Welcome to Litsy!

Started this yesterday for my #doublebookspin for July! I‘m all caught up, and this is an interesting format, told mostly through letters, and based on a true incident during the Civil War @TheAromaofBooks

The story of a Civil War marriage told through letters and a diary. Will they make it through?

I sped through this in a day because it‘s written in #epistolary form - one of my favorite types of books that I don‘t read enough of. It tells the story of Placidia, the young 2nd wife of Major Hockaday who spends 2 days with her new husband before he returns to battle in the Civil War. Rumors abound after the war that Placidia has recently given birth to and lost a baby, even though she hasn‘t seen her husband in 2 years. The story is quite ⬇️

A quick and excellent read!

This definitely moved into more of a pick when I switched to paper from the audio.

Rivers sanitizes a lot inside, but it's a good read overall.

This is so nice to see in paper. I think it's going to boost my rating of the book. The audio was fine, but I didn't think the narrator for Placidia was well suited.

Going to finish this audio in paper since I picked up a new audio from the library.

Another I finished last week and forgot to post: this Civil War novel written in letters, and diary format read for #bookclub. The second Mrs. Hockaday is left at home as a new bride. Her new husband is off fighting for the confederate army. Upon returning, his wife is accused of bearing a child which could not have been her husband's and did not survive. Intriguing, sad, and stark. For historical fiction fans.

Current #bookclub read. Our discussion is Monday.
I am nearly halfway in this Civil War era, epistolary type novel.

This hook will stay with long after you read it. Once I started to read it I could not put it down.

I enjoyed Part One a fair bit, but I knew the resolution thirty pages in. It‘s a first novel and, despite my disappointment, I will check our more as they come. I did enjoy the philosophy and mythology she incorporated.

#MusicalNewYear #FeedTheBirds
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XHrRxQVUFN4

As my handle says, here‘s my plastic crow!

This was such a phenomenal read! I loved the twists and turns and intricate details. I devoured the last 150 pages in 1 evening! Definitely a must read

Book group was Monday and I just finally finished the book. It was a slow starter for me but I did end up enjoying it. I wouldn‘t exactly call it suspenseful but I did keep turning the pages to find out what happened (even after I knew from the spoilers at book group). There were sentences that just resonated with me and I think I‘ll be thinking about the characters for some time to come.

Next 4 #bookgroup reads. Mrs. Hockaday for this month, Clockmakers Daughter for November, The Last Ballad is a surprise addition for sometime in December as one of our members won a Skype chat with Wiley Cash and Next Year in Havana is my pick for December even though due to the holidays, it will be held the first week of January.

#bookhaul from the other night. Lighting is bad because my oldest moved out a couple weeks ago and her room is to become my reading and writing room but it doesn‘t have enough lighting right now. Still have to pack some of her stuff and vacuum and then figure out what I want to do-furniture wise.

This is the second book I brought with me to get my oil changed because I was too close to finishing the first one to be comfortable with only one. Good thing since I‘m cracking it open now!

A solid historical novel that uses the epistolary form well. I'm always hesitant to read hist fiction set during the Civil War because that is a tragic scaffolding upon which to hang a narrative and I have no patience for the romance of the antebellum south, but Rivers avoids most of those traps to have a white, slave owning protagonist that is not a monster but also not meant to be a lilywhite angel either. Solid for what it is; not my thing.

A young Civil War bride, Placidia, arrives on her new husband‘s farm ill-prepared to face the deprivations of the war-torn South isolated & nearly completely alone save for a few enslaved servants. During the two years her husband is off fighting, Placidia allegedly births an illegitimate child & murders the infant. A suspenseful & riveting story told in an epistolary format with letters & court documents.

Not my preferred style of writing; in fact I struggled to stay engaged with the story because of the epistolary style. However, my perseverance was well rewarded. Rivers writes a story that is sad, confusing, and offers little happiness; but that is to be expected considering the setting. #bookclub #noveldiscussions #2018

never rely on prayer when effort might suffice

This week‘s #libraryhaul Excited to read both of these as soon as I finish what I‘m reading now.

Placidia Hockaday was a teenaged newlywed when her husband went off to war. Two years later he returned to find his wife jailed for the murder of her newborn child. What happened while he was away. Very suspenseful.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was another book recommended by @Liberty . Told through letters, court documents, and diary entries, it's the story of a young bride left to care for a farm and a small boy from her husband's first marriage when he goes off to fight in the Civil War and is held prisoner for two years. He returns to rumors that his wife had gotten pregnant, given birth, and killed the baby while he was away.

I am currently reading this book. It took a while for me to get into it but am now loving it. #algonquinbooks

Anytime I see the highlighted quote, my brain immediately jumps to Angelica Schuyler instead of Lady Macbeth (and apparently Gaston from Beauty and the Beast??).

Placidia meets & marries Major Gryffth Hockaday in two days & then returns with him to his home. Days later he is called back to the war leaving Placidia in charge of his young son & the farm. He doesn't return for two years & when he does, Placidia is on her way to jail & not saying a word about her alleged crimes. The story is told through letters & inquest documents, a format I really enjoyed. An interesting read I very much enjoyed.

So, my mother, with great enthusiasm and a little bit of demand, told me I need to read this book, one of her favorite reads of the summer. (In part, she admitted, because she really needs someone she can talk to about it.) She generally has really good taste in books so yeah, this is my current read. Can't wait to talk about it!

Finished! This epistolary novel is set during the Civil War but also gives glimpses of post-reconstruction life in the 1890s. Early on I guessed the truth of the tragedy at the center of the drama, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment; the use of letters and official documents was particularly effective in this author's hands.

I've also wrapped my gifts for my #LetsGetCozy recipient...hmmmmm, I wonder where these are headed?📚🤓

#LitsyPartyofOne

Enjoying this one, so far. Feeling a News of the World, Burial Rites and His Bloody Project kinda vibe ...🤓

Another Civil War era book, this one based on a true incident which took place in the South as it was being ravaged by war - the heroine a teenage newlywed left to manage a farm on her own. This is a story of courage, survival, and love which is told exclusively through letters and journal entries with language that is almost poetic in nature. A book so suspenseful you will not want to put it down. It will stay with you long after you do.

Really enjoyed reading this one. Rivers sets up a lot of suspense through the pacing of the story and creates a sense of eeriness and fear over the whole wartime setting. Such a great premise. I also thought this was a great take on an epistolary novel and she uses some clever techniques to keep it interesting.

I was waiting for the Kindle version on Overdrive when I discovered the audio on Hoopla. I almost bailed right off the bat because the female narrator was overacting quite a bit, but she got better and I am glad I stuck with it. I enjoyed this story of a very young wife trying to maintain a large farm while her new husband fights in the Civil War. I did guess one of the twists correctly, but still enjoyed the mystery. #historicalfiction ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Placidia's story is told through letters and diary entries, which is a great structure for this novel. It was far more interesting that just a straightforward telling of the events. We learn about what happened to Placidia in bits and pieces and this historical fiction novel takes on the air of a work of suspense. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction lately, and this book reminded me of why I love the genre so much.

I went into this with no expectations and it ended up moving me to tears. I really enjoyed the format - the story is told through letters, diary entries and court documents. And Placidia is now one of my favorite strong female characters in literature. The writing was great and I marked down many passages. I feel like I should have anticipated the "twist" but I didn't so it was truly suspenseful until the end for me.

This story follows the legal proceedings that take place when Dia's husband returns from war to find out she had been pregnant and given birth to a child, who is now missing. Told through letters, interviews and diary entries, we come to learn how this happened. I expected more from this novel. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't stellar. The plot was interesting but it lacked fluidity. I don't regret reading it, but wouldn't read it again.

I started this last night at 10:00 and finished it up early this morning. I love epistolary novels and historical fiction so it was right up my alley. As the novel opens Placidia is awaiting judgement on having an illegitimate child while her husband was away fighting in the Civil War. As the story unfolds, the events surrounding Placidia's guilt are brought to light and revealed slowly.

It's 10 pm on a Saturday night. Do I start a new book or wait until tomorrow?

Took my time reading this one, literally savouring it, because it was just SO good.

A soldier returns from 2 years fighting in the civil war to find rumours of his young wife having born and murdered a baby. Were the 3 days they spent together before he left enough to really know her?

Loved the format of letters and diary entries, & found it a great way to draw out the emotional events.

I loved it so much that I'll probably buy my own copy.

The power went out JUST as I was about to start a big pile of laundry. It's awful - what will I find to do with myself now?! 😊

You know what's NOT awful? THIS BOOK. I'm trying to savour it slowly because I feel like it might end up an all time fave ... although I also don't want to jinx it.

Just started this a bit ago, and already 59 pages in. I suspect if I don't stop now, I'm going to finish it in one sitting.

Loving it already, but The Terror Squad and I have had a long few days and an early night would do us all well... although the grumpy one is already snoring loudly.

I just couldn't finish it. It kept putting me to sleep.

Current audiobook. Sounds like a good story.

A much anticipated library hold came in, as well as the next library book club pick! Trying to decide which one to read first.

Also spending every single minute possible outside because THIS WEATHER 😍

Absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed the format, the pace, and the setting almost as much as I loved the main character, Placidia. She is amazingly developed through her own words throughout the story but also through the eyes of others. This book is also going to check off my #bookriot #readharder challenge book about war, as it captures how civilians suffer as well as those in direct conflict. A+ read!

This is how I spent my Sunday. #booklove #dogsoflitsy

I did not realize that doubt is a disease but now that it is eating me alive I understand what happens when questions go unanswered❓

This was a solid read for me but almost marked as so-so only because I never felt truly connected to the story. I believe that was due to the format (told all in letters, diary entries, and court transcripts). It was also refreshing to have a different type of format, so it was a double edged sword for me. The part I enjoyed most was the way the book really examined our relationships and motives. I battled a lot with both the Major and Placidia.

#bathandabook tonight!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 Hoping to finish this one tonight. The different format is very refreshing, especially for a period as well known as the Civil War.