1925 Club, hosted by Stuck in a Book and Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings, starts on Monday and we will all be reading and writing about books published in that year. 1925 was a great year for publishing – I have previously read and reviewed six books on my blog and thought I would list them before the week begins. If you haven’t decided what to read yet, maybe you can find some inspiration here, although some of these are now out of print.
Don’t forget, this is also the 10th anniversary of Simon and Karen’s clubs and we’ve been invited to celebrate by highlighting some of our favourite reads from earlier clubs. I’ll be doing that next week, but first here are my previous reviews of 1925 books:
The Professor’s House by Willa Cather – This quiet, reflective novel about a Professor in his fifties looking back on his life as he prepares to move house was the first Willa Cather book I read.
The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie – One of Christie’s early thrillers rather than a detective story and the first of several books to feature Superintendent Battle.
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham – I loved this beautifully written book set in 1920s China during an outbreak of cholera.
Glorious Apollo by E. Barrington – This is a more obscure one! A fictional biography of Lord Byron with a focus on three of the women in his life.
These Mortals by Margaret Irwin – A fantasy novel inspired by Shakespeare and following the story of magician’s daughter, Melusine, and her companions the Cat, the Raven and the Snake.
The Little Chronicle of Magdalena Bach by Esther Meynell – This novel imagines that after the death of Johann Sebastian Bach, his wife Magdalena decides to write a chronicle of their marriage and their lives together.
I’ve also read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which I haven’t reviewed as I read it before I started blogging.
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Have you read any of these – or any other books published in 1925? Will you be taking part in 1925 Club next week?
She Reads Novels 
No, I’ve read none of these – how uncultured am I! – but I’m currently reading Mrs Dalloway and am considering Kafka’s The Trial (though I may reserve this for German Literature Month).
I think Mrs Dalloway will be a popular choice for the club. I haven’t read it but will look forward to your thoughts.
I have read Gatsby ages ago; Chimneys is a great favourite despite the not-so- PC bits–such fun, and The Painted Veil–a very good one. I was toying with the idea of revisiting Chimneys or Veil,but haven’t yet decided. My other picks include one revisit and two ‘new’ ones.
Yes, Chimneys was good fun, although I just read it last year so I’m not ready to revisit it yet. I hope you enjoy whatever you read for the club!
Thank you! Looking forward to seeing what you picked!
I read Gatsby back in 2018. I wasn’t expecting a great deal from it and found the reality to be even worse. One comment I had: At times frustratingly unfocused, racist, anti-Semitic, and just plain dull with dialogue even worse than Star Wars I’m just glad it was so short.
So…. NOT impressed then!
I’m not much of a Fitzgerald fan at all. I wasn’t impressed with Gatsby either and found Tender is the Night even more boring. I did enjoy some of his short stories, though!
Those are interesting options, and the novel of Byron (which is new to me) is very appealing!!
The Byron novel was interesting, although I thought it could have worked better as non-fiction. I’m looking forward to the club next week!
I have both The Secret of Chimneys and The Painted Veil ready to go up next week!
I’ll look out for your reviews.
I’ve never come across that Margaret Irwin or I would have read that for next week!
It was unusual! Other than that one, I’ve only read two or three of her historical novels.
The Professor’s House sounds very appealing, I haven’t read any Cather but she’s on my classics list so may be this will be my starting point!
I still haven’t read much by Willa Cather. I think Death Comes for the Archbishop is my favourite so far, but The Professor’s House was interesting as well.
I’ve read the first three. But I think it’s always fun to see what other books from that year people find to read. Can’t wait to see what other books you find. 😀
I’m always surprised by the wide range of books people find for each year! I think 1925 will be a good one.
I have vague memories of having read The Painted Veil many, many years ago. I’ve read several Willa Cather novels but not the one you mention. If I can fit it in I may indulge myself with a reread of John Macnab by John Buchan
I think I’ve only read three Willa Cather books so far – I must read more! I hope you’re able to fit in the John Buchan.