Welcome to Litsy!

This novel, a historical fiction, takes a look at the figure of Jeanne Bonnet, a frog-catcher, cast here as a woman who cross dresses and, by doing so, lives the life of an outlaw in 1876 San Francisco. The novel is about Bonnet‘s murder but follows Blanche, a danseuse working as a sex worker/burlesque dancer. Donoghue‘s writing choices didn‘t always appeal to me. She writes in 3rd person present, and she alternates between the past/present. ⬇️

When I ordered my copy of the tagged, I didn‘t realize it was large print. At first, when it arrived, I was a bit annoyed- larger book, more unwieldy. However, now that I‘m halfway through I must say that it is much easier on my eyes. I‘ve always worn glasses, but with my work as a transcriber and using a cell phone, I have noticed my eyes straining to focus after too much screen time. The large print is a relief and has made me less strained. ⬇️

Getting a head start on this today. It‘s the book I chose for the first meeting of the LBGTQ+ book club I will be facilitating starting in January. Fingers crossed I didn‘t pick a dud 📚🤞

“Once you‘ve passed on a song, it‘s out of your hands,” Jenny tells McNamara. (286)

(has me wondering what rhymes etc. have changed through the centuries, and how we can memorise nursery rhymes and be so disconnected from what they meant, or mean)

Lost my reading mojo last year, but after three months in hospital, and a month after discharge, thankfully it‘s coming back!

Note to self (and anyone who needs the gentle nudge!): reading is a skill, and a muscle which develops if exercised 📚

I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 30

Set in 1876 San Francisco, where smallpox is raging. Based of actual newspaper accounts. We discover the story of the relationship between Jenny Bonnet, and Blanche Beunon and the men who occupy and prey in Blanche‘s life. The story, which begins with Jenny‘s murder, is told through glimpses of what came before and what happened after.

Challenging story, great novel, wonderful author.

First read of the new year!🎉

Summer of 1876: San Francisco is in the fierce grip of a record-breaking heatwave and a smallpox epidemic. Through the window of a railroad saloon, a young woman called Jenny Bonnet is shot dead. The survivor, her friend Blanche Beunon, is a French burlesque dancer. Over the next three days, she will risk everything to bring Jenny‘s murderer to justice – if he doesn‘t track her down first.

My first visit to the used book store I love near me since the pandemic started. I‘ve ordered a book or two and bought countless ebooks and audiobooks. But my first browsing visit in so long. #myhappyplace #bookhaul

As the smallpox pandemic rages in 1860s San Fransisco, Blanche the dancer strikes up an unlikely friendship with lively Jenny Bonnet, the frog-catching, suit-wearing wit who has even more secrets than Blanche herself.

Read October 26 - November 2
Rated 3.5/5 ⭐️
Book 44/60

This book was up and down for me. Set in San francisco in 1876 during a smallpox epidemic and a horrible heatwave. This is inspired by true events and the author at the end in the Afterword informs us with the details. I enjoyed seeing how much research she did for the book. I just couldn't warm to the main characters Blanche and Jenny. Even though they go through and have gone through lots of very difficult events. #bookcovers

This is from Waterstones in Dundee when I was there during the Christmas holidays. I have so missed visiting a bookshop. It looks like our bookshop in Zurich will be opening again on 11th May. Yay! Good news!

After a slow start, once this got going it didn‘t let go! Notorious frog catcher Jenny, arrested for cross dressing. Blanche, a burlesque dancer, prostitute and reluctant mother. Everything takes place in the short time between them becoming friends and Jenny being shot, covering their friendship, motherhood, exploitation, Chinese immigration and baby farms amidst 1870s San Francisco in the grip of a heatwave and smallpox epidemic. A good read!

Yeah; it‘s best if FROG MUSIC and I part ways. Donoghue roots her story in relationships she‘s slow to fully illuminate, and that made it tough for me to care about Blanche and Jenny as individuals. I wanted a solid emotional hook; what I got was, “This woman‘s been murdered because of reasons that‘re probably tied to some friendships and/or romances that feel really shallow without this backstory I don‘t wanna tell you just yet.” Disappointing.

I took my first stab at searing tuna while I started FROG MUSIC. The cookery went fine, even though the steak wasn‘t great quality; the book hasn‘t grabbed me yet. As of 14%, I‘m still waiting for the spark that‘ll turn these characters from words on a page (/in my ears) to people I can invest in. #audiocooking

I can never pass up my library book sale and as I was there at the last hour of the sale I could fill up a bag for $5. I read Please Look After Mom and Villa America and loved both of them so I thought I‘d bring them to my Little Free Library at work and share them with my coworkers. Now I just have to find a place to squeeze all of the other books as I‘ve run out of shelf space!

Can anyone vouch for this book?? It‘s been sitting in my tbr cabinet for years now 😆 if I remember correctly, @Reviewsbylola gifted it to me and later told me it‘s not that great.. 🤨
#music
#movember

I just couldn't when it got to the baby farm parts. Having a 7 month old, thinking of something like that makes me sick and really just put me off the book. I get it was a real thing, but honestly, how much shock value things can you put in a book before it becomes too much? This much, for me, this much. It's a shame, but I guess I'll just read the wiki about Jenny Bonnet.

I was torn how to rate this. It was interesting enough for me to keep reading, but there were some things I really didn‘t like.

The MC was supposedly independent, earning her own money & even owning the building where she lived, but she was emotionally dependent on her lover, Arthur. Even when he revealed his true colours, she vacillated. As for the sex scenes, let‘s just say, I‘m glad I didn‘t pass this onto my mum to read first 😂

2⭐️

Blanche Beunon, a French dancer travels to San Francisco in 1875. She continues to work as a dancer and quite a bit of #frenchkissingintheusa takes place. #wanderingjune

These are the three books that I picked up at the used bookstore! They have a trade in program, so I got these for super cheap.

Geek Love was a recommendation from @Liberty , John Boyne is one of my favorite authors, and I've been wanting Frog Music for a while. I'm going to need more time to read because my TBR overfloweth. 😅📚

This took me a bit to get in to but turned into a good read. I had no idea it was based on a true story until I turned the last page - sooo interesting!!

Did not do a great job with clearing books off my TBR in March so my #AprilTBR is several books that are in progress, a library book that is due very soon, my #GirlyBookClub book, a bunch of leftovers from March and four new #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks books. Time to get cracking!

I read this book for my #SetInIrelandIrishAuthor #Booked2019 challenge. Donoghue is Canadian-Irish, so I hope this counts? 😐

My thoughts: I did not enjoy this story as much as I thought I would. It feels messy & dissonant. The only consolation for me is I get to learn this part of history - Jenny Bonnet's murder case and the old San Francisco.

For my full review please visit https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2705290592

Rating: 3🌟

#2019Book3
I'm a big fan of murder mysteries. I'm an even bigger fan of historical murder mysteries heavily based on actual unsolved murders. This book was thrilling from beginning to end and written in Donoghue's usual beautifully literary style.

A fascinating character study, murder mystery, and atmospheric historical fiction set in 1870s San Francisco. I appreciated how the main character Blanche is made to be neither necessarily 'likeable' nor 'good'; she's an ambivalent but loving mother, a sex worker, a woman who likes to have lots of sex, and sarcastic. The crux of the plot is the unsolved murder of her cross-dressing frog-catching friend Jenny. Fabulous #audiobook performance!

This historical novel takes place during the broiling summer of 1876 in San Francisco. Based on a true story of the shooting of a cocky, young female cross dresser, Jenny Bonnet,who makes her living selling frog legs to a French restaurant. It is a bawdy tale of the friendship that develops between Jenny and a French prostitute and dancer, Blanche. Filled with the musical lyrics of 30 songs. The music is heard on the audio. #california #nofemmeber

Finished listening to this as I turned in the driveway - so the timing was perfect. Other than that, I had a mixed reaction to the story. I really didn‘t like Blanche very much - although she did redeem herself somewhat in the end. I did like Jenny‘s character and wished there were more of her. None of the male characters were likable which was kind of refreshing.

Loved it. It did depict a terrible time of racism, small pox and child abuse. San Francisco 1870 pictured real interesting and hard.

Second hand store, .50 each for these. Can‘t beat that, not that my tbr needs more books. I‘ve got several going at the moment. You know how you have a car chapstick, purse chapstick, bedroom chapstick, etc? Yeah, I‘ve got that with books.

Took a chance on this one because it was tagged satirical and I needed to fulfill that for a book challenge...minimal satire found, unless I just wasn‘t picking up on it...🤷🏻‍♀️

Usually, if a book doesn‘t grab me at the beginning I‘ll bail on it. Somehow, even with the long as hell chapters that often bores me, this one gripped me in the end.

Overall, nothing special, nothing that will stay with me forever, but entertaining to say the least!

Blanche is a French burlesque dancer living in San Francisco in 1896 when her friend Jenny is murdered in front of her. With the exception of the historical information about the era: the smallpox epidemic, the prejudice against the Chinese and the plight of orphans, I loathed this book. I did not like any of the characters. Too much love of all kinds of sex. So disappointed because I had recently read her other book “The Wonder” and loved it!

[March03] These are my #TBR and they fit perfectly for today's photo challenge #redandblack . Anyone read any of these books before? I'm looking forward to Frog Music 🐸🎶

#MarchMadness @josteele

Having my Playaway motivates me to get moving! 🚶🏼‍♀️

I went into this book not understand what was happening in 1870s San Francisco. It threw me for a loop reading what it was like. It was an okay book overall.

I don‘t know how long these books have been on my TBR shelves waiting to be read. Should I move any up on my list? #onyourshelfallyear #jingleshelves

Today, Australia voted in favour of same sex marriage. Long overdue! In celebration, here's my book rainbow.

She‘s just so beautiful ?❤️ #Nala #cats #cute #tortie #tortoiseshell #tortoiseshellcat #oldcat #loveher #pets #petstagram #beautiful #bigeyes #gorgeouskitty #catlife
#books #frogmusic #thegirlwithallthegifts #hardback

#emojinov Day 8: 🎵🎶🎼
@RealLifeReading

I listened to this, and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was completely different than "Room," which kept me riveted. And yet, in a way, it is similar as you'll see if you read it. I don't want to spoil anything, which is why I won't go further. I will continue to read what Donoghue writes. 4.5⭐

Listening to this as I drive from home to campuses. Fascinating tale of women, frogs, and life in a bawdy San Francisco that is wrestling with explosive growth because the new country that is America is wide open.

Completely different than "Room," which I loved, and yet, still featuring strong, capable women. I suspect it is going to end way too soon.

I loved Room by Emma Donoghue, and although this one is completely different, I'm thinking it's going to be pretty good too. #LibraryWishlist

Have any of my fellow Littens read this book? Would you recommend? Please let me know. ☺️

I went to San Francisco this weekend with Frog Music for company. This building is 819 Sacramento, the closest address to Blanche's building. It was a great book to provide some sense of the city as I walked around. While Chinatown appears to be a caricature of itself today, it wasn't difficult to imagine the streets in 1876. Donoghue vividly paints the racial tensions and daily struggle of this time.

Happy Saturday! ☕️📚

Today's plans.

A thoroughly researched piece of historical fiction. Donoghue unpacks the murder of Jenny, a real-life event. Jenny, plausibly an early transgendered human being, is shot dead and her friend Blanche, a prostitute and mother plays detective while running for her life.

Definite pick! But I have to say...it's rare that I find myself so conflicted about a main character. Blanche is, in equal parts, disturbing and sympathetic. Several times I considered bailing because she behaved so deplorably. But then Donoghue would redeem her main character and once again, I was hooked. At the same time, not a single male character was likable.

Side note - The narrator on this one was delightful.

#audiobooks

Listening to this audiobook while doing chores, including bathing Maya. She approves of the book but is not a fan of the bath.

Honestly I didn't have high hopes for this book based on the OverDrive description. But I'm enjoying it! This is my first Donoghue. She's adept with descriptive language while creating anticipation and tension.

#audiobook #DogsOfLitsy #nomorebathpleez

Up next

Yeah .... 100 pages in and don't care about characters at all .... I usually love her books but just couldn't do this one.