Once again I have stumbled onto a very interesting book that I would never have found. In 1904 an American novelist (not the future Prime Minister) published a book called The Crossing, a frontier story that was very successful and was adapted into a play. Mr. Churchill, who today is often confused with Winston S. Churchill, the British stateman and author, was very famous, the J.K. Rowling of his day.

A free Kindle edition is readily available, and so I am already well into this enjoyable book.

Liz, I'd be happy to read some of the books of the 1960s, unless I'm being too avid and not giving other readers a chance (I've already put in claims for four years).

If no one objects, I'll take:

1969, The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier (My absolute favorite of her books that I always love to reread)
1962, The Sand Pebbles by Richard McKenna (I read this long ago but I'm sure I will enjoy another go at this story set in China in 1926.)

I recently started Nancy Mitford's Pigeon Pie, which was published in 1941.

I'd like to go ahead and claim 1953 for me read: The Light in the Forest - Conrad Richter....

Then I was going to pick up 1984 with an Anita Brookner, but slowpoke I've been, Sheri's got that one with MM Kaye. No biggie - lots more to choose from!

I am enjoying this project so far - thanks to all for joining in. More fun that way!

The RP CoB blog has just been updated... FYI.

Here is a link that might be useful: RP CoB Blog Update (07/30/2013)

I have made a mistake with the year of publication for Nancy Mitford's Pigeon Pie. It was apparently published in 1940, not 1941 as I incorrectly stated. (Sorry for the mistake, but the publication information inside my old Penguin paperback is a bit confusing.) It looks like 1940 is still free, luckily.

I have Betsy~Tacey, published originally in 1940. I read and re-read these books. One volume helped me when my sister died, as one of the characters experienced the same family situation at about the same age as I and my sister. It was a comfort.

Veronicae can have 1940. I think I would like to try something a bit more substantial for the Century of Books challenge.

Ouch! Skip me on that one then. Remarkably, when talking books with friends, the childhood books and how they affected us have been central to many discussions.

Lemonhead, just a correction - I had signed up for 1949 ("Turvey" by Earle Birney) and 1951 ("Grass Beyond the Mountains" by Richmond P. Hobson). Seems I got scooped by Frieda for 1951 with her "Caine Mutiny", lol. Just to keep things straight in case you are audited, 1949 should be "Turvey" and NOT "Grass Beyond the Mountains". Original information located at post # __??? no post numbers!! OK, it was June 11 at 16:42...

I would like to claim 1984 with an item from my TBR pile, "My Present Age" by Guy Vanderhaeghe.

Liz, will you save 1922 for me as I have a new library book to read; Elizabeth Von Arnim's The Enchanted April.
I remember many RP'ers had enjoyed it and thought I would give it a go.

I have made note of these updates and will make the changes official on Mon. Sorry about that, Salix. Your post had slipped through the net!

And about 1984 - on July 25, Sheri asked for that year for MM Kaye's Death in Cyprus. I missed that as well, so apologies for confusion.

My prof life has settled down now and so I will have more time to proof the details from now on. Thanks for your patience.

And I'd like to put my name in the hat for 1945 with Norman Collins' London Belongs to Me...

The RP CoB blog has now been updated.

Happy to make any edits - just let me know.

Here is a link that might be useful: RP CoB blog updated (08/05/13)

Umm, Liz, in the latest chart update, 1951 has been changed to Grass Beyond the Mountains by Richard P. Hobson, Jr. It had been The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk which I claimed on June 10th. Salix didn't mentioned Hobson's Grass Beyond... until June 11th.

Ordinarily I would accede the change without quibble, but I've already read The Caine Mutiny and reported on it in the Century Project Comments thread on July 6th and July 30th.

However, if 1951's Grass Beyond... is particularly desired by Salix, I'll give up The Caine Mutiny, although somewhat ruefully. I had written a review for the blog but had not posted it yet because I'm having to use my phone to input everything and I usually make a mess with the typing. I was waiting until I could use a 'real' computer.

Anyway, I thought I would let you know about the mix up, Liz. Whatever you and Salix decide to do, I'll be okay with it.

You Know - I bet it's ok for both of you to have 1951 and I can just add another line. This project is very flexible so that's fine with me. :-)

Fine with everyone else?

I haven't looked at the listing of books for 1942 yet but I'd like to take that year (my birth year) and will let you know what I choose.

Lemonhead - Slow to respond, but I think I can speak for everyone ... gutsy of me, huh? Of course it would be fine to have two books for 1951. The more the merrier!

Having finished the first 2 books I signed up for (1954 & 1963), I'd like to sign up now for 1952 with Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard. It was a discussion book for my Mythopoeic group years ago, but I never got around to reading it. Maybe this time!

Lemonhead - I am so sorry to have fouled up the chart! Of course friedag can have 1951 as she had first dibs. Since "Grass Beyond ..." would have been a re-read for me, it has saved me writing another review. It's my busy time now anyway; harvesting, canning, freezing, dehydrating etc.

Hi all --

RP CoB blog updated as of today.

Here is a link that might be useful: RP CoB blog Updated (08/12/2013)

Coming late to this party because all the years I wanted have been long taken. I am going to "cheat" a bit and claim 1941, because I am reading Flora Thompson's trilogy, and one of them was written in 1941. I should say that this is a re-read for me. Is that all right?

I'm signing up to read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle which was re-published in 1906.

Any other updates?

Hey Wood -

Which title is your 1941 selection?...

I think it is the middle one, "Over to Candleford", but I am re-reading all three, in order.

I mentioned on the other thread that I had given up on Cold Mountain by Charles Fraser (sp? I don't have the book in front of me to check the spelling of his name) for the year 1997 so that year is open again if anyone else has a book from then they want to use. I have to find something else to replace CM with.

I have had to set aside the Flora Thompson trilogy, due to multiple reading assignments for my college class in Eastern European history.

The RP CoB blog has been updated. Just FYI. Happy to make any revisions.

Here is a link that might be useful: RP CoB blog updated (08/26/2013)

FYI: 1906 is now up for grabs as that title didn't grab me in the end.

Also - I'd like to add two more titles (this in the 1990's): 1990 American Women: Their Lives in Their Words - Doreen Rappaport (NF), and 1998 Comfort Woman - Nora Okja Keller (F). Both really good reads, btw. I'll put their reviews in the comment thread.

Finished Lady Chatterley's Lover last night. I ended up liking a lot more than I thought I would. Its reputation for being pornographic is ironic considering how Lawrence wrote it with much high-minded earnestness. There a lot of four-letter Anglo-Saxon words, of course, but it is not that graphic. I did, however, grow a bit weary of Lawrence's opinions.

OK, my 1942 book is The Black Orchid by Rex Stout. The library is getting it for me this week hopefully.

Is 1991 still free? If so, I would like to read Pat Barker's World War I novel Regeneration.

The RP CoB has been updated. Happy to make any revisions. FYI.

Here is a link that might be useful: RP CoB Blog Updated 09/06/2013

I saw that 1968 was empty which fits very nicely with my recent read of one of Paddington the Bear books - Paddington Goes to Town. I had not read any Paddington books before, and have found that I love them. Bond uses a sly sense of humor and I adore Paddington's "hard stares" at people with whom he disagrees. This is one of my new favorite kid books and will definitely make it onto my book review column in the next month or two.

I see 1964 is free and I would like to add Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, a book I have always meant to read.

I see 1941 is not taken. I think I will claim that year, as it fits one of the books I am reading for my course on the history of Eastern Europe.

The RP CoB blog has now been updated.

Some salient points:
* RPers love the 1950's (the only decade that is complete right now)...
* We're not so fond of the 1930's...
* or the years between 1915-1925....

Great work, fellow RPers! Keep it up!

Here is a link that might be useful: RP CoB Blog Update (09/16/2013)

Do plays qualify for this project? I downloaded Rossum's Universal Robots, which was published in 1920, but first presented on stage in 1921, which is not yet taken. If everyone agrees this is valid, I'll sign up for 1921 with R.U.R.,

Donnamira -

I think plays count as much as anything else... so yes - read away!

(I've just finished Pygmalion by Shaw after all.)

:-)

OK - I downloaded the Gutenberg Kindle version & finished R.U.R. this morning from my iPhone. :) I'll post comments over on the comment thread, and sign up for 1905: either I'll re-read HG Wells' Kipps (and hopefully understand the satire better than I did as a teenager reading it just because I'd seen the Tommy Steele movie musical!) or Wharton's House of Mirth.

Liz, may I submit Mrs Beeton and her Husband by Nancy Spain, for 1947, a copy of which I have had knocking around here for some time?
N S was the great niece of Mrs B and had a large selection of family letters and memorabilia which she drew on for this book. A pity that it is written under Post-War conditions as the paper is poor quality and there is a dearth of photos and illustrations.

Vee - sure, you can submit that. Perhaps that will make me move up a couple of books about Mrs. Beeton in my TBR pile...!

I've just realized that my current read of a collection of essays by E. B. White would fit this project for 1977... So I'd like to claim that year if that works with everyone...

Seeing that 1937 is still available, please put me down for that year. My library still has a copy of Kenneth Roberts's once-famous novel Northwest Passage. I've seen it on shelves for years and I think I'd like to give it a try.

Rosefolly

Has anyone selected a book for 1905? Can I suggest Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster. I've had it on my list for a while, and would like to take it on.

Glad to see you all here.

I'm just finishing up HG Wells Kipps for 1905, but if you want 1905, go for it.

Oh no. I see you mentioned it before so you have the Wells book. How about 1915? I've been on a Willa Cather kick, so if no one else has mentioned a title for that year, I'll do Song of the Lark by Cather.

Sorry about that donnamira.

I don't think 1986 is taken. If not, I'd like to present "Under a Cruel Star: Life in Prague 1941-1968" by Heda Margolius Kovaly. This is a novel I must read for my class on Eastern European History. (The book was published earlier under a different title, in Europe, however.)

The RP CoB blog has now been updated. FYI.

Here is a link that might be useful: RP COB blog updated (10/01/2013)

Is 1970 still free? I am curious to read the novel Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion.