Well, that was a bit of a wonderful week, wasn’t it? I suspected from the start that 1954 would be a great year, and it really was! So many marvellous books have been read and discussed, and I imagine that all of your tbrs are now bulging – I’ve certainly added quite a few titles to the wishlist.
Anyway, below are the books I read for 1954 (the Maigret isn’t pictured because it was an e-book) and they turned out to be a marvellous selection. Classic crime is always likely to make an appearance, and both the Simenon and the Mitchell were wonderful reads. “The Horse and His Boy” was a much more enjoyable experience than I anticipated; and the double-header of two parts of the “Lord of the Rings” was just perfect.
However, the week was not without its glitches! I stumbled across a couple of issues with dates; somehow, I got it into my head that Mervyn Peake’s “The Craft of the Lead Pencil” was published in 1954 when in face it came out in 1946! As I had read this before I realised, I’ll post some thoughts about it at a later date! Then I had included Mishima’s “Sound of the Waves” as a possible read but my copy said 1956 in the front. I discarded it as an option and then realised that it came out in Japanese in 1954 but the translation was 1956 – doh!!! I was going to say that I need to always check the actual book rather than an online list, but that’s obvs not the case. I guess for the next club I shall just have to look more closely.
More seriously, I encountered a DNF! I had actually bought a book specifically to read for 1954, and it was one I’d been keen on tracking down for a while – “Pictures from an Institution” by Randall Jarrell. I picked up a lovely old orange Penguin copy and started it enthustically; however, I soon faltered and found that what I’d seen described as a humorous novel was not only leaving me cold but actually starting to irritate. It may just be that the timing was wrong for this book, but I really struggled – not only to find it funny, but also to regard it as a coherent work! I love a satirical book when done well, but with this I felt that a sequence of aphorisms, one-liners and metaphors does not make a novel and it quickly became tiresome. I haven’t ruled out giving it another try, and it may be that in a different frame of mind I might enjoy. But for this week I didn’t…
At the end of the day, though, that doesn’t matter because I did love what I read, and would happily keep on reading more from 1954 – here are just a few of the options which got away and which I’d like to keep on my radar:
But the #1954Club was a wonderful week of reading for me where I reconnected with authors and books I love, and which were a part of making me the person and reader I am. I hope you had a good week too, and please keep leaving details of your posts if I’ve missed them – I will catch up with linking as soon as possible.
As for our next Club week, Simon and I have put our heads together and come up with the year for October – which will be (drum roll….) – the #1929Club which will run from 24th-30th October 2022!!! Simon suggested it and it looks to have the potential to be as good as 1954. So you have had plenty of warning and we look forward to joining you all for our next club in six months’ time! Thanks so much to Simon for creating this event and co-hosting – itโs been a blast!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 07:21:33
Lovely, 1954 was wonderful and had me wishing we had a month to read rather than a week. Thanks so much for hosting it.
Off to look up options for 1929. I love these older ones
Apr 25, 2022 @ 16:04:42
I must admit to feeling the same – it was a great year and I could have kept on reading from it. Howevefr, 1929 does look rather good!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 16:19:35
Oh it is, I had just bought Nella Larsen’s Passing after reading Whispering Gums’ lovely review and that’s from 1929, as is Bowen’s Last September both waiting on my TBR. Evening with Claire and also Emil and the Detectives
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:14:49
All of those are on my horizon – so many lovely books!!
Apr 26, 2022 @ 04:17:44
Plenty of choice once again๐
Apr 26, 2022 @ 13:43:25
๐๐๐๐
Apr 26, 2022 @ 13:53:39
I forgot to say, my mother enjoyed herself lots as well; she’s looking forward to the next!
Apr 26, 2022 @ 14:09:11
Wonderful! So happy to have as many guest posts as she wants to provide!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 08:23:00
I must say I love it when a book gets me like that (going through it like a hot knife through butter).
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:54:27
Me too – and it doesn’t happen often enough!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 08:49:40
Strange, I had trouble with a book that was supposed to be comic. Maybe what constitutes humour has changed?
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:51:19
Yes, I think you may be right! Pictures is very arch, and I found the succession of aphorisms and supposedly witty comments just not to my liking right now. Maybe just the wrong time for it – we shall see!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 08:55:55
Hurrah! I am selfishly a bit glad that you had a dud, having had a few myself ๐ I did have a couple of brilliant stand-outs though, so it all works out.
Apr 25, 2022 @ 11:52:50
Also, I have already noted down 11 books I really want to read from 1929 ๐
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:47:43
LOL – I have pulled out at least 20 possible from the shelves, so it looks to be a great year!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:50:10
LOL! It certainly disrupted my plans though as I ended up carrying on with LOTR it turned out for the best!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 10:13:14
It was a great event Kaggsy – thanks so much to you and Simon for hosting! I’ve googled 1929 lists and I’m already excited ๐
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:49:18
Most welcome. And yes – I’ve been exploring 1929 and there’s some great stuff!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 10:56:01
Thanks, Karen, for co-hosting another fascinating Club week, such fin as ever! I love the 1950s, so this was right up my alley, so to speak – and it was lovely to see the diversity of books published, too. I’m also glad you were able to reconnect with various old favourites during the week – that’s partly what it’s about, I think!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:48:57
It’s certainly an interesting decade, and this particular year had such wonderful options – very diverse. And yes – the reconnecting with books was just wonderful, a real joy. Can’t wait for 1929 – looks equally good!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 11:54:37
Thanks to you and Simon for hosting – 1954 was a great year. I’ve had a look at 1929 and can already see lots of possibilities!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:47:06
It’s been such a great club, and yes – 1929 looks wonderful!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 11:59:46
So glad that most of your reading was so good, KBR! And 1954 really was a good year for great books. Only one DNF is a good record, that’s for sure! And 1929 looks quite promising, too!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:45:15
It was a great year and I don’t really begrudge the DNF because I think that was what decided me to continue with LOTR. Roll on 1929 – looks like a grand year too!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 12:10:36
I have really enjoyed taking part in the 1954 club and reading so many brilliant posts. I have a list of books that I want to read in the near future now. Roll on 1929!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:44:32
It’s been fun, hasn’t it, and I think very bad for the TBR! 1929 looks great too – I’d like to be reading from it already!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:26:34
Thanks for hosting – it was another great reading week and so wonderful to see so many people participating! I’m already excited for the 1929 club!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:42:03
It was such fun, wasn’t it? And 1929 looks really good too!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:43:13
I’ve really enjoyed this week – so glad I managed to squeeze in 2 reads, and both from the 746 – yay! Off to see what I have from 1929 x
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:43:59
So glad you could join in and hope you have something suitable for 1929! ๐
Apr 25, 2022 @ 15:49:24
I have two! The Luzhin Defense by Nabakov and The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen.
Apr 25, 2022 @ 16:06:29
Hurrah! Both wonderful options!!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 17:10:12
I had a date issue, too. I got Go Tell It on the Mountain off a Goodreads list for 1954, but then after I published my post and submitted it to the club, I saw that I had listed it on my own Classics Club list as having been published in 1953 (sorry about that!). I still haven’t checked which date is correct, but I presume that it was actually published in 1953 but was popular in 1954. I have run into problems with the Goodreads lists before, so from now on, I’m going to have to verify these dates as I make lists for the club. One time when making a list for one of the prewar dates, I saw At Bertram’s Hotel listed, and since I remember from the content that it was definitely postwar, I took it off my list. Even though Goodreads lists are probably computer generated, it’s not clear to me how a book could end up on a list for a year well before it is written.
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:14:27
It’s so confusing and frankly even the front of the book doesn’t always get it right. The Goodreads lists can be helpful, but I’m finding it’s definitely worth checking. I found a good thread on LibraryThing for 1929 books and that has been most helpful!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 20:27:23
Oh, thanks!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 20:29:13
๐๐
Apr 25, 2022 @ 17:26:02
I’ve really enjoyed following along even though I haven’t organised myself to read anything in time – I can’t believe how quickly everyone reads but 1929 is surely possible for me to read something with 6 months to go!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:11:47
Well, you have plenty of notice, so there’s no excuse!!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 18:10:32
1954 was fun and I enjoyed seeing all the varied books I had not even heard of before. The two I picked were great reads.
1929 is going to be more of a challenge for me. I have a good number of 1929 books but have read and reviewed all but one of them. I will have to go looking for more books to add to my TBR.
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:11:24
It really was a great year and I’m glad you had some good reads. 1929 is good too and I hope you can track down something suitable!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 18:19:55
I managed to squeeze in one book for the club. There was meant to be a second but my copy of Lucky Jim has gone awol.
1929 would be a good choice and I note that I do have one contender on my TBR: Richard Aldington โ Death of a Hero which I have carted around three house moves and is looking very battered.
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:10:48
Glad you could take part! As for 1929 I’m glad you have a possible title – it looks to be another great year.
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:07:21
Thanks to you and Simon for hosting this, even though I cheated and went with books I’d already planned to read or was already reading! 1929? I find I’ve read quite a few titles from then โ a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Kรคstner and Uttley’s kids books, A Room of One’s Own โ but I might try the Christie or the Hammett on the list…
Apr 25, 2022 @ 19:10:14
Well, it’s nice when these events fit in with what you’re reading and want to read! As for 1929, there are lots of rather good possibilities!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 20:07:26
Kindly add this review to the pile! Thank you!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4658000175
Apr 25, 2022 @ 20:27:03
Certainly will! ๐
Apr 25, 2022 @ 20:45:38
You read such a lovely variety for this club, impressed by how much you managed. Shame about the DNF. 1929 sounds like a good year. Will look out for some good titles.
Apr 26, 2022 @ 13:46:04
I did enjoy this week’s reading, particularly re-engaging with Tolkien, but also some other favourites. The DNF was a shame but I may give it another go one day. As for 1929 I can’t wait – so many great possibles!!
Apr 25, 2022 @ 21:16:34
I would tend to agree about the Jarrell. Lots of witty lines and fairly amusing characterization on the whole, but it didn’t really hang together as a novel.
Apr 26, 2022 @ 13:44:57
No, that’s what I felt with the part I read – and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I may return to it when it feels right…
Apr 26, 2022 @ 01:56:37
It was indeed a wonderful week, intense but sweet! I can see 1929 is going to be another jackpot year too.
Apr 26, 2022 @ 13:43:59
1929 certainly looks rather good – I have at least 3 small stacks of possibles so far…
Apr 27, 2022 @ 06:53:13
I really have to get myself in gear and participate in one of these weeks. There were some wonderful books featured. By the way, my new blog should be up and running soon. I have put the 1929 week in my diary with two weeks notification before hand so maybe I’ll be organised. All the best
Apr 27, 2022 @ 13:46:19
1954 was a really, really good year! Glad to hear you’re sorting out a new blog and I’ll be happy to catch up with you – and hopefully you can definitely take part in 1929. It’s a great year too!
Apr 27, 2022 @ 09:22:18
That was a great week and I was so glad I was able to join in. Will try for a 1929 book!
Apr 27, 2022 @ 13:45:01
It was a good year, for sure, and I’m so glad you could take part. And hope you can find something suitable for 1929! ๐
Apr 28, 2022 @ 08:49:25
Bravo to you and Simon for once again hosting such a fun and tempting week. I try to use these year clubs as a chance to address my TBR pile, so I alwasy feel a little virtuous at the end of each one knowing that one more book on my TBR has been moved to the read pile ๐
Apr 28, 2022 @ 09:51:27
Me too! I always try to make a dent in the TBR – frankly, anything to reduce it a bit! ๐
May 03, 2022 @ 21:45:50
The Sound of Waves is actually my favorite by Mishima. Still, you had a great collection!
May 04, 2022 @ 10:19:53
Time for a re-read of Sound if I can squeeze it in!