I know I have on occasion mentioned that I belong to a postal reading group. Back in January 2011 fourteen of us each chose a book for the others in the group to read. A list was compiled and each of our books was mailed out to the next person on the list after our names. Then every other month the book we had received was mailed on, until just last month when each book visited each person on the list they were finally sent home to their owners. And now more than two years later my copy of Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough's Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, after crisscrossing countries and oceans, and (hopefully) having been read by each person in the group arrived back in my mailbox.
Perhaps a little worse with wear, but I am hoping much enjoyed by everyone.
But then the copy I sent out was pretty battered to begin with. This edition was printed in 1958 (originally published in 1942), so was already a little on the fragile side. I bought a used copy as it is only available now in hardcover (at least it appears to still be in print!), so it would be a nice, light-weight paperback to keep mailing costs as low as possible. I was also seduced by the vintage (though I guess at the time it was designed it wouldn't have been vintage, eh?) cover. A mere 35 cents, too. What a bargain, though maybe in 1958 35 cents was a lot of money?
Plus it has these wonderful illustrations. It's a pity that more books don't have illustrations like this. The only requirement we had for choosing our books was to keep it around or less than 200 pages. It was a tough decision as the group I belong to is very well read, so it was an agonizing choice.
I wanted a book I'd read and loved and one I thought everyone would find equally as entertaining. The group was initially formed to read Persephone Books's list of twentieth century women writers, but they branched out and now all sorts of books are read and discussed. Our main bookish commonality lies in the sorts of domestic fiction that you see being published (re-discovered) by Persephone Books. We each also included a little notebook for comments--hence postal reading group. I've only had a chance to skim the comments in my notebook and my choice seems to have gone over fairly well. It is indeed a charming book (which I unfortunately never wrote about properly) and I'm happy to have shared it with the others in my group--especially those who had never come across it previously. Now I really need to read it again (and would love to read more of both women's books).
In case you've not heard of it is a travel book of sorts about two young American women traveling to Europe in the 1920s and their adventures (and sometimes misadventures). It was popular when first published and went through 20 printings and sold more than two million copies in the 1940s. It was made into a film in 1944, which I would dearly love to see. Our Hearts Were Young and Gay was a great find for me--I came across it in the now defunct (and sadly missed) Common Reader catalog.
In case you are curious the books I read in this postal round (it was my second by the way) include (I wrote about some of the books and have included the links):
Common or Garden Crime by Sheila Pim
A Covenant with Death by Stephen Becker (my post)
World My Wilderness by Rose Macaulay (my post)
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (my post)
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner
The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf (my post)
In the Springtime of the Year by Susan Hill
Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell (my post)
Peking Picnic by Ann Bridge
The Skin Chairs by Barbara Comyns (my post)
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson (my post)
One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes (my post)
The Palace by Lisa St Aubin de Teran
I thoroughly enjoy taking part in this postal reading group and am looking forward to our next round, which will hopefully begin sometime later this summer. I've been thinking about which book I will send out into the world and have a little list compiled already. Part of the fun is that we keep our books a secret so the packages are always a surprise. So, alas, I cannot tell you what I have in mind for the next round. I may (or may not) have written about the books . . . But don't worry, I always share my reading experiences (especially the really good ones) here eventually!
I recently read this book (in a sturdy hardback form!) - and what a treat it was. I absolutely adored it. So funny. And the little illustrations were perfect. I'm now thrusting it on everyone I know, to share my enjoyment.
Posted by: vicki (skiourophile / bibliolathas) | May 04, 2013 at 03:33 AM
That is so CRAZY!
When I was a kid, I'm talking about 4 decades ago here, I remember this very book in the bookshelf downstairs. It was owned by my older brother or sister, and I remember thinking the title to be so funny. The COVER of the book was even the same!
Thank you for this journey down Memory Lane.
Posted by: Cipriano | May 04, 2013 at 05:15 AM
How much I loved this book! Thanks so much for choosing it, Danielle - and for a round-up of the books we had. In previous years, I've not managed to read about a third of the books, so this lower page limit has been great - I read all but one.
Posted by: Simon T | May 04, 2013 at 05:56 AM
This sounds like such a lovely experience. I haven't heard of the book bt ill have a look. I recognize some of the oter books you received and some are favourites of yours I think.
It's a really great idea, I like it a lot.
Posted by: Caroline | May 04, 2013 at 07:17 AM
What a wonderful idea. How did you find the participants for your group?
Posted by: Debbie Rodgers @Exurbanis | May 04, 2013 at 10:51 AM
I foolishly gave away my copy of this years ago and have been regretting it ever since! And I love the idea of a postal book group, especially with such excellent picks.
Posted by: Claire (The Captive Reader) | May 04, 2013 at 01:55 PM
I think this idea for a book group is brilliance incarnate. The titles all look wonderful, and this choice of yours is great! Though unlike some others, I've never come across a copy. Those old illustrations are fabulous. When and why did they ever stop putting pictures into grown-up books?
Posted by: Melwyk | May 04, 2013 at 09:20 PM
My own copy is a cloth edition, too. I didn't want to make everyone mail a hardcover so bought this little paperback. Isn't it a great read? I guess I sort of thrust it in a number of hands, too, via the postal group. And I love the illustrations--part of the charm really.
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:24 PM
Bookish serendipity! I think I was a kid at the same time you were Cipriano (though I don't always feel like much of an adult sometimes to be honest!). I'm glad I brought back a happy memory (aren't books wonderful in that way?!).
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:25 PM
I read your comment in my notebook Simon and was so happy that you liked it so much. It was a great choice--I always agonize over these things. I read all but the last--only because I ran out of time, but I would still like to go back and read it. I can't wait for the next round to start now! :)
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:27 PM
I really enjoy my postal reading group. I have about three dependable and enjoyable readalongs/groups that I look forward to each month--this postal group, your war and literature readalong and the Slaves books. I have found some real bookish treasures through all three!
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:28 PM
Isn't it a great idea? I wish I had thought of it. It was started in a Yahoo group that I belong to. They discuss other books and then do this postal round robin on the side. It's nice as everyone pretty much knows each other even though we all live in different places and even different countries.
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:30 PM
That's the problem with weeding, isn't it. At the time you think you will probably never again read particular book and in any case need to make room for other new books, but so often somewhere down the line you might wish you still had whatever it was you gave away. I know I have done this myself! It is a very fun idea--this is the second time I've participated and I always look forward to getting that surprise package in the mail. And yes, the book choices have been great--I have discovered lots of good books this way.
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:32 PM
Isn't it a wonderful idea? I have done round robins with crafting groups--needlework primarily and it has been fun. I've had good experiences with them, too. I love the book and was hoping that everyone else would too, and from the comments in my notebook that came back it seems like everyone did. I wish books still had illustrations like that--so much fun. I do wonder when they fell out of vogue.
Posted by: Danielle | May 05, 2013 at 08:34 PM
That is a well read and well traveled book! And how cool that you send a notebook with it for comments!
Posted by: Stefanie | May 06, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Heh, if that book could talk, what stories would it have to tell, I wonder! How amusing, to send it out and then see it return all battered and well-loved. I don't know this novel but it sounds delightful, and your postal reading group always sounds like such a nice idea.
Posted by: litlove | May 06, 2013 at 12:47 PM
How nice of you!
Thanks so much.
Posted by: Caroline | May 07, 2013 at 06:46 AM
It is fun reading what everyone thought of a book--a little scary too to think a favorite might not be well received, but in this case I chose well as nearly everyone seemed to really like it!
Posted by: Danielle | May 07, 2013 at 07:15 AM
It is a fun group and I greatly enjoy getting that mystery package in the mail every other month. The next round should start soon--in the next month or so I hope. I am actually organizing it--my enthusiasm got the better of me I am afraid, but it should be fun. I bet the book would have some very good stories to tell! :)
Posted by: Danielle | May 07, 2013 at 07:17 AM
This looks wonderful. I love anything to do with Paris in the 20s, especially ones featuring expats or visitors to the city so I'm going to try and hunt this one down! A friend of mine who was in Paris for a month bought a copy of The Dud Avocado from Shakespeare & Co. and really enjoyed it so I'm got to get that one too.
Posted by: sakura | May 13, 2013 at 07:49 AM
Oh, Danielle, if I didn't already know we were kindred spirits, this would have confirmed it. This is one of my favorite books, and I have an extremely battered copy on my shelf! I need to reread it...after I tape it up so it won't fall apart in my hands.
Posted by: Kathy | May 13, 2013 at 12:14 PM
I have yet to read The Dud Avocado, which I have on hand somewhere, but I did read The Old Man and Me, which I think is a little less light hearted from what I understand. I also love that era. This is such a fun read--I do hope you can easily find a copy--I think there are loads of used copies out there.
Posted by: Danielle | May 13, 2013 at 09:59 PM
The copy that came back to me is all battered and falling apart as you see in the photo! It is a delightful book--definitely one to reread. I have a cloth edition that was published by The Common Reader when they were still in business. We do have lots of bookish overlap, don't we! On more than one occasion I've taken up your reading suggestions (Paula Fox and Patricia Wentworth to name just two) and they've both been great reads!
Posted by: Danielle | May 13, 2013 at 10:01 PM
I just got a copy of Our hearts were young and gay and can't wait to era it! The cover's different from yours but it's a Penguin paperback.
Posted by: sakura | May 17, 2013 at 09:22 AM
Yay! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I have my own copy, which is a hardcover that was published by The Common Reader--a nice edition, and in much better condition than this poor mass market copy. Let me know what you think! :)
Posted by: Danielle | May 17, 2013 at 10:14 PM