Category Archives: 20th Century

The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Posted on August 14, 2014 by jenny

The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis is the first (chronologically) in the Narnia series. If you’ve never read Narnia then start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but make sure you come back to the prequel. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Allegory, British, Children's Classic, Christian, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, Speculative Fiction | Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, animals, British, C.S. Lewis, children's classic, Christianity, classic, good out loud, Narnia, The Inklings, whimsical | Leave a comment

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Posted on July 28, 2014 by jenny

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith begins “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink” and is the delightful story of an impoverished family living in a crumbling castle in the early 20th century. It has a delightful cast … Continue reading →

Posted in 13 years and up, 20th Century YA, Comedy, Coming of Age/Rites of Passage, Diarial, Fiction, Light Fiction, Novel, Romance, YA Classic, Young Adult | Tagged 20th Century, British, coming-of-age, Dodie Smith, fiction, journal entries, the movie lives up to it, YA classic | Leave a comment

The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay

Posted on June 30, 2014 by jenny

The Magic Pudding is a delightful Australian Children’s Classic by Norman Lindsay about puddin’-owners, puddin’-thieves and, of course, a cantankerous puddin’ that answers to the name of Albert. It’s basically an excuse for food, fighting and nonsense poetry. Thanks to … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Australian, Children's Classic, Children's Classics, Comedy, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel | Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, animals, Australian, children's classic, fiction, food and fighting, good out loud, humour, nonsense poetry, rhyming | Leave a comment

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Posted on April 24, 2014 by jenny

All Quiet on the Western Front provides a great insightinto the human cost of World War I as it portrays a generation of men whose formative years are spent in the trenches. Remarque weaves narrative together with reflections on the … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Classics, Fiction, General adult audience, Novel, Realism, War Story | Tagged 20th Century, classic, fiction, German, war novel, wartime, WWI | Leave a comment

Peter Pan and Wendy by J. M. Barrie

Posted on April 13, 2014 by jenny

My sister gave me Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, illustrated by Robert Ingpen, for my 20th birthday and warned me that although I might not be excited to receive it, she had got it for me anyway. K’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, British, Children's, Children's Classic, Children's Classics, Fantasy, Novel | Tagged 7 and up, better than the movie, British, children's classic, classic, fantasy, fiction, good out loud, whimsical | Leave a comment

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Posted on April 12, 2014 by jenny

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons is an hilarious 1930s novel about Flora Post, a young woman with no useful skills but a strong desire for tidiness. She goes to live with the very untidy Starkadder family at Cold Comfort … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Comedy, General adult audience, Melodrama, Novel, Parody, Pastoral novel, Speculative Fiction | Tagged 20th Century, British, classic, fiction, good out loud, humour, melodrama, parody, the movie lives up to it | Leave a comment