to hear that. These things are a pain when they happen. Hopefully you’ll come out of it soon – maybe the distraction of a book from times past would help? 😦
Apr 11, 2021 @ 06:15:51
Tried everything, believe me. Every genre, country, language. Nonfiction works though.
Apr 11, 2021 @ 12:34:27
Oh that’s a shame. I must admit I go through phases of feeling all fictioned out and only wanting non-fiction – at least you’re still reading!
Apr 11, 2021 @ 08:51:37
Sunday Praise: What’s making me happy this week!
Apr 11, 2021 @ 16:02:13
Apr 11, 2021 @ 19:49:50
Despite being immersed in my International Booker reading, I can’t miss the 1036 Club so I have one review ready. It’s out of print, translated and very short – I wonder if you can guess?
Apr 11, 2021 @ 19:53:28
Oh, interesting… I can think of a couple but they’re not that short or out of print! I’ll probably kick myself when I find out – look forward to seeing what it is!
The #1936 Club: Death in the Backseat by Dorothy Cameron Disney – a hot cup of pleasure
Apr 11, 2021 @ 20:01:46
No 422 Double Indemnity by James M Cain #1936Club
Apr 13, 2021 @ 10:34:51
Apr 13, 2021 @ 16:13:53
Don’t know whether we have to link over here but here’s my second read for the club: The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay
Apr 13, 2021 @ 16:14:47
Yes please – I will add a link to my page later! 😀
Apr 14, 2021 @ 07:01:12
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier | book word
Apr 15, 2021 @ 07:48:01
Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell – 1936 Club | Pining for the West
Apr 15, 2021 @ 23:31:03
Apr 17, 2021 @ 21:49:22
Apr 18, 2021 @ 13:01:32
It Pays To Be Good by Noel Streatfeild # The 1936 Club | Pining for the West
Apr 18, 2021 @ 20:54:38
Apr 20, 2021 @ 20:41:55
Originally I had thought to read Nightwood as it’s been on my TBR, with some other longsitting VMCs, for a couple of decades. But recently I tidied those shelves and Nightwood was nowhere to be found. So I opted for The Thinking Reed instead, which I did begin reading on the Monday, but I haven’t made it very far, even yet. I laughed when I saw your stack of crime fiction…and then that link in the comments…phew! 😮
Apr 20, 2021 @ 20:42:41
There are just *so* many books from 1936!!!! As for Nightwood, I had this once but I don’t think I have now. I would love to read it, club or not, so I must track down a replacement copy!
Jan 02, 2022 @ 11:00:22