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#ReadingBracket2024 #BookBracket2024

Connie Willis can be a little wordy, I admit, and there are times that what starts as running gag can start to feel a little dragged-out. But these are minor complaints in an overall well-written, cleverly plotted, ingeniously imagined scifi/historical fiction/romance/humor - let‘s just say, GENRE DEFYING - novel.

Well, that was loads of fun! And just the break I needed from heavier fare…

“There were five of us—Carruthers and the new recruit and myself, and Mr. Spivens and the verger.”

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

#whereintheworld
#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12

Cheating a bit because I‘m reading my nonfiction (The Anxious Generation) right now with breakfast, but it‘s not really set in a particular locale, except broadly the USA. So I‘m going with my fiction selection, which is set in and around Oxford UK.

#hyggehour
#hyggehourreadathon

Not feeling very “hygge” this weekend as we are coming up on our fourth day in a row of 100+ temps. It‘s hard to get cozy (or sleep) when it‘s still 85F at 11:00 pm!

But I AM enjoying traveling back to 1880s Oxford with Connie Willis. Bonus graphic of The National Parks album which I‘ve been binging all week!

My goodness this one was hilarious. Ned travels to the Victorian era from the future to help with the restoration of the Conventry Cathedral. Soon he finds himself boating down the Thames, navigating Victorian etiquette, & saving a kitten. The supporting characters: his partner in crime Verity, Baine the butler, flighty Tossie, and Lady Schrapnell are what really made the book. I'm glad I read Three Men in a Boat 1st to get the added references.

A time traveller suffering from time lag is sent to the 19th century to recuperate but the bishop's bird stump and the incongruities around the rescue of Princess Arjumand get in the way.

Not as funny as its reputation led me to believe but still a very enjoyable time travel romp.

There were five of us -- Carruthers and the new recruit and myself, and Mr Spivens and the verger.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

#forburyreading

After completely loving Doomsday Book, I added this sequel to my TBR list, but I want to hear from other readers if it‘s as good! #temptingtitles #withdog

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I wanted to love Doomsday Book but sadly though the idea was good the execution of it mostly grated on my nerves.....since I own the second / companion book I will give it a try.... Then off to the charity shop with these nice editions 😁

#BookCoverChallenge
Day 98.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

Book mail is the best mail! Especially from friends on litsy! Thank you for the kind gift, surprise extra book, and sweet note @Jas16 cheers!!

This novel is much different in tone than The Doomsday Book but no less awesome. Also, there's a cat. 😸

Listening to one of my faves while I do chores. I was never really big on audio books (which is surprising given my love of podcasts) but that may be changing...

My least favorite books of 2019 is currently up and going if you‘d like to watch!

https://youtu.be/NOVLZuP-oc4

Wow, two bails in a row... yikes! I have high hopes for this one, though... I absolutely loved the first book in the series!

After some stalking, I ordered a book for my #justabookswap match. Looking forward to getting it and sending it off!

#LitsyPSA: The ebook is on sale. I‘ve read it and I remember liking it well enough. I don‘t remember how I came across it because I‘ve not read the first one (apparently it‘s a series??).

📖 To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis
✒️ J.R.R. Tolkien, Megan Whalen Turner
🎥 That Thing You Do!
🌮 Tacos

#manicmonday #letterT @JoScho

Working a program at the library so I grabbed a book to keep me company. I haven‘t read a book in a long time (over a month 😱). I‘m excited to get back to reading.

This was a difficult rating for me with many contributing factors to the final decision. In short though, I enjoyed the concept of the story, I enjoyed the trip to Victorian England. Characterisation was particularly good, Princess Arjumand being hilarious, along with Lady Shrapnal, I also adored Verity. However, it was too long winded for me, 20 hours in audiobook form, and it just seemed overly detailed without this adding anything beneficial.

This book has a few quotes that I have really enjoyed. This one in particular! #tosaynothingofthedog

I‘m more than halfway thru this right now and I am enjoying it. I think it‘s funny that is labeled Sci-fi because it‘s not your typical sci-fi book but because it involves time travel I guess that‘s why it‘s called that. It‘s made me laugh and the audiobook has been super enjoyable to listen to. The narrator does a good job with different voice I think. Princess Arjumand (the cat) cracks me up!!!!! Has anyone else read this book?

This one wasn't for me. I would have bailed if it wasn't a pick for book club. It was too long and didn't hold my interest in many parts. But I really enjoyed the mystery and I loved the character of Verity and most of the scenes she was in.

#kiss #quotsyjuly18 @TK-421

Favorite Time Travel Book
#julyinbooks18

This was a funny story however it was too long and too detailed. I found myself laughing a lot but the author beats you over the head with the funny parts and then they‘re just annoying. It was nice to read sci-fi where the world wasn‘t ending, I just wish I liked it more. It was a 20 hour and 58 min audiobook.

This is the book our Discord book club is reading for June. I‘m still trying to finish The Elegance of the Hedgehog but I snuck in 3 chapters of this late last night while I was exercising and I think I‘m really going to like this one!!!

Willis in general and this book in particular have been hugely recommended to me. I guess I just don't get the hype? I was promised witty hilarity with brilliant plot and I was mostly bored and found it contrived. #twostars #unpopularopinion

Don‘t you just love when Library holds come in? What was the last thing you put on hold at the library??? #HappyFriday

Read this ages ago, and thought it was time for a reread - and I loved it as much as ever! Didn‘t remember a lot of the smaller details. Funny and interesting, a love story I can stomach!

2/2.5⭐️⭐️.💫This Book really dragged for me, especially the 1st half 😑.The 2nd half was a lot better, but not enough to make up for the lag of the entire book. I just really really wanted it to end. The comedic aspect was pretty dull, & barely kicked in until the 2nd half where it just was waving at you like an awkward distant cousin -& If I hear the phrase “Bishop‘s Bird Stump” one more time 😳🔪💣⛓⚔️... yup annoying AF😑

LOVED this book! A fun mix between a period piece and sci fi time travel with humour and adventure. A really fun and enjoyable read.

I gave up on two books before this came in for me at the library. Turns out I needed to time travel to 1888 and get involved in a complicated comedy of manners/mystery. This is quite different to the first book which was dark and compelling - this is much lighter in subject and quite funny. Really clever and full of literary allusions. I loved the time lag symptoms and Ned‘s attempts to catch the cat 😂

Tuesday night reading, and this is on loan from a friend who thought that it would be up my street, and so far he's right: it totally is!

Having a real Connie Willis morning here. #threebooksatonce #addictedtoereaders

I have posted this book before, but since I was just urging both @Jas16 and @LectricSheep to read it, I will again. My signed hardcover of this classic Connie Willis #timetravel novel is among my grab-in-case-of-fire books. Right, @aeeklund ?
#signedsunday #signedsundays

I am going with a book on my TBR for #timetravel. I have heard so many great things about it but I have to admit the cover blurb does nothing for me since it compares it to two books I did not like. #sizzlinsummerbooks

This #signedsundays post is for @aeeklund 😉
And for me 😁 - this book is still a favorite and unexpectedly started me down the road of enjoying time travel tales.
#signedsunday

If that doesn't make you keep reading... #subtitles #aprilbookshowers

Last night I had a "date" with a prospective future room mate and she lent me a copy of one of her favorite books, because the house cat is named for Princess Arjumand.

A fun and light-hearted time travel yarn, as well as a sandbox full of literary allusions. You'll have fun with this one, so long as you don't get too bogged down in the logic of time travel or the labyrinthine whodunnit. Besides, if you've read a book or two, you already know the butler did it.

Gotta love the flourishes that Victorianism inspires. Loving this wild time travel tale so far.

This is Sadie. She's the old lady. Evie frequently gets in the photo because she is constantly demanding attention, but Sadie prefers to sleep. #dogsoflitsy

I enjoyed this book! It was fun, but I liked her other time travel books more. This was a comedy of errors without any real substance. But it was very entertaining. and I would recommend it.

My shelfies and my favorite place to read!

Delightful. It helps if you've read "Three Men in a Boat" and a little Wodehouse, but it's not necessary. This is an Anglophiles dream of Oxford, butlers, Coventry Cathedral and Victorian mores. Dr. Who meets Jeeves. And jumble sales. There's also time travel, true love, and a very memorable cat and dog. If you need a distraction, I highly recommend this with a proper pot of tea and a dog and at least one cat within petting distance.

I found my dogs cuddling up next to my book. ;)
It's pretty fun so far! Love Connie Willis time travel books!

Decisions decisions..... what to read next?