May time period

It seems like we just finished voting on the April theme and it's already time to talk about our time period for May. Last year we covered the Gilded Age (ca. 1870-1900), medieval era (ca. 500-1500), French Revolutionary era, Ancient Rome, 1950s, and the Victorian era. So far this year we've covered the Cold War era and the Tudor era. We haven't covered much of the 20th century in the last year. Anyone ready for the Edwardian era? What suggestions do you have for May?

I'd like to suggest the Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age, simply because I have a ton of books on my TBR list that would fit that era! Also, Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" is coming out in May (in the U.S.), which would be a fun thematic tie-in. But I'm open to other ideas as well!

We did the 1920s in November 2011. At some point we talked about how often we would repeat themes or time periods and I think we settled on 2 years. May 2013 would be a year and a half. I wouldn't mind doing the 1920s again, though.

How about social issues in the early years of the 1900's. Sinclair Lewis and Steinbeck would fit this time frame, though I do like the Jazz theme.

May is a time period month so all we need to do is select a time frame/era. We're free to choose our own topics to read about within that time period.

I wouldn't mind doing the 1920's again, another suggestion would be the 1930's, lots of subject matter there from the Great American Depression to the political build up to World War II.

Lots of good stuff in the 1930s, and it's been more than 2 years since we visited that time period.

I like the sound of the 30's too

I'm cool with the '30s!

I'm good with the 30s as well.

I can find something from the 1930's on my TBR.

Are we ready to vote? Anyone know how to create a poll?

Go away for a week and miss a lot :D. I'll create the poll, but I have to say I like the 1930s suggestion.

If I missed a suggestion for the poll, tell me, but I think 1920s and 1930s were the only time periods suggested.

I had suggested the Edwardian period since we haven't done it before, but there doesn't seem to be much interest in it. I'm happy with the 1930s.

I added it to the polls. I have to admit, I'd rather do Edwardian later, when my Victorian/Edwardian mystery series is actually set in the Edwardian era instead of the Victorian one :D.

>18 Samantha_kathy: Which mystery series is that?

I have no books on my bookshelves that fit any of these time periods.

I made a decision that, this month, I was really going to focus on my own 'real' books this time and clear some of those books off my shelves before I, hopefully, move later this year.

Looks like it is going to be the library or e-book after all! (She grins) Damn!

I will try and find something for any of these and may try to get into The Great Gastby by F. Scott Fitzgerald if we go that way. I have tried it several times before and just couldn't read it. Maybe this time ...

19> Robin Paige's Victorian/Edwardian mysteries. The series is finished, I'm just way behind :D. I've read the first four, but it's not until the tenth one (Death at Hyde Park) that it's set during the Edwardian era.

I've read a lot of the books in that series but not in any particular order. It was pre-LT and now I'm not sure which ones I've read and which ones I haven't.

wow, really, we haven't done the Edwardian? Hard to believe!

Well, I think we're voting pretty unanimously for the 1930s. Should I call it now or wait a few more days before closing the vote?

I agree Samantha. There have been no more votes for a few days now.

The time period for May will be the 1930s.


From left, clockwise: homeless during the Great Depression; the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese War; Aviator Amelia Earhart; German dictator Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party; The Hindenburg explodes; Mohandas Gandhi walks to the Indian Ocean in the Salt March of 1930.

After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the largest stock market crash in American history, most of the 1930s was consumed by an economic downfall called The Great Depression that had a traumatic effect worldwide. In response, authoritarian regimes emerged in several countries in Europe, in particular the Third Reich in Germany. Weaker states were invaded by expansionist world powers, ultimately leading to World War II by the decade's end. The decade also saw a proliferation in new technologies, including intercontinental aviation, radio, and film.

I have a list of possibilities. There is no way I will be getting to all of these but all 5 of the are available at my library and all are set in the 1930's.
The Saffron Gate
The Confidant
Blackberry Winter
Hemingway's Girl
The Perfume Garden
So now I need to ignore these titles until May. Not always easy once the seed of interest has been planted.

I'll be reading The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies, the second in the Darling Dahlias series, which is set in the Great Depression. The first book was set in 1929, when everything was just starting, and this one is set in 1930, so perfect for the theme.

I'll probably read A Secret Gift by Ted Gup and Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer.

I'll read Night Soldiers and possibly the second of that series.

The last time we read about the 1930's, I read Alan Furst, focusing on 1930's Europe and events leading up to World War II. This time I am thinking of reading about the Depression in America, so I am looking at The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, and a graphic novel called The Storm In the Barn. Although a couple of other books also come to mind that are set in this time period - The Diary of a Provincial Lady and Miss Buncle's Book - decisions, decisions!

Judy, I read The Persian Pickle Club the last time we did the 1930s and I loved it. Miss Buncle's Book is a favorite, too. There doesn't seem to be a bad choice in the lot.

I have just completed Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck. A four star read. If you would like a look at my brief review click here and go to post 117

I finished The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas and I absolutely loved it. A wonderful story, great characters, a fun and informative read.

The Maisie Dobbs series begins in 1929 London. She has successfully established herself as a psychologist and investigator with office in Fitzroy Square and Billy Beale as her assistant.

Dobbs' background includes time as a servant in a fine home following the death of her Mother and it is here that her intelligence is discovered. Tutored by an adult for her life's profession, she does serve time in the front lines of WWI as a nurse.

The heavy burden of WWI and related social ills are explored in the series. Well written and a pleasure to read.

I'm reading (ok listening to) Night Soldiers by Alan Furst. Wonderful spy story of the years leading up to WWII

I have just finished The Storm In the Barn a YA graphic novel that it again set in Kansas during the 1930's. A young boy must battle with a menacing rain creature in order to end the drought and save his family's farm, and his sister's health. Nicely drawn but a little too simplistic for me.

Who Killed the Curate? is on the way for me! I can't wait.

I finished I Capture the Castle last night. I didn't realize it fit this month's time period until I started it. That was a nice surprise!

I finished Who Killed the Curate? Extremely funny. First in the series. Lady Lupin reminds me very much of Tuppence, only more scatter-brained and even funnier.

I have started Chasing the Light by Jesse Blackadder. It is the story of the first woman to land on Antarctica, set in the 1930's.

I just finished Chasing the Light, a really interesting story of the first women to visit Antarctica. The characters were interesting. The description of the whaling industry, including the hunting of the whales and the processing of them on the factory ships, was quite confronting. With that many whales being hunted back then it is no wonder the whales need protection now.

I finished Why Shoot a Butler? by Georgette Heyer. If you can overlook a few technical problems it's a fun read.

I managed to squeeze in one last book for this month's time period: Young Men in Spats by P. G. Wodehouse. It's typical Wodehouse and the audio version was fun to listen to.