Nostalgia Pie's Retro Reads Book Club Launch

It's a big day for our sister site Nostalgia Pie as the Retro Reads Book Club has just been launched. It begins on 1st January 2024 with Erich Segal's Love Story being the first book to be read and discussed. As regular readers of An Extra Slice will know, I've been engrossed in the Read Christie reading challenge which began in January of this year. I'm now on the final book of the year and I've enjoyed it so much that it inspired me to start some kind of reading group of our own. So I did!

My reasons for participating in the Read Christie challenge were because I saw it as a good chance to read more; get back into some Christie classics - and prove that I could actually finish something that I'd started! I am nearing the end of this challenge and it really has been such a fun experience. So much so that I will definitely be participating in Read Christie 2024.

As much as I love Agatha Christie's works, I got thinking about the other kinds of books that I like to read. My taste in books is a lot like my taste in music - pretty eclectic! But one theme that does connect a lot of my reading material (and music come to think of it!) is 'retro.' My enjoyment of Read Christie coupled with my love of retro titles led me to form the kind of book group that I would like to join. I just hope there's others who'd like to participate as well - or else it won't be much of a club!

GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF THINGS!

One of the things that many of us love about Nostalgia Pie and An Extra Slice is that feeling of community; connecting with like-minded people, and that buzz of excitement as we share memories about all that was great about yesterday. There's that sense of belonging; community and friendship which sometimes, if we're really lucky, spills out into the real world - as it should! There are many people in our lives who may not share the same enthusiasm for the kind of things that we love and enjoy. So it's extra special when you get to connect with someone, rather randomly, who enjoys the same things as you. And it's through these sites that I've met some truly awesome people, some of whom I'm very fortunate to call friends.

We figured that this book club, albeit an online one, is another way in which we can bring people together through a common interest - a love of books. It's for those who understand that books are more than just literary works - they're a collection of memories. Just as music can evoke memories and take you back to another time and place in the past, books can do the same too. Certain books can take you back to your early years; school days; family events, and other important milestones in your life.

RETRO READS

We're choosing well-known retro titles, definitely nothing too obscure so it should hopefully be fairly easy to get hold of. In keeping in essence with Nostalgia Pie, the book titles that we're going to read are those that were titles published between the 1960s-1990s. BUT we'll also look at older titles and classics if it's the kind that most of us would have covered in our school days during the 1960s-1990s. Any post-millennium books selected have been chosen because they are very memorable and have some special significance for me.

HOW DOES THE BOOK GROUP WORK?

It couldn't be more simple. It's quite similar to the Read Christie challenge but instead of twelve books, we're starting off with just six. So it's ideal for you busy bees! Each book is read and then discussed within a two month period. Towards the end of the two month period, we will 'meet' online to discuss the book.

The 'meeting point' is the Retro Reads Book Group page at Nostalgia Pie. There will be two time slots on the day that we all get together to discuss the book for a live Q&A sessions. You can, of course, leave comments after the Q&A sessions have ended if you were not able to attend.

HOW DO WE JOIN AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE READING GROUP PAGE?

The Retro Reads Group page, on the Nostalgia Pie site (under the 'GROUPS' heading) is private so in order to join in the fun, you'll have to become a member (it's free!) Being a member means that you'll also be able to gain access to any available free resources.

Anyone who has been approved as a member will be invited by Nostalgia Pie to join the book group. Alternatively members can request to join and wait to be accepted.

WHAT ARE THE BOOK TITLES FOR 2024?

We thought you'd never ask! We've selected what we think are a great bunch of titles to kick start this book group. Information regarding dates and times are included on the reading list which is available to members:

1. Love Story - Erich Segal

2. The Reading Group - Elizabeth Noble

3. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson

4. Flowers For Mrs. Harris - Paul Gallico

5. The Stepford Wives - Ira Levinson

6. A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett

AND FINALLY...

Remember that we are hosting a book group and NOT necessarily a reading challenge - well not unless you want to challenge yourself! So you can read all the titles that have been selected or just choose the books that appeal to you. 

The first novel, Love Story by Erich Segal will begin 1st January 2024 with the the first Q&A session on 28th February at 1pm and 6pm (EST)

Come on everyone - let's get reading!

Photos: Angel Noire and Wix

Blog graphics: Angel Noire