Welcome to Litsy!

I loved this. The story unfolds slowly, bit by bit, and the detailed descriptions of motherhood, of colours and sensations and experiences are beautiful. I really really hate Margot! A book to make you hold your own child(ren) tightly and appreciate anew the privilege and joy of being their mother. I miss my babies!

I love this author. This is from the backlist.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#12Booksof2023 Month: July @Andrew65

I didn‘t read much either that month but what I read was wonderful. I like Maggie O‘Farrel writing style and I just enjoy so much this book. I enjoyed also Instructions for A Heatwave.

But I have to mention Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix and The Spite House and TheHaunting of Leigh Harker. Sorry, they were great but if I have to choose one, then it was the tagged one ☝️ 🤗

I love my edition😍

In between BWF lectures on Saturday I went berserk at this op shop in beautiful Bangalow, where the books and magazines were only 50c each! The clothes were even a good price for nowadays ranging from $4-$8. I didn‘t have time to try them on unfortunately so the red flowery one doesn‘t fit 😭 You win some, you lose some. I left behind a bit of fabric I wish I didn‘t. I got some envelopes for #Litsylove I wear full pieces when I surf.

From yesterday #Two4Tuesday
🌳 tagged book
🌳Since I read Hamnet and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, I wanted to read more books by this author. I really like her writing style, her atmosphere descriptions and character development. Now thanks to #AuthorAMonth challenge, I read 3 more of her books last month. Trying to read as much as I can, books from my physical tbr during this challenge.

Thank you @TheSpineView 🥰♥️♥️♥️.

After I read Hamnet and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, I wanted to read more books by this author. Someone from Litsy recommended me this one. Maybe is not the best story but the writing style create the atmosphere to love it. This is a character driven novel with slow pace. It was fascinating to me how well she described the characters, I felt I was in their heads specifically with Elina, Ted, Lexie. The story goes from past to present⬇️

Two stories decades apart are told, one about Lexie becoming a modern woman in early-to-mid 20th century in London, the other about Elina, struggling with motherhood following a birth that nearly killed her and a less than sensitive husband. How these 2 stories intertwine is imaginative and well-told…except… I did not like how the author changed directions from Elina‘s tragic experience to her husband‘s crisis. I think it diminished the impact ⬇️

A slow-medium paced book that follows the stories of a woman and a couple. I found the different story lines each had strong sections and weaker sections where I wasn't as engaged - but they seemed to alternate. It was refreshing to not know exactly how the two different stories linked together for the majority of the book. The descriptions of Soho in the 50s really transported you to that time. Overall I enjoyed it.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

My next audiobook. #authoramonth @Soubhiville

I am so glad that #authoramonth is giving me a reason to delve into O‘Farrell‘s backlist although I didn‘t like this as much as her more recent works. Two storylines in two time periods about strong, unconventional women who become mothers. I O‘Farrell‘s writing but audio may have been a bad choice for this one because it all became rather monotonous.

Sweater weather morning on the lake. The loons are out and enjoying the water. Hopefully it warms up so we can spend the day in the water. A cup of English Breakfast tea and a library book while the kids are still asleep.

#EnglishBreakfast #Tea #CottageReading #LibraryBook #Loons

Finished my last read much quicker than expected so I'm diving into one of the library books even though we still have a bit before we go to the cottage. Overcast, dragonfruit tea, a book and the backyard deck - what more could I ask for?

#AuthorAMonth #DragonfruitTea #WeekendReading #DeckReading

I enjoyed this, but not as much as the author‘s more recent works. In the 1950s, Lexie leaves her life in the country for the bright lights of London. In the present day Elina and Ted are struggling after the birth of their first child. I spent the first third of the book desperately trying to link the two timelines together. Once I relaxed into it and just went with the flow I enjoyed it a lot more.

#aam
#52books23 #scriptfontonthespine

Two storylines unravel side by side, following Lexie and Elina as they move through various major events in their lives. I thought I knew how the stories related, but I gradually understood it was different than I thought. After I got into both stories, I really enjoyed this.

Such a clever cover. The jacket is translucent with a face and another face shows through from the hardcover underneath. Loved the story, too. #MagicMarch #Faceonthecover @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Today I went to the book shop cause I needed it. This Xmas I‘m making it simple cause Covid says so so I‘m doing my best to embrace it. The bottom book is a guest book cause despite always complaining about visitors all summer long, I actually miss them. I‘ll try to rest up instead. I‘m a sucker for a book about France & that‘s exactly what the book 2nd from the bottom is about. The tagged author is a new fav of mine. Merry Xmas to me and you lot.

Unabashedly love Maggie O'Farrell.
Her writing is always beautiful, her characters complex. I wouldn't say this was my favorite of hers but I did enjoy it. I could see the intersection of storylines coming, like seeing a car crash that you cannot stop. The story of Lexi and her rise was more of a draw for me throughout the book, but both stories and the overlapping balance was well done.

“Listen. The trees in this story are stirring, trembling, readjusting themselves. A breeze is coming in gusts off the sea, and it is almost as if the trees know, in their restlessness, in their head-tossing impatience, that something is about to happen“

I am, as always, blown away by Maggie O'Farrell's writing. I do not normally read her genre of books but her writing is just too wonderful not to.

#Weeklyforcast
And oldie from the bookcase, my #bookspin, a Women's Prize #longlist and a #Booker long list. Getting things ✅

#bookspinBingo tag book I already started. This month I am determined to get at least 2 bingos! It feels so good to get these books off my TBR.

Thanks @thearomaofbooks for all your hard work on this fun adventure.

#bookspin #tbrpine #mayreads

#weekendreads
#tbrpile

It took me about 25% to get into this book, but once I did, I enjoyed it! I think Lexie is one of my favorite characters so far this year.

In one storyline, Lexie follows her dreams from rural Devon to London in the 1950s. The other storyline follows new parents Elina and Ted, as they cope with her near-death during their son‘s birth in 2010. While I figured out the twist, it still unfolded marvelously!

#bookspinBINGO number 2

1. My goal is to finish four books this week. I‘m in the middle of the tagged, Fleishman is in trouble, catch and kill, and dear girls on audio. It would be great to finish all of them! The problem is I fall asleep constantly! 😴 #postsurgerylife

2. We stopped celebrating as a large family about five years ago. Now, it‘s my dad‘s sweet potato casserole and roast chicken! Just the three of us - four if you count Henry! 🐩

#two4tuesday

This lovely gift from @BarbaraBB looks great with my bookmark from @Crazeedi . 💕💕 Gosh I love this cover!

I thought this would be a better foil to Fleishman than Bunny. So far, I‘m right. Plus I just really like Maggie!

I have never received mail from the Netherlands until today! That made me extra excited to get these books, postcard and bookmark from @BarbaraBB !

I have enjoyed other books by Maggie and John, but both of these are new to me. I can‘t wait to dive in!

I feel so spoiled and loved. 💕💕 Thank you for bringing joy to my recovery, Barbara!

“Not used in the 60s“

I know not everyone agrees, but I LOVE when people write in books. It's like sharing a moment across time with a total stranger.

#AyUpAugust #Babies
Oh how I love Maggie O‘Farrell!
The writing is beautiful, and the intertwining stories kept me enthralled until the last page. I love how she plays with time, slipping between the two narratives seamlessly, even seeing some scenes play backwards, slowly slipping from our grasp.
Motherhood is one of many themes, and although I don‘t have children, the experiences were captured in such a way, I could feel every joy and struggle.

I get why people like this book, it just really isn‘t my style, it‘s a beautiful book and easy to read but just not for me

In one timeline, Lexie is living the life in post-war Soho, London, with charismatic editor Innes. In the other timeline Elina and Ted are dealing with the changes a firstborn brings.
It‘s not immediately clear how the storylines relate but I loved them both, I loved the female mc‘s, I loved their thoughts on motherhood. Maggie O‘Farrell now definitely is a favorite author of mine.

#ATY2019 A book with a dual timeline
#Booked2019 Irish author

#januarywrapup
A good month of reading with no bails and only a couple of so-so books...

Favorite books - ‘Conversations with Friends‘ and ‘The Hand that first held mine‘ - Irish ladies rock! 🍀

Honorable non-fiction mentions - ‘The Novel Cure‘ was so much fun, the ‘London Letters‘ are beautiful, and Jamie‘s new book, one of his most usable.

12/100 #goodreads
5/6 #booked2019 #winter
8/40 #pop19

Two intertwining stories of Lexie and Elina, 60‘s and present day London, and truly beautiful writing.
I love how Maggie plays with time, back and forth between the stories as seamlessly as a gentle tide. And even within each story, we see some scenes backwards, characters slowly slipping from our grasp.
Motherhood is a major theme, and although I‘m not a mum, the experiences were captured in such a skillful way, I felt every joy and struggle.💕

💕..... One paragraph in, and already Maggie‘s writing has me hooked...

#nextup on kindle....
To say I have high expectations for this one is an understatement!
I read two Maggie O‘Farrell books last year, and both were 5⭐️ reads for me, and I hear this is one of her best...... so 🤞
#booked2019 #irishauthor

Some time in the past, Lexie arrives in London, arranges the few books she brought from home & ignores her mother's advice to always wear a girdle. In present day London, Elina is #inthekitchen puzzled by an "uhHggg" noise. (It's her newborn baby she doesn't remember having ?) The #bookjacket is translucent, so you can see the reverse image inside (Lexie?). The #hardcover is printed with a different image (Elina?). #FallintoReading @vkois88

My #usedbooks stack, which came in today's mail. I have read only A Thousand Splendid Suns out of these. Looking forward to the rest. #Bookmail 😀

#iwanttoholdyourhand #heyjune
Loved this one 💕

I have always been a fan of this author - found this novel a bit slow at the start but ultimately it evolved into a lovely story of mothers and family ties. An enjoyable read.

Books in Barcelona🌹📚😍

Another great read I managed to finish today! I fell in love with O'Farrell's writing and then with these characters. I love novels that follow various characters in different time periods. This story coming together at the end blew me away, very enjoyable. This was my first O'Farrell but won't be my last. A story about art, loss, motherhood, ambitions, and secrets kept for years...

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I‘m just the girl on the train #currentlyreading

I've decided to get an imaginary Maggie O'Farrell PhD with a minor in Hilary Mantel. #authorobsession

Happy day! Happy 💃🏻 because it‘s #bookmail day! Wonderful gifts from lovely @Cathythoughts ! I have not read the books and I look forward to reading them. Love the vintage-looking journal/notebook, it is truly beautiful with gold-printed motif sprayed on the edges. Thank you, Cathy, I love everything! ❤️😙💝

#Litsylove

Last official read of 2017, read on audio. Wavering between a pick and a so-so. While the writing was good, I just found myself having trouble connecting with the characters.

Another awesome read from O'Farrell. Quite sad at the end. Family lives and lies and the outcomes of these. She writes amazing characters.

#quotsynov17 #dream
@TK-421

This made me chuckle 😀
This is another great read from O'Farrell.