Welcome to Litsy!

“The dog it was that died.” I had to Google the line as I‘d never read Goldsmith‘s satiric elegy. OUCH!

Very fitting summation of the novel. Both Kitty and her husband Walter are difficult characters to like and empathize with, but are most definitely human in being their own worst enemies.

The reference to Chinese staff as “boy(s)” was grating each time I heard it, but is apropos to the era.

#2023ReRead
There has been a question floating around - If you could read a book again for the first time what book?
Luckily (?) with my bad memory this isn't an issue for me. I haven't read this in years and while I sort of knew where it was going I was again caught unawares of the events.
I knew the language was gorgeous, & again I was very taken with the writing. I had forgotten how awful Kitty was as a person it is so interesting to see 👇

#LoveTriangle #MarchMagic

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

A classic novel of socio-economics, religion, redemption, love, and obsession. In the 1920's, socialite Kitty marries the Dr. Walter Fane out of convenience and accompanies him to China during a cholera epidemic. There she drifts into an affair with a married general and finds purpose and faith in her life.

The book, written in 1925, satisfies in a way modern written doesn't. It's well written without being overdone. The characters were real and relatable. Loved it!

#10thbookof2021 #12booksof2021
@Andrew65

Read and watched for movie/bookclub. My first book by W. Somerset Maugham. I loved the writing.

This is what's due back at the library.

#DueDate #Movie2BookRecs
#LetterD @Klou

I really enjoyed this book selection for my next movie/book club meeting. I hear the movie has some differences but is also very good.

I read a lot of his books when I was in my late teens, introduced to his short stories at high school. I loved him then and wondered about how I would feel now. Published in 1925 this book was a beautiful read, I still love him. 👏👏
@MrsMalaprop
#joysbooks2021

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I‘ve been meaning to read if for years. I saw the movie and remember enjoying it. I‘m sure the book is better. It‘s kind of one of those stories where you don‘t like any of the characters but you still loved the book.

read this in 1 and a half shifts.

I really enjoyed this story but kitty pissed me off a bit I rolled my eyes a few times with her remarks.
I have been wanting to read this book for a while and im glad when I found the audio.

#currentlyreading #crime #readyourownway #bookrecommendation #recommended #reading #readingthelibrary #librarybook #china #illness

Book before the movie. #currentread #classicschallenge2020

I love this cover (even though it's the movie version)!

“If nobody spoke unless he had something to say, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech.”

I was a huge fan of the movie before I read the book. So I'm happy to have finally read the original text of a well loved movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I thought the writing was beautiful and the story well done. I will say though, I enjoy the ending of the film more than the book. The book frustrated me at times, but it was a good frustration. It kept me wanting more. 4.5 out of 5.

Ummmmmm morning coffee musings...☕☕☕

I‘m slumping so I‘m postponing my pre 1930s limit and trying a chapter of each of these in the hope something will@grab me! Anyone have any thoughts on these?

So I did actually finish my quilt to this audiobook! It was a nice book, nothing I will remember for too long, but it did make me want to read more books set in colonies. I really liked the husband, whereas Kitty is made to be disliked and her transformation into a decent human feels a bit too quick and a bit too stereotypical.

I think I may finish this quilt with this audiobook! (Which I‘m already loving)

Excellent

A shallow socialite gets into an affair, when her husbands finds out he exacts revenge by taking her to a cholera infested village. Enjoyable read with interesting character growth. Explores themes of love, companionship and religion. 8/10

Store associate watching me read the back of The Painted Veil: "The Painted Veil! Love! Have you ever read it?"
Me: "No."
Associate: "Seen the movie?"
Me: "No."
Associate: "Have you read Maugham?"
Me: "Yes."
Associate: You will LOVE this book! After you read it, come in so we can talk about it. And if you like this, you may also like The Scapegoat. And Marjorie Morningstar. Oh and Now, Voyager!"

This is how you sell books ?? To me, anyway ?

It was a different time them. Lol

I am having a hard time reconciling my feelings at the end of this book with what I felt about it in the beginning and middle parts. I liked the writing, I loved the time period and the setting and I guess I kept wanting it to be a different book - I wanted more from Kitty - more growth, more self-realization and I wanted so much more for Walter. Still a pick for me - glad I read it and will think about the characters for awhile.

It feels like the animals have been taking turns on my lap today.

I sat down in between errands to read a chapter or two but then this little cutie decided to use me for a pillow sooooo the rest of the chores are temporarily on hold. I wouldn't want to disturb that precious face.

July 1st already!!! Here are the books I would like to read in July along with some on my Kindle with the disclaimer that I never follow through on lists like these :(. Hope to get to some of them though! #sizzlinsummerreads #tbr / #jubilantjuly #mostanticipated.

A few of my favorites that have been made into movies.

#bookintomovie #splashintosummerreads @Tiffy_Reads

#RockInMay #ChinaGrove

I think 'China Grove' is a place in the US, but when I saw the word China, my mind immediately went to this fantastic audiobook. I'm sure I've mentioned it too many times, but I absolutely LOVE The Painted Veil!

I saw the 2006 film years before reading the book. The changed ending has definitely been given the #Hollywood treatment and it totally changes the meaning of Maugham's original story. And at the same time I love them both in different ways.#maybookflowers

I am choosing this beautiful, painful book for day 1 of #LyricalApril

The story is sweeping, the writing is gorgeous, and the narrator for the audio is fantastic, but The Painted Veil is also difficult, sad, and lonely.

#bittersweetsymphony

So good! I loved the complexity of the characters. Excellent audiobook narrator too!

My favorite quote. Photo is of my oldest brother, taken in 1954. He's still a reader. #favoritequote #riotgrams

In this novel, Kitty has a big come to Jesus experience with herself after her time in China. Even thought she felt she had changed, she was easily tempted back into bad habits. I felt a little like Kitty when I finished The Painted Veil last night. We got a 70 inch TV this past weekend & I said it was decadent and wouldn't use it. At my 1st opportunity, I was watching Dance Moms on it. 😂

Loved this story and Kate Reading is excellent as always.

If it is necessary sometimes to lie to others, it is always despicable to lie to oneself.

"' I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all of these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art'" (p. 196).

Kitty learned some really hard lessons today. While she was selfish and made some pretty rotten choices, I still felt sorry for her. I don't think her mother did her any favors along the way. As difficult as sitting with her was today, I'm hopeful that she will find a way to turn her life around - with or without Walter (I'm not sure how I feel about him yet).

I started The Painted Veil today while finishing my current puzzle. This was a challenging one and I enjoyed working on it.

Kate Reading narrates this audiobook and, just as @sprainedbrain found, it's a good one so far. I really love #audiopuzzling!

I found the main character incredibly annoying. She was awfully whiny. I struggled with the narration as well particularly when doing a male voice. I wasn't all that captured by the story either.

I'm finishing up 'The Painted Veil' now, I only have about an hour left. I'm still not thrilled by it.
I'm surprised at how much I've read this month. I'm sure if it weren't for Litsy I wouldn't had.

I have been listening to this since about 11:30. I'm still having issues with it. The narration is still bothersome when a male voice is done. I'm trying to remind myself that the story was written and takes place in a different time, it is difficult though.

Don't you love it when you come across a book that you had never heard of before & it's amazingly good? I picked this up as an Audible daily deal - I absolutely loved it. A beautifully written, sad story of growth & strength. It's a study of a flawed woman struggling with limited options for women of her time, wanting more for herself and her child:

'I want her to take life like a free man and make a better of job of it than I have.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Current audiobook. I'm really liking it so far!

Maugham's depiction of the orient and the vindictive revenge the doctor has on his wife makes a beautifully written book

I started this audio last night. Not sure how I feel about it yet. The story is ok, the narration though is kind of getting to me. When she does the men's voices it's just ... no. I'll keep going with it because I am interested in knowing what happens and it's not that long.

A surprisingly moving portrait of human fallibility and resilience in remotest China. I love a quite hateful character and this boasts three.

#england #china #colonialism #love #sickness #vintage

Today's Audible daily deal was too good to pass up. 😃

I have watched the movie at first and decided back to book. Have to admit that it is the theme song in movie makes me fall in love with this beautiful story. Also highly recommend the movie and the French song "A La Claire Fontaine"

A dark but beautiful book - but I also spent much of my childhood in Catholic school and (because? in spite of it?) have a soft spot for nuns.

"Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding."