hogglestock

At the half way point, I have read 51 books of the 100 I need to read for my A Century of Books challenge. I made slower progress this quarter because I allowed myself to do more non-ACOB reading, particularly while I was on vacation. I could check off a few more years, but I am only counting books that were in my TBR at the start of the year.

Last quarter I said the 1950s was most enjoyable, this time there is no decade that really stands out, most were a mixed bag except for the 2000s. I really enjoyed the two of those. And the 1990s remains my least read decade so far.

19teens

Completed last quarter.

1920s

I read so much of the 1920s  last quarter there wasn’t much left to read. I did one this quarter and only have 1927 to complete to finish off this decade.

1928 – Quicksand by Nella Larsen

1930s

Last quarter a lot of my 1930s selections were mysteries/thrillers. Although I loved High Rising, I wouldn’t say it was a thriller, but Brighton Rock was (and I kind of hated it).

1933 – High Rising by Angela Thirkell
1938 – Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

1940s

The 1940s continue to be a slow decade for me. I think it’s more a function of saving them for a rainy day rather than avoiding them.

1944 – The Friendly Young Ladies by Mary Renault
1949 – Prairie Avenue by Arthur Meeker

1950s

My one book this quarter from the 1950s could easily have been from the 1930s. 

1950 – Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

1960s

Unlike the three books from the 1960s I read last quarter, at least two of this quarter’s books are starting to feel like the ’60s. Not Butcher’s Crossing (which was amazing) but the other two for sure. 

1960 – Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams
1963 – A Day in Late September by Merle Miller
1969 – Fat City by Leonard Gardner

1970s

The Stern and the Nagle were very much of their period, at least content wise. The Central American background of the Ambler was in keeping with the times as well, but Ambler’s books are happily more old fashioned than that.

1973 – Other Men’s Daughters by Robert Stern
1974 – Doctor Frigo by Eric Ambler
1975 – The Odd Angry Shot by William Nagle

1980s

A decade of conflict for sure.

1982 – A Pale View of the Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
1985 – The Tenth Man by Graham Greene
1988 – Beirut, Beirut by Sonallah Ibrahim
1989 – Damascus Nights by Rafik Schami

1990s

Apparently I avoided the 1990s last quarter.

2000s

A fantastically misogynist Carlotto (as usual) and a fantastic Auster.

2000 – The Goodbye Kiss by Massimo Carlotto
2003 – Oracle Night by Paul Auster

20teens

I finally got going on the 20teens. The Marcus and the Williams were dystopias and definitely reflect our times. 

2012 – The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus
2014 – The Golden Age by Joan London
2015 – Skyfaring by Mark Vanhoenacker
2017 – When the English Fall by David Williams

The Whole Century So Far

1919 –  Free Air by Sinclair Lewis

1920 – Happy House by Jane D. Abbott
1921 – Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim
1922 – A Son at the Front by Edith Wharton
1924 – The Unlit Lamp by Radclyffe Hall
1925 – Rex by E.F. Benson
1926 – Marazan by Nevil Shute
1928 – Quicksand by Nella Larsen
1929 – The Bride’s House by Dawn Powell

1930 – Journey’s End by R.C. Sherriff and Vernon Bartlett
1931 – Mystery in the Channel by Freeman Wills Crofts
1932 – Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann
1933 – High Rising by Angela Thirkell
1934 – The 12:30 from Croydon by Freeman Wills Crofts
1938 – Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
1939 – The Confidential Agent by Graham Greene

1944 – The Friendly Young Ladies by Mary Renault
1948 – Catalina by W. Somerset Maugham
1949 – Prairie Avenue by Arthur Meeker

1950 – Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
1954 – Slide Rule by Nevil Shute
1956 – The Hunters by James Salter
1959 – Passage of Arms by Eric Ambler

1960 – Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams
1961 – The Chateau by William Maxwell
1962 – Morte D’urban by J.F. Powers
1963 – A Day in Late September by Merle Miller
1965 – My Dog Tulip by J.R. Ackerley
1969 – Fat City by Leonard Gardner

1971 – Not to Disturb by Muriel Spark
1973 – Other Men’s Daughters by Robert Stern
1974 – Doctor Frigo by Eric Ambler
1975 – The Odd Angry Shot by William Nagle
1976 – Agent in Place by Helen MacInnes

1980 – Recovering by May Sarton
1982 – A Pale View of the Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro
1985 – The Tenth Man by Graham Greene
1986 – To the Land of Cattails by Aharon Appelfeld
1987 – In the Country of Last Things by Paul Auster
1988 – Beirut, Beirut by Sonallah Ibrahim
1989 – Damascus Nights by Rafik Schami

1990 – The Boss Dog by M.F.K. Fisher
1993 – Saving Agnes by Rachel Cusk

2000 – The Goodbye Kiss by Massimo Carlotto
2002 – My Lover’s Lover by Maggie O’Farrell
2003 – Oracle Night by Paul Auster
2006 – In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar

2012 – The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus
2014 – The Golden Age by Joan London
2015 – Skyfaring by Mark Vanhoenacker
2017 – When the English Fall by David Williams