As soon as Simon and I had decided on 1954 for our next club, I started having a look round to see which books were published during that year and it soon became clear that it was a bumper one! Today I thought I would take a look back at some previous titles I’ve read from the year – and there really are some wonderful ones!
Firstly, here’s an image of some of the 1954 books I read pre-blog and which still live on my shelves. There’s used to be “Lord of the Flies” which I read decades ago, but no longer own. Truth be told, I would happily have revisited any of the above. Christie is always a joy, of course, as are Mishima and Simenon. Huxley was read so long ago I can recall nothing about the book – I believe I acquired in my teens when I first fell in love with The Doors! I had a bit of a Stein/Toklas thing in my twenties, and that’s when I acquired “The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book” – flicking through it I recognised bits and would rather like another read. As for “The Mandarins“, again in my twenties I fell in love with French literature and read a *lot* of Simone de Beauvoir; however, this title sat on the shelves for years until I finally read it and adored it. Really, all of these books make me think I should have a month or two (or maybe a year…) of just re-reading…
As for 1954 books which have appeared on the Ramblings, well here are a few!
I was very late coming to the works of Tove Jansson; I think her “Summer Book” was the first I read, and I moved on to read more adult works as well as all of the lovely Moomins. “Moominsummerr Madness” appeared in 1954, and I said of it in 2015:
Apart from looking for deeper meanings, the stories are just a fun read; the characters are appealing and funny, and Jansson’s illustrations are wonderful.
There’s definitely more to the Moomins than meets the eye, and I guess that’s why they can be appreciated by adults and children alike!
Francoise Sagan’s “Bonjour Tristesse” was her first novel and an instant hit. Telling the story of intense emotions in the south of Franch, with a sometimes unsympathetic teenage narrator, it probably set the tone for the rest of her works. I read it in 2014, again after it had lurked on the TBR for some time, and thought:
The characters, none of whom are particularly likeable, are very strongly portrayed, as is the hot and dreamy atmosphere of the South of France before the commercialism really took over. I really enjoyed getting lost in this book.
I do love books which take me to the South of France before the multi-millionaires took charge!
Finally from my previous 1954 reads is “Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead” by Barbara Comyns, a lovely old green Virago edition. Just look at that striking cover! I read and reviewed this back in 2012, and it was my first Comyns. In fact, if I’m honest, I don’t think I’ve read another since, though I have many on the TBR. Comyns gets much love from book bloggers and she’s a unique author – quirky and brilliant, based on my reading of this. I said at the time:
The story itself is full of death and disaster yet somehow manages to be funny, touching and very human. There is love, death, madness, laughter and sorrow. The cause of the madness is discovered (though I confess I did guess this quite soon!), although not soon enough to stop some very tragic deaths. Despite the story being quite gruesome in places it’s very, very enjoyable which is a tribute to Comyns’ skill as a writer. One of the most memorable Viragos I’ve read and highly enjoyable!
So those are just a few of my previous 1954 reads – it really *was* quite a year for books, wasn’t it? Have you read any of these? And what books from 1954 have you enjoyed in the past??
madamebibilophile
Apr 19, 2022 @ 08:16:48
I haven’t read any Simone de Beauvoir, it’s a huge gap, The size of The Mandarins would put me off so it’s reassuring to hear you loved it!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 10:51:53
I love her writing and if The Mandarins is too chunky you might find The Blood of Others more manageable. Having said that, I didn’t find the size of TM a problem when I read it!
Lory
Apr 19, 2022 @ 10:15:15
I just read and enjoyed Moominsummer Madness. I never appreciated the Moomins much as a child, but I enjoy their quirky humor more now. I’ve never read Barbara Comyns and she does sound quite intriguing. I’ll keep a look out for any of hers that I might be able to find. Thanks for hosing this week, always a pleasure to see what everyone comes up with.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 10:51:01
I think I definitely wouldn’t have got the Moomins when I was young, but I love them as an adult. It’s such a good year, isn’t it? Highly recommend the Comyns if you can find it!
Janette
Apr 19, 2022 @ 10:36:34
My favourites from this year would definitely include The Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers but also Asimov’s Caves of Steel and Georgette Heyer’s The Toll Gate. I wouldn’t say that Lord of the Flies was a favourite but certainly a book that you can’t forget. It was definitely a great year for books.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 10:50:15
It was – the fact that there are two volumes of LOTR is recommendation enough but there are so many others! I’ve not read Asimov so that’s a good reminder!
Margot Kinberg
Apr 19, 2022 @ 11:59:48
It’s been a long time since I read any Huxley; I’m glad for the reminder of his work. And, as you say, you can’t go far wrong with Christie! And Jansson, too! You’re right that 1954 was a great year for books. This’ll be a nice edition of the ‘year club,’ that’s for certain!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 15:41:57
It really was a stellar year, margot and I’m so glad we picked it – so many choices!!
Jane
Apr 19, 2022 @ 15:53:24
I haven’t read any of these although Bonjour Tristesse and Moominsummer Madness are hopefully going to be read soon! I do miss the old Virago covers.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 15:57:03
They’re both marvellous reads – I hope you enjoy them! And yes, I so agree about the old Virago covers – they’re so much nicer than the new ones!!
JacquiWine
Apr 19, 2022 @ 16:29:56
Lovely to see Sagan and Barbara Comyns here, two of my personal favourites from that year. I’m actually quite tempted to revisit the Moomins, along with Tintin from Marina’s post…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 16:34:50
Yes, the Sagan and Comyns are both brilliant books, as are the Moomins and Tintin. I really wish I could find the family Tintins – they must be in the house somewhere!!
heavenali
Apr 19, 2022 @ 17:22:54
1954 was such a good year. So delighted to see mention of Bonjour Tristesse and Who was Changed and who was Dead (am such a Comyns fan) and Destination Unknown is great.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 18:50:45
Wasn’t it just? We could easily have done a fortnight on it…
mallikabooks15
Apr 19, 2022 @ 18:29:16
Certainly a bumper year. Bonjour Tristesse is on my pile but I doubt I’ll get to it this time. Agree on Christie. I think one can read her any number of times and enjoy her. Destination Unknown, I revisited this past December so decided against.
Mishima and Simone de Beauvoir are on my list to get to but not this week, I fear. Always a delight to see the Moomins.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 19, 2022 @ 18:50:27
It really was a great year, and I would have been happy to revisit any of these this week had time allowed. As for Mishima and Simone de Beauvoir, they’re two of my favourite authors!
Emma
Apr 19, 2022 @ 20:22:14
I really recommend Bonjour tristesse.
Les Mandarins? Not so much but I have trouble with Simone de Beauvoir as a novelist.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 21, 2022 @ 13:47:35
Ah well, we can’t all like the same thing! I do love SDB’s fictions though!
Expendable Mudge
Apr 19, 2022 @ 20:35:20
Oh WOW…the 1954s I’ve read can be pretty weighty…NIGHTMARES OF EMINENT PERSONS & Other Stories was Bertrand Russell at his most didactic; THE VIEW FROM POMPEY’S HEAD was really old-fashioned to 1989 me, worryin’ ’bout havin’ black folk in the family tree; TRAGIC SENSE OF LIFE is philosophy, so by definition not a lot of fun to read (but very interesting). ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL was a delight, a delicious draft of Forster being very Forstery.
But for this event I’m planning to review THE PONDER HEART by Eudora Welty. Seasonal, too!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 21, 2022 @ 13:47:02
Some interesting possibilities – such a good year! Look forward to your thoughts on the Welty – great choice!
Julé Cunningham
Apr 20, 2022 @ 02:26:05
Publishing went to town during 1954! I couldn’t believe how many books from that year I’ve read during my life either, from childhood favorites to big, hulking collections! An embarrassment of riches from both sides of the pond.😊
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 21, 2022 @ 13:46:10
Yeah, it really did! What a great year, and obviously one which has been important in my reading life!
CLM (@ConMartin)
Apr 20, 2022 @ 03:52:33
I’ve always thought Bonjour Tristesse was one of the best titles ever, although I haven’t actually read it! I had read several 1954 books – certainly, the Tolkien and The Toll-Gate many times and a few earlier this year before I realized it was going to be chosen. Destination Unknown is a Christie I have read multiple times. Different from most of her books!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 21, 2022 @ 13:45:41
Yes, I did consider Destination Unknown but it wasn’t quite the book I wanted at the moment. It’s a great year, though, and totally agree about Bonjour Tristesse!
Calmgrove
Apr 20, 2022 @ 22:56:47
In anticipation of the 1954 Club I listed books I’d read from that year: Sam Youd’s ‘A Palace of Strangers’, Edward Eager’s ‘Half Magic’, Robertson Davies’s ‘Leaven of Malice’, Tove Jansson’s ‘Moominsummer Madness’ and Lucy M Boston’s ‘The Children of Green Knowe’. As of course LOTR.
I have a Huxley novel to read. I might get to that sooner but, again, I have to thank you and Simon for running these occasional reading clubs, which are great for looking out what great stuff came out in certain years!
I have
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 21, 2022 @ 13:38:41
So many choices and such a great year!! Robertson Davies is someone I really want to get to, and I would happily have revisited the Boston. But I’ve had some lovely reading experiences so far.
The clubs *are* fun, aren’t they? It’s marvellous to have an excuse to burrow down deeper into a year’s books!
Diana @ Thoughts on Papyrus
Apr 20, 2022 @ 23:48:47
Great choices! I am reading Huxley’s essay The Doors of Perception this week and haven’t realised it fits into the challenge. Though progress has been made in neuroscience, remarkably, what he says there about the power of certain drugs, consciousness and our inner brain power that reflects certain art and our impulses is still applicable and very relevant in our year 2022. We are still to explain that divide between our inner and outer worlds, fascinating stuff.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 21, 2022 @ 13:36:31
Thanks! Huxley is definitely worth a revisit, especially as it’s so long since I read him – sounds fascinating and as you stay still very relevant!
Liz Dexter
Apr 23, 2022 @ 13:12:19
1954 really was a vintage year, wasn’t it!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 23, 2022 @ 16:20:17
It really was! So many good books!!