Welcome to Litsy!

interesting read about a messed-up family but.........

not sure the constant polyphonia was needed, I think it was Meg's story plus a few emails from Lolerelei

a bit too keen to give everyone a complicated consequence - Rory in Thailand felt more tell than show, didn't really buy late convert hippie-dad

some great stuff in it, never-the-less - all in Maggie O'Farrell territory

I would have bailed if this hadn't been for book club. This family is messed up and everything tied up too nicely at the end after all the terrible things they did to each other. And all the comments about weight/characters being fat were gross.

Meet the Bird family who live in a picture perfect cosy village. Sensible Megan, shy Bethan and twin boys - Rhys and Rory, Colin, their father and beautiful mother Lorelei. One Easter weekend, a tragic event takes place and the family will never be the same again. The family is torn apart and they go on to lead separate lives. Years later they return to their childhood home to find out once for all what happened to their childhood.

Starting this today. Another book from my TBR list.

Love lisa jewell. Not as much her old stuff but still a boom I get through pretty quickly

Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It‘s a dysfunctional family drama set in Britain with multiple time periods which dip in and out the of 4 siblings‘ childhood/teenage years and into their adulthood. Lorelei is at the center of this family as their mother with serious issues, namely, hoarding disorder. The impact of this upon her children is great and the consequences are deep. Some trigger warnings, but spoilers. IRL book club

Reading Lisa Jewell for IRL book club. I‘ve read her in the past, unsuccessfully, but hoping this will be a winner. #bookandbreakfast

Haven‘t read a Lisa Jewell I didn‘t like. Hope this one is the same.

“A spirit is just another word for a memory isn‘t it. The stronger the memory the stronger the spirit.”

“It‘s in our minds and in our hearts that a persons spirit lives on.”

“Photographs are lies darling. You know that. There one dimensional. They only tell you about on precise moment in a whole infinite string of moments.”

“Because she‘s a drama queen and drama queens are difficult to live with. They don‘t want a quiet life. You‘ll be left gasping in her wake.”

#happylaborday 🥚

#46
Wow, this turned out to be a good book. I wasn't sure at first, but as you get into into it, you realize it's about a lost family and a mother that hordes.

This was a very different type of story compared to the other book‘s I‘ve read by Lisa Jewell. At first, I wasn‘t sure I would like it and I didn‘t feel like I understood what was happening. It started off with a young family hunting Easter eggs in their garden and sitting down to a special meal. I‘m so glad I stayed with the story. I soon figured out what some of the family‘s affliction was and then the tragedy they experienced. #MountTBR

Just finished change of heart by Jodie Picoult (was ok but not a favourite) now starting this! The house we grew up in by Lisa Jewell

#TheHouseWeGrewUpIn #LisaJewell #BookSpinBingo

Meet the Bird family. They live in a honey-colored house in a picture-perfect Cotswolds village, with rambling, unkempt gardens stretching beyond. Pragmatic Meg, dreamy Beth, and tow-headed twins Rory and Rhys all attend the village school and eat home-cooked meals together every night.

1. I‘m a “joiner” when it comes to book clubs. Virtual is good because it allows folks to participate from anywhere. IRL is good because I‘m independently friends with some members and like to see them.
2. A book I wouldn‘t have read otherwise — within reason 😎
3. Tagged is for … book club.
#wondrouswednesday

A very moving book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Made me look at myself and change my ways.

Wasn't sure about this at the start but once I got into it I really enjoyed it 😊

Having a mother who is a hoarder myself, I found this book to be very relatable. You are drawn into the family‘s story and I found it to be quite interesting. As most families have dark histories, you find out bit by bit what transpired over the years. Overall, a good read!

Loved how real the characters felt in this book. The story of a family with many layers of issues is not usually my style of reading, but this captured me. Very well written.

I don‘t really know what to say about this one. It‘s better than a so-so but so cringey that I can‘t quite give a pick either. In fact I can‘t even give it a star rating. I couldn‘t put it down so that‘s something. I will try Lisa Jewell again though as I understand this is one is not typical for her. This is a book club pick for June so I‘m interested in the discussion. Perhaps I‘ll have more clarity afterwards.

Five stars!

I didn‘t quite know what to expect going in to this book, but I loved every moment of the family drama, stories, character development and secrets.

Basically this is the story of the Bird family through the generations. At the head of the family is Lorelei, a mom who just wants to make everyday special for her children.

Especially Easter.

Trust me, once you start this one, you won‘t be able to put it down.

A human memory is such a cruel, frustrating thing, the way it just discards things without asking permission, precious things.

Wow. This quote hit me. Loving this book so far.

I totally relate so much to this character, especially given her mother‘s hoarding background.

I literally cannot stand dust, clutter, items thrown on a table without purpose - I‘m a milder version of Monica from FRIENDS.

#audioknitting with a poorly pooch. Poor Daisy not feeling well today.

My favorite Lisa Jewell book so far. Riveting story about a family that at first seems so totally normal and loving and then just gets all kinds of messed up and then messed up some more! Really good. Couldn‘t put it down!

Pick with reservations—I don‘t know that I would enjoy this book on paper, but it was easy to follow on audio. After a family tragedy one Easter, the Bird family drifts apart, as each reacts differently. Divorce, affairs, hoarding, fleeing the country, avoiding discussion—they do it all. Decades later the surviving family members are together again, finally talking about the events of that past Easter. #audiobook #hoopladigital

#bfcr4 ✔ in
2.5/2 hrs of exercise
Finished first book of The Challenge @wanderinglynn @jmtrivera @Honeybeegirl @bookandcat

Classic Jewell. Lots of family drama and salacious secrets. A mother‘s inability to control her hoarding affects every member of the family as they grow and change over the years. Entertaining #audiobook brain candy. 3/5 ⭐️

Well, I didn't bail, and I can't quite pan this book, but neither can I in good faith entirely recommend it, so I'll settle on so-so. Jewell certainly captured the dysfunction of the Birds vividly, but I can't say to what end- Entertainment? Emotional catharsis? Neither of those terms describes my experience as a reader. Although well-written, this novel left me partially revolted and partially just incredibly irritated. Anyone else?

I‘m not too keen on the heaps upon heaps of drama in this book, but wow, is it readable. I‘ve burned through 300 pages in the last three days.

#bookclub #currentlyreading

Reading this one for my book club. It's an exploration of the struggles of the adult children in the Bird family to launch into the world in the face of parental mental illness and pathological grief. It hits a bit close to home in terms of my own family, and I don't think I'd continue reading it if it weren't for my book club.

A family suffers a tragedy and the ripples are felt decades later. The kids grow up and apart. Their parents make choices they don‘t understand. But eventually they all have to deal with their issues.

I've not read a Lisa Jewel since I was a teenager and the book I did read was a trashy chick lit that didn't inspire me to read more. But someone I trust lent me their copy of this book and I've got to admit I really enjoyed it. It's still an easy read, but it's well written for its genre and a gripping and unusual story. It flits between past and present, exploring the lives of a family whose mother is a hoarder from their different perspectives.

An excellent read about a dysfunctional family featuring hoarding. I really loved this one. I enjoy family dramas and this one hit the spot for me. I‘ve never read a book by Lisa Jewell before, either, so I will definitely be reading more. “You are all pebbles from the same beach. Look after each other.” Good advice!

I‘ve just started this one. It‘s been on Mt TBR for a while. I‘m reading it along with my face-to-face book group. Enjoying it so far.

I was intrigued from the beginning, however, the last 1/4 of the novel could have been condensed. The characters almost got “annoying” to read about - it‘s a very dysfunctional and convoluted family - although cleverly written.

I know a book has hooked me when I can read it on the elliptical. 😅 🏃🏻‍♀️ Jewell is an expert at building tension and suspense!

“Wherever you find yourselves, you are all pebbles from the same beach. Look after each other.” I really enjoyed this one - cringe-worthy at times, but a nice message that after all the twists and turns in life you can find your way home to your family.

Families - you can't live with them, you can't live without them. That is, in a nutshell, what this story is all about. Despite a mother with mental health issues and a peculiar brother, whose suicide is the crux around which the rest of the story revolves, it is essentially an exploration of the depth of guilt, animosity but above all else, love shared by family members.
'You are all pebbles from the same beach
4🌟 for audiobook version

This was a really interesting insight into the family of a hoarder - I had to read as I pack up my house for moving (very slowly as we don‘t have a move date yet). I am by no means a hoarder but I am very sentimental and do like to keep objects which mean something to me. BUT I have managed to get rid of some stuff, so I‘m not like Lorelei yet!! Jewell‘s books are always well written and this was no exception!

I‘m not sure I can say I ‘enjoyed‘ this book as it was sad on so many levels 😢, & certainly not one to read when you are feeling low! That said thought it was an excellent read if sad! 😰 It tells the journey of a family through its trials and tribulations that rock the family following a key tragic event. I was pleased to see that it ended on a positive note but what a journey. That said it was very well written and played with all my emotions.

Will be coming away from my #MakeMeReadIt Challenge temporarily whilst I read this book as it is due back at the library in 2 days and doubtless will have people waiting on a reservation list! Do tend to love books written by Lisa Jewell.