Well – that *was* a month of reading! As well as general bookishness, I ended the month co-hosting the latest of our reading Club weeks with Simon, and 1929 turned out to be a brilliant choice! Here are the books I finally read during October, and as you can see, many of them were from the year in question!
No duds again, which is always pleasing, and some real stunners in there. Revisiting a couple of my favourite French authors, Colette and Cocteau, was a wonderful treat, as was reading a chunkster from John Cowper Powys. Thanks *so* much to everyone who joined in with the #1929Club and if I haven’t linked to your post on my dedicated page, please do leave a comment and I’ll do so!
So where will we go after 1929? Well, Simon and I put our heads together, and Simon suggested we look at the 1940s as we’ve only done a couple of Clubs from that decade; and he proposed actually going for 1940 itself. I was happy to agree as there are some marvellous books from that year. So from 10-16 April 2023 we will co-host the #1940Club! We do hope you will join us! 😊😊
So what’s coming up in November? Well, it’s a month full of events: Novellas in November, Non-Fiction November, German Lit Month and Margaret Atwood Reading Month, to name just a few. Add to that my monthly read of The Dark is Rising sequence and the LibraryThing Virago monthly reads, and potentially the whole of November could be taken up with events.
Truth be told, I may not join in with all of those, depending on my mood, but for the moment, this is a pile of the books which are currently taking my fancy:
The eagle-eyed amongst you might have noticed that two particular books appear on both piles… That’s because as soon as I’d gathered the pile of possibles, I immediately flung myself into them, and as they were both slim I finished them before the end of the month! 🤣🤣 What comes next remains to be seen – I’m not sure where my reading mojo is going right now!
Anyway, those are the books catching my eye at the moment – what do you plan for November? Are you joining in with any of the events above???
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Oct 31, 2022 @ 08:59:34
Oh off to have a look at 1940 books in fact I brought a non fiction book writing in the dark. About the horizon magazine and the Bloomsbury writers in the war years sure something in that as well
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:18:27
There are some great books, Stu, and that Writing in the Dark sounds intriguing too!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 09:35:46
Ah, would that be the year Simon’s beloved Miss Hargreaves was published? I might have to read it, in that case! There are some good crime novels dating from that year, and Koestler’s Darkness at Noon, which I’ve been meaning to reread. But I can tell you one book I will definitely not reread: Christina Stead’s The ManWho Loved Children. Goodness, it frightened the bejeezus out of me!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:17:48
It is! And I’ve read and loved Miss Hargreaves, so I’m not sure if I will revisit, but there are plenty of great choices. But I will certainly be avoiding Stead as I really don’t get on with her work!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 16:46:20
Good to hear I’m not the only one who didn’t get on with Stead.
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:39:15
No, I really didn’t – got rid of all of her books I’d picked up…
Oct 31, 2022 @ 09:50:40
I loved reading my 1929 books and reading the reviews of other people’s choices. My TBR list has grown yet again!!! Off now to look at 1940 releases 😃
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:16:56
That’s the trouble with the clubs, isn’t it – so bad for the TBR!! 😀 And I’m afraid 1940 looks good too!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 16:13:40
It does. I’ve just had a quick look 😀
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:39:33
LOL, plenty to choose from!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 10:12:24
This is serendipitous Kaggsy! I commented on one of my 1929 Club posts that having read A Farewell to Arms, the next Hemingway in my sights was For Whom the Bell Tolls, which as it happens was published in 1940. So I’m already underway with my planning 😀 It was a great club year, thanks so much to you and Simon for hosting!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:16:26
Oh, that’s brilliant – always satisfying when things work out that way! And yes, 1929 was such a good year and I did love reading the books I chose!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 10:21:27
Couldn’t join in this time unfortunately (no 1929 books in my TBR) but have loved seeing what everyone else has read – such a variety of topics and styles.
I should do better with 1940 since it seems I already have one book from that year – Worlds End by Upton Sinclair. It’s decades since I read him!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:15:47
Indeed – 1929 was such a varied year. And glad you have one lined up for 1940 – look forward to your thoughts!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 11:19:26
Oh, 1940 was a great year for publication! I think that’s a fine choice! And I’m very glad you didn’t have any reading duds in October. Lots to come in November, too, so you should have a good month of reading!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:15:20
I think 1940 sounds good too, Margot, and if it’s as successful as 1929 I’ll be very happy!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 11:19:51
Ooh, 1940! Time to see if I have anything to join in with. 1929 seemed to be a really great year.
Oct 31, 2022 @ 13:33:23
1929 was wonderful, and 1940 looks very promising too I have to say! 😀
Oct 31, 2022 @ 13:51:53
Just had a look and it’s a great year! I have Native Son in the 746 🎉
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:14:26
Excellent!! 😀
Oct 31, 2022 @ 13:39:18
1940 is a good choice. I am looking forward to it! I love doing these.
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:14:43
The Clubs are most enjoyable and 1940 does look to be a good year! 😀
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:31:39
Looks like I can tick off another Graham Greene: Power and Glory was published in 1940!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:48:52
Excellent! I may end up joining you….
Nov 02, 2022 @ 10:29:58
Haha kimbofo, love it!
Nov 02, 2022 @ 14:56:03
😄
Oct 31, 2022 @ 14:32:58
Your October reading list was super (and several of your choices ended up on my TBR). I’m afraid I’m terrible at scheduled events but perhaps next year may be the year! (1940 looks like a very, very interesting publishing year)
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:46:52
I had a really good month and I’m happy to have been an influence… ;D And yes – 1940 looks great, so hopefully you can join in!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 15:03:12
gosh what a good reading month you had! And that’s lots of notice for the 1940 club, no excuses!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:40:55
I loved all my 1929 reading, and yes – you have 6 months to prepare for the next club!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 15:52:03
I’ve already found two books for 1940 that I own, The Provincial Lady in Wartime by E.M. Delafield and A Scream in Soho by John Brandon. Suspect I’ll fine more when I look properly.
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:40:25
Oh, excellent! Yes, I suspect there’s a lot of classic crime to be found!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 17:02:17
Every year’s a good year but looking forward to 1940 – the year that gave us Horizon magazine, bringing literary light into the darkness of the war. Hope to contribute this time around!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:38:55
Indeed – so many choices! You have 6 months to prepare for it! 😀
Oct 31, 2022 @ 17:29:40
What a great month of reading.
Hooray for the 1929 club it provided some excellent books didn’t it. I love reading books from the 1940s so 1940 gets a big cheer from me. Well done on another successful club week. I am going to hopefully write my roundup post tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder about Novellas in November.
Oct 31, 2022 @ 18:37:31
1929 was wonderful – so many great choices, and I’m actually still reading books from the year! ;D As for 1920 it looks brilliant, and I can’t wait – already have lots of ideas. Meanwhile, Novellas, and Non-Fiction, and maybe even some Margaret Atwood if it takes my fancy!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 19:16:18
You and Simon did good when picking 1929 and 1940 looks pretty wonderful too! I already have one for sure re-read and multiple possibles to consider. Reading plans? Well…it would be lovely if my reading takes me in the direction of novellas or non-fiction, but who knows?😂
Oct 31, 2022 @ 19:42:47
I know – both of those years are great! Will look forward to seeing what you choose for 1940 and happy reading for November!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 21:39:01
I really enjoyed both my 1929 books and so glad I spotted the second one on another blog! I’m doing nonfic november, novellas in november and ausreading month but can cover them all with just one book if I really want to!
Nov 01, 2022 @ 14:18:39
Excellent – so glad you could join in and that you found an interesting book because of the Club! I do like it when books tick the boxes for a couple of events too – I have one that does just that coming up later in the week!!
Oct 31, 2022 @ 21:59:36
1929 was a great year and 1940 looks like another good choice. I can already see quite a few books I would like to read from that year. As for November, all of the events are tempting but I’m not sure how many I can actually fit in!
Nov 01, 2022 @ 14:17:52
That’s always the trouble, isn’t it? I don’t know that I’ll fit everything I want to into November. But I’m certainly looking forward to 1940!
Nov 01, 2022 @ 02:28:41
I love these Club events. They help me discover literature I had no idea existsed. Case to point – Memories of Future ( my review will be late in coming because health 😦 ) 1940 is a great year as well. And why wait for a month to start a book ? Dive in I say 😀
Nov 01, 2022 @ 14:17:07
Ah. Memories of the Future is such a marvellous book – I’ll look forward to your thoughts on it when you’re up to it. And the Club weeks *are* such fun – always so many new books to explore!!
Nov 01, 2022 @ 09:29:59
Congrats to you and Simon for hosting another very successful Club week! The diversity of books always surprises me, but 1929 seemed particularly wide-ranging for some reason, possibly because the world was in a state of flux. As for the next one, it’s great to see that we’ll be returning to the 1940s – hooray! I’ll have to see what I can dig out…
Nov 01, 2022 @ 14:12:23
Thanks Jacqui – all of our years turn out to be interesting, somehow, but this did seem a particularly rich one! And yes – I though you would be pleased about 1940! ;D
Nov 01, 2022 @ 14:11:07
I’ve scheduled a discussion post on Greenwitch before reviewing The Grey King which this week I’m taking to Aberdyfi to complete – it’s of course a complete coincidence that the novel is set in the hills above Aberdyfi and Tywyn around Halloween and the first few days of November…
I’m also hoping to complete a second read of Orlando for #NovNov there and start a translated novella, though I’ve yet to decide which. Meanwhile I’ll start thinking which 1940 title(s) to consider for next year. Hmm…
Nov 01, 2022 @ 14:14:27
So many possibilities, aren’t there? It’s always so hard to decide!! I suspect I shall get to the Grey KinG sooner rather than later though my review won’t be until late in the month. You tempt me with Orlando, though it’s not so long since I re-read it if I recall correctly, and there are Woolf titles I need to revisit which haven’t seen the light of day for many a year!
Nov 02, 2022 @ 10:29:08
1940 sounds good … meanwhile I have nearly finished my 1929 novel! It didn’t quite work out the way I wanted but I’m very glad that I chose to read the book I did!
Nov 02, 2022 @ 14:56:33
Excellent – look forward to your thoughts!!
Nov 02, 2022 @ 21:47:41
Thanks … it’s a great book (at least, I think so.)
Nov 03, 2022 @ 10:29:44
Fab! 😊
Nov 05, 2022 @ 03:09:02
Impressive pile!
Yes, I’m participating in Nonfiction November (https://wordsandpeace.com/tag/nonficnov/) and Novellas in November. I have already finished 3, which I am hoping I will find time to review tomorrow.
There are too many events in November, it’s also sci-fi month
Nov 05, 2022 @ 16:04:01
There are! I won’t get to all of them, but Novellas, Non Fiction and German Lit are definites!
Nov 08, 2022 @ 04:12:50
1940 is full of riches. So looking forward to it.
Nov 08, 2022 @ 11:20:16
It’s another good uyear – can’t wait!
Nov 19, 2022 @ 21:29:31
I missed participating in the 1929 Club, it just wasn’t a good time for me. But I have several books from 1940 that I have been meaning to read for years, so I hope I will participate in April:
The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes
Death Takes a Redhead by Anthony Gilbert
Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate
Murder in a Nunnery by Eric Shepherd
Rolling Stone by Patricia Wentworth
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
And I just saw that someone else had mentioned The Provincial Lady in Wartime.
TracyK at Bitter Tea and Mystery
Nov 20, 2022 @ 16:39:16
Oh, some nice choices there – will look forward to seeing what you read! 😀
Dec 28, 2022 @ 18:38:55
Feb 19, 2023 @ 02:59:40