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Frances Burney - Evalina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance Into the WOR
Frances Burney - Evalina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance Into the WOR | Frances Burney
103 posts | 68 read | 2 reading | 78 to read
Frances Burney was born on June 13th, 1752 in Lynn Regis (now King's Lynn). By the age of 8 Frances had still not learned the alphabet and couldn't read. She now began a period of self-education, which included devouring the family library and to begin her own 'scribblings', these journal writings would document her life and cover the next 72 years. Her journal writing was accepted but writing novels was frowned upon by her family and friends. Feeling that she had been improper, she burnt her first manuscript, The History of Caroline Evelyn, which she had written in secret. It was only in 1778 with the anonymous publication of Evelina that her talents were available to the wider world. She was now a published and admired author. Despite this success and that of her second novel, Cecilia, in 1785, Frances travelled to the court of King George III and Queen Charlotte and was offered the post of "Keeper of the Robes." Frances hesitated. She had no wish to be separated from her family, nor to anything that would restrict her time in writing. But, unmarried at 34, she felt obliged to accept and thought that improved social status and income might allow her greater freedom to write. The years at Court were fruitful but took a toll on her health, writing and relationships and in 1790 she prevailed upon her father to request her release from service. He was successful. The ideals of the French Revolution had brought support from many English literates for the ideals of equality and social justice. Frances quickly became attached to General Alexandre D'Arblay, an artillery officer who had fled to England. In spite of the objections of her father they were married on July 28th, 1793. On December 18th, 1794, Frances gave birth to their only child, a son, Alexander. Frances's third novel, Camilla, in 1796 earned her 2000 and was enough for them to build a house in Westhumble; Camilla Cottage. In 1801 D'Arblay was offered service with the government of Napoleon in France, and in 1802 Frances and her son followed him to Paris, where they expected to remain for a year. The outbreak of the war between France and England meant their stay extended for ten years. In August 1810 Frances developed breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy performed by "7 men in black." Frances was later able to write about the operation in detail, being conscious through most of it, anesthetics not yet being in use. With the death of D'Arblay, in 1818, of cancer, Frances moved to London to be near her son. Tragically he died in 1837. Frances, in her last years, was by now retired but entertained many visits from younger members of the Burney family, who gathered to listen to her fascinating accounts and her talents for imitating the people she described. Frances Burney died on January 6th, 1840.
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review
janeycanuck
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Pickpick

It‘s a #RandomClassics miracle! I finished Evelina!
I ended up restarting it a couple of weeks ago on a long hike with a different narrator and that made all the difference! I quite enjoyed this and I think I‘ll probably pick up a little print version sometime in the future.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! So exciting!! 😂 I enjoyed this one, but all the dreadful relatives/bickering just gave me secondhand embarrassment too much to really love it haha 3w
38 likes1 comment
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rubyslippersreads
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I ended up enjoying this, although I got a bit tired of Evelina‘s worshipful letters to her foster father. She was almost too good (and sometimes too naive) to be true . I also found the twist at the end pretty unbelievable.

I loathed Mme DuVal and the Branghtons. Captain Mirval was a jerk, but sometimes funny. Clement was a creep, and Lord Orville was, like Evelina, almost too good to be true. So I guess they were meant to be together. ⬇️

Deblovestoread What a beautiful edition 💜💚💜 8mo
rubyslippersreads ⬆️ I‘ve always wanted to read this book—thanks to @TheAromaOfBooks for organizing this group read.

Pictured is my mom‘s copy, published in 1904. I love the Hugh Thomson illustrations.
8mo
TheBookHippie Beautiful copy!!! 8mo
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TheAromaofBooks Oh what a fun edition!! Thank you for reading along with me!! I did overall enjoy this one, but definitely found the pacing to be uneven. The sections with Evelina's terrible relatives...!!!!! Way too long 😂 8mo
LeahBergen Beautiful edition! 8mo
Clare-Dragonfly Oh, I love the illustrations! Thanks for sharing them! 8mo
batsy Beautiful edition! And your mum's copy 💖 8mo
48 likes7 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

A late report since I‘ve spent the day with my nieces shopping

Finished Evelina #RandomClassics, Erasure and Eve

I read Hangman

I‘m currently reading Physical, Ordinary Human Failings and Wifedom

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Clare-Dragonfly
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Mehso-so

Well, that certainly is a story I‘m glad to have finished 😆

Funny, but boring—the funny parts did not advance the plot and dragged on. Evelina is a sweet character, but I really didn‘t understand the attraction the men had for her, or her for Lord Orville. If Jane Austen read this and thought “I can do better,” I can see why! #RandomClassics

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AnneCecilie
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Pickpick

I read the novel through the Gutenberg project so while I was looking for a cover, I came across this one that seemed to fit the novel.

17 yr Evelina doesn‘t know much about the world, when friends take her to London for a few weeks. During her first dance she manages to break a lot of the rules. At time Evelina‘s naïveté is a little annoying, but it does much all the other annoying characters, mostly men who can‘t take a hint

AnneCecilie Something is always happening and there‘s no drawing out anything. I enjoyed this. So happy you hosted a buddy read #RandomClassics of this one @TheAromaofBooks 8mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Thank you for reading along with me!! 8mo
52 likes2 comments
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Clare-Dragonfly
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I suppose the fake Miss Belmont and Mr. Macartney will have a happy ending now—they‘re not really brother and sister so they can get married! And if Belmont makes Macartney his heir, that‘s a pretty good outcome for the fake Miss Belmont. #RandomClassics

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Clare-Dragonfly
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So it seems like Evelina‘s mom‘s friend passed off a different baby as Sir John Belmont‘s daughter??? 🤯 That‘s so much more dramatic than him abandoning 3 different women and picking a random one to be his heir! (But still, why won‘t he acknowledge Macartney? I‘m sure this will all be sorted out by the end! I have 4 more issues to go on Serial Reader!) #RandomClassics

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TheAromaofBooks
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Pickpick

This #RandomClassic gets a soft pick from me. I actually loved Evelina and enjoyed much of the writing, but some of the scenes where we had to listen to obnoxious people being obnoxious just went on wayyyy too long. Still, parts were quite funny and overall this one was a lot of fun.

Thank you all for reading along with me!!

Librarybelle 😁❤️ I loved it! It was nice to go to over the top silly while also reading #TheBros . 8mo
TheBookHippie I enjoyed this. I finished it up this weekend on audio while cooking. 🙃 8mo
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Kitta Where are the books in the background from 😍 8mo
TheAromaofBooks @Kitta - Those are Chiltern editions. Aren't they gorgeous?? They have gilt-edges, too! 😍 8mo
rubyslippersreads I‘m still reading and enjoying. I‘ll post my thoughts when I‘m done. 8mo
Kitta Ooo! They‘re gorgeous! I must have them! 8mo
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Librarybelle
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I reviewed this a few years ago on Litsy and gave it a pick; I greatly enjoyed my reread of this for #RandomClassics !

Evelina‘s character at times can be so maddening for her naivety, and yet she somehow becomes entangled with the most cartoonish 18th century characters I‘ve ever seen. Just about everything is worked out in the end.

Thanks for hosting this, @TheAromaofBooks !

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Thank you for reading along with me!! I finished yesterday. I enjoyed it, but don't see myself returning to it again and again. I loved Evelina herself, but some of those side characters...!!!!! 8mo
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

I‘m not quite caught up on the buddy reading of Evelina, but I still want to finish it this week #RandomClassics

I want to finish Erasure

I want finish Eve, I‘ve started on the penultimate chapter so that seems doable

I want to start reading from the Longlist of the Women‘s Prize for Fiction, so I want to read Hangman and hopefully get a start on Ordinary Human Failings

I‘ll be going to an event with Andrew McMillan after

Tamra Anxious to read what you think of Erasure! 8mo
AnneCecilie Easter and I want to start reading some of his work, so I thought I should start with his poetry collection Physical 8mo
49 likes2 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I‘ve been to NYC for must of the week and came back earlier today. Just needed to get some sleep when I got home. So not much reading done this week.

I‘ve fallen behind on the buddy read of Evelina #RandomClassics, but hope to catch up during the weekend

Read a little bit in both Erasure and Eve

CatLass007 Is this episode brought to us by the letter E? 8mo
AnneCecilie @CatLass007 I didn‘t think about that, but it seems like it is 😊 8mo
CatLass007 😁 8mo
53 likes3 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru 3.15) - Things have been a lil crazy around here and I haven't been posting much!! I'm still really enjoying this one, although honestly this book kind of stresses me out since E seems to have a real knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person!

So what do we think about this mysterious girl who is E's father's daughter - do you think she's an imposter??? Is that why E's father was so cruelly dismissive ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) in the letter he wrote???

Also not completely sure how I feel about E's engagement to Lord O. I'm a little surprised that he was willing to propose to someone with basically no status/money.

@AnneCecilie @BarkingMadRead @CatLass007 @ChelseaM6010 @Clare-Dragonfly @Daisey @Deblovestoread @janeycanuck @julieclair @Librarybelle @rubyslippersreads @TheBookHippie
8mo
BarkingMadRead That really shocked me! Where did this other daughter come from?!? 8mo
Librarybelle It makes you wonder about the girl‘s origin story… 8mo
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Clare-Dragonfly I hope we find out about the other daughter! I‘m getting a little bored with E and her constant dithering and willingness to completely change what she‘s doing based on what someone else says… I must still be a little behind as she hasn‘t gotten engaged to Lord O but it‘s hardly a surprise 😂 8mo
AnneCecilie I‘ve fallen a little behind so no engagement yet, but I wonder what her adoptive father wrote to suddenly make Evelina keep her distance to Lord O. I hope we get an answer to that 8mo
TheAromaofBooks @BarkingMadRead @Librarybelle @Clare-Dragonfly - I also couldn't believe that this means E is the sister of M-what's-his-name who almost killed himself. That also seems like quite the twist. How many times has E's dad pretended to marry (or actually gone through the ceremony) and then abandoned them!? 8mo
TheAromaofBooks @AnneCecilie - I had trouble with that as well. Was he just warning her that she was falling in love but Lord O probably would never love her back, so she needed to guard her heart?? That was all I could come up with. I found Mr. V's letter very vague! 8mo
Clare-Dragonfly @AnneCecilie I thought we had the whole letter—he basically just says “I didn‘t warn you about falling in love and I should have, now keep away from Lord O” and she does it without question. That‘s what is irritating me! 8mo
TheAromaofBooks @Clare-Dragonfly - I guess what confused me was he doesn't really say why?? Like why isn't she allowed to fall in love with Lord O/why is Mr. V so convinced that Lord O could never fall in love with her back? @AnneCecilie 8mo
AnneCecilie @TheAromaofBooks @Clare-Dragonfly Is because because of her family situation? I also wondered if it was something about Lord O since his sister and her friends (his friends?) doesn‘t treat her well. Does Lord O know something the others don‘t? 8mo
19 likes10 comments
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Daisey
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Pickpick

I started out reading this on Serial Reader but fell horribly behind and downloaded the audio. This weekend I caught up and then finished it. I was frequently amused by Evelina‘s complete naïveté in telling her story.

This audio edition includes an afterword by Orson Scott Card about reading this book because of his interest in Jane Austen that I found especially interesting.

#audiobooks #1001books #epistolary #RandomClassics

Daisey #PemberLittens might also find this interesting. According to Orson Scott Card‘s research, this was one of Jane Austen‘s favorite books. Some of his commentary from the afterword is also included in the last part of this post: http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2012-07-26.shtml 8mo
TheBookHippie I fell behind too this may be the way to go! 8mo
TheAromaofBooks I'm doing a terrible job hosting this as a buddy read 😂 Thank you for joining me - I'm enjoying this one, but I'm not sure it's going to be one I want to read again and again like I do Austen's stories. The secondhand stress is high!!!! 8mo
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Daisey @TheBookHippie I thoroughly enjoyed this edition! 8mo
Daisey @TheAromaofBooks I completely understand. I enjoyed it, but I also do not have a whole lot to say about it either. Glad you brought it to my attention! 8mo
TheBookHippie @TheAromaofBooks I like the laid back hosting! 8mo
TheAromaofBooks @TheBookHippie - It's more like “oh hey, I'm still here, hope you are too!!“ 😂 8mo
VeniceNorway Love this book!!! 8mo
52 likes1 stack add8 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

Not an ambitious tbr for the upcoming week since I don‘t expect to read that much, but I still want to

continue with Evelina #RandomClassics

continue reading Eve

and start Erasure

Tamra I hope you love Erasure - so provocative & imaginative. 8mo
62 likes1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I continued with Evelina #RandomClassics

I also continued reading Eve, and this book is really tearing down all those cliches

I finished On Calculation of Volume. 1

I read The Secret at Shadow Ranch #NancyDrewBR

I‘m currently reading Man or Mango?

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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru 3.1) Well! There is just no way that Lord O wrote that dreadful letter. Poor Evelina, despite all the time she's spent with her horrid relatives and acquaintances who all prank one another, she still can't imagine someone doing something like that. Really it's just a question of which one of those dreadful people wrote it! But in the meantime - it's hard to see her suffer! I AM a bit curious as to what will happen when she comes face to ⬇

BarkingMadRead I felt the same way, it just doesn‘t sound like him to do that! Poor Evelina! I wonder if he did get her note, I don‘t think so! 8mo
AnneCecilie I think someone got hold of Evelina‘s note, and that Lord Orville never saw it. I‘m guessing it‘s one/ more of her relatives. Curious to find out who. (edited) 8mo
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Librarybelle It‘s been awhile since I read this the first time, and I completely forgot about the note! 😂 I‘m fairly sure he did not write that. I blame her cousins…ugh! 8mo
Clare-Dragonfly Oh gosh, I didn‘t even think of that! It only seemed a little overreaching to me 😂 but yeah… it was probably young Brangston or whatever his name is. He seems like the type to pull a prank, and he knew about Evelina just missing Lord Orville—he might have stuck around long enough to see that she sent him a letter. 8mo
rubyslippersreads As far as who really sent the note, my money is on Sir Clement. 8mo
20 likes6 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

I want to continue Evelina #RandomClassics

I want to continue reading Eve, I‘m learning som much from this so far

I want to finish On Calculation of Volume. 1

I want to read The Secret at Shadow Ranch #NancyDrewBR

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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I continued reading Evelina #RandomClassics

I finished both The Strangeworlds Travel Agency (returned to the library so not pictured) and The Light Years

I‘ve just started Eve and already learning so much

Tamra I fall in love with that cover of The Light Years every time you post it! 8mo
AnneCecilie @Tamra I love the covers in this edition of the series and the spines standing together also makes a picture 8mo
44 likes2 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru 2.20) Whew! A lot has been happening both in my life and in Evelina's!!!

First off, I'm so mad that her grandma can just swoop in and lug her off to London against her will! That feels so ridiculous, but it's also so telling of how little agency women - especially young ones - had at the time. I'm impressed buy how E is maturing and starting to get better at standing up for herself. Her cousins are so dreadful! And Mr. Smith! Sheesh. ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) Then this whole secondary plot with the young fellow who almost killed himself! Today's chapter was his explanatory letter to E - am I reading this right; he fell in love with his half-sister?! Talk about some drama!

E only has two weeks left to suffer through London, but I have this sneaking feeling that her grandma is still going to find a way to get her to France to confront E's douchey dad.
9mo
BarkingMadRead That was so irritating, I am NOT a fan of gramma, she annoys me! 9mo
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Librarybelle It is incredible how horrid these people are. You‘re so right that it shows Evelina has no agency of her own to have to go with her grandmother, against her will, and hang out with the cousins. Ugh! Poor Evelina. 9mo
rubyslippersreads I‘m thinking this book must have been quite shocking when it was published, what with the whole accidental incest thing and all. 😳 (edited) 8mo
TheAromaofBooks @rubyslippersreads - Right?! I thought the almost-suicide was already pretty edgy, then when we found out the details... !!!!!! 8mo
18 likes6 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I continued with Evelina #RandomClassics

I finished The Waves and is almost finished with The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

I‘ve started The Light Years

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BarkingMadRead
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Finished this last night! @TheAromaofBooks I really loved it! I dreaded the epistolary nature of the story, but it didn‘t bother me at all once I got into it!
POP… Bildungsroman 📚#52bookclub24… apostrophe in title 📚 this was also my #doublebookspin

Librarybelle Yay! I‘m enjoying my reread of this! 9mo
BarkingMadRead @Librarybelle I can‘t believe I‘ve never read it! I loved it! 9mo
BarbaraBB So good! I still need to read it! 9mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Thanks for reading along!! Feel free to drop in for any of the rest of the conversations. I actually really like Evelina's voice, so the epistolary part isn't bothering me. She's so sweet and naive it feels like she should be super annoying, but instead I just want to keep her safe 😂 9mo
49 likes5 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru 2.5) My word, Book 2 has started with quite the swirl of events!

First off, I literally can't get my head around Captain Mirvan. Is this man insane?! What is his deal!?!? What a psychopath! There's just no other word for someone who delights in tormenting someone else like this. Ugh.

Today's letters were also quite the bombardment of emotion. That letter from E's father was - whew. Cold.

What do you think of Mr. Villars? His letters ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) present him as a kindly old gentleman, wanting the best for E, but Madame Duval and E's father do seem united in their portrayal of him as a bad guy - although I'm not sure exactly why?? Because he took in E's mother when she had been abandoned by them both???

I'm enjoying the actual story of this book, but laboring through the passages of teasing and torturing Madame Duval I find very wearing.
9mo
BarkingMadRead My copy isn‘t separated into books. The pages also aren‘t numbered 🤣 anyway….. this thing with the Captain is super disturbing! I‘m thinking the Rev is a nice old man and the other two don‘t like him because he knows their truth. Just a theory, though! 9mo
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Librarybelle Captain Mirvan is horrible! I think there is nothing wrong with Villars…the others are stirring up trouble, not wishing to admit any wrongdoing on their part all of those years ago. 9mo
AnneCecilie I have no words for the Captain, how could he not only put Madame Duval through that, but also Evelina. And what about the man that claims to be courting? @BarkingMadRead same. So I‘m interested in seeing how my reading goes with just the chapters to guide me. @Librarybelle I think you‘re on to something, I have a feeling we don‘t know the entire truth about what happened in the past 9mo
Clare-Dragonfly I agree with everyone else! And my copy doesn‘t have chapters either so I don‘t know how behind I am 😅 Sir Clement is such a creep! I‘m glad Mrs. Mirvan warned Evelina against asking him for a favor. He would have tried to wrangle much more out of her than she wanted to give. 9mo
TheAromaofBooks @BarkingMadRead @Librarybelle @AnneCecilie @Clare-Dragonfly - So are your letters not labeled at all??? My book isn't divided into chapters, but each letter is labeled “Letter One“ “Letter Two“ etc. And then then book is divided into three parts. Now I feel bad for creating a schedule apparently no one can follow but me 😂 9mo
Librarybelle Mine are labeled by letter! Isn‘t that funny how the editions are different? But, your schedule corresponds to my edition, at least. 9mo
BarkingMadRead Mine are labeled by letter but there are no parts. It is all just one long group of letters. It‘s also got no printing on the spine and no page numbers. Definitely low class 🤣🤣🤣 9mo
AnneCecilie The letters are numbered, but there‘s no volumes. So I try to remember how many letters to read 9mo
Clare-Dragonfly Mine are labeled with Roman numerals, but the book isn‘t divided into parts. The brusque letter from Dad is letter XXXV. I‘m using Serial Reader so I‘m just reading along with its schedule now! 9mo
rubyslippersreads Mr. Villars seems almost too good to be true. Captain Mirvan is a jerk. 8mo
18 likes12 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

I want to continue with Evelina #RandomClassics

I want to finish The Waves and continue with The Strangeworlds Travel Agency

I want to get a good start on the first book in The Cazalet Chronicles, The Light Years

BarbaraBB Great plans! 9mo
Tamra It‘s taking me years to get Jane Howard! 9mo
AnneCecilie @Tamra I hadn‘t heard about this series until last year when especially Lauren on Lauren and the Books on YouTube raved about them. So now I really want to get to them 9mo
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AnneCecilie @BarbaraBB Thank you 😊 9mo
Tamra @AnneCecilie it sounds such a great series. I don‘t know why it‘s lingering on my shelves. Too many shiny distractions. 😉 9mo
AnneCecilie @Tamra I got the entire series from my sister and her family for Christmas so they are still new and shiny for me 😊 9mo
Ruthiella I really enjoyed The Light Years. 👍 9mo
MaureenMc Love the Cazalet Chronicles! ☺️ 9mo
55 likes8 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I continued with Evelina #RandomClassics and finished The Sign of the Four #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

I finished The Swifts

I read a book about weird animals and Motherhood

I‘ve just started The Waves

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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru Letter 1.31) - And so ends Volume 1!! I've overall enjoyed this book, but the passages where Evelina is recounting arguments between the Captain and Madame Duval tend to wear on me. They're both SO dreadful. But I'm definitely interested to see where this story goes next!!

Tomorrow and Friday are catch-up days for anyone who may be behind. Letter 2.1 is very short, and 2.2 rather long, so I combined them both across two days ⬇

Librarybelle Yay!! It‘s fun revisiting this one! 9mo
janeycanuck The audio I have doesn‘t number the letters AND the chapters break randomly so I‘m flying by the seat of my pants. I think I‘m close to the end of volume 1, I‘m quite enjoying it! 9mo
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AnneCecilie I‘m enjoying myself and interested in seeing where this is going. But the men and Mrs Duval are pushing my patience at times. 9mo
Daisey So, I read the first few days and then completely got behind! I‘m trying to finish another book before it returns to the library so I can focus on catching up with this one this weekend. 9mo
rubyslippersreads I‘m happy to have a couple of catch-up days. 9mo
ChelseaM6010 I‘ve fallen so far behind on this one! Life + illness got in the way of it. Will do my best to catch up 9mo
Clare-Dragonfly I‘m a little behind (Serial Reader had me a little ahead at first so I held back, but I guess I shouldn‘t have) so glad for the catch-up days! I agree regarding the Captain and Mrs. Duval… 9mo
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Clare-Dragonfly
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What‘s with all these creepy men who are obsessed with Evelina even though she is kind of rude (in smart ways) and barely talks?! Obviously after letter 21 Sir Clement is the chief creepy creep of them all, but wow.

All the jerks and idiots poor Evelina is surrounded by are funny, though, for sure! I suppose the women of the Mirvan family are lovely, but they hardly get any page time. #RandomClassics

Librarybelle I read this a few years ago and am rereading it for the group now…I forgot how funny but also cringey this is! 😂 9mo
7 likes1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

Buddy reads:
Continue Evelina #RandomClassics
Finish The Sign of the Four #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

I want to start a book on the weirdest animals

I‘m currently reading The Swifts and next up is Motherhood and if I have a really good reading week I might even get a start on The Waves

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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I continued with the buddy read of Evelina #RandomClassics, started the buddy read of The Sign of Four #NoPlaceLikeHolmes and I‘ve just started The Mystery at Lilac Inn #NancyDrewBR

I continued with Poverty, by America

I finished Dear Dickhead

I read Scenes from a Childhood and Christmas at the Beach Hut

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BarkingMadRead
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I read a little bit ahead so that I am caught up for the whole weekend. So much drama and just what I needed after finishing A Thousand Splendid Suns! I am loving this book, I never would have tried it without the buddy read! @TheAromaofBooks #randomclassics

TheAromaofBooks I'm surprised by how much I'm enjoying it! I like that Evelina comes across as being naive and innocent without being annoying or prim. But some of the people she has to deal with...!!! 😂 9mo
BarkingMadRead @TheAromaofBooks omg these men are hysterical and her grandmother and cousins! Yikes! 9mo
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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru Letter 16) Oh my WORD, what is WITH Captain Mirvan?! I can hardly believe how dreadful and rude he is! Reading these last couple of letters has been torturous for my secondhand embarrassment! 😂 If I had been Mrs. M. I would NOT have rushed up to London to see this guy!!

I'm a little perplexed by what Madam Duval hopes to gain. I'm assuming money, somehow??

Librarybelle The Captain is such comedy fodder! I cannot believe that someone of his rank would behave in such a way publicly, yet Burney must be making some sort of point with it. As for Willoughby…OMG! The guy is just too much, and my creep vibes go off every time he gets near Evelina. 9mo
Clare-Dragonfly Goodness gracious, what a jerk! And the French stranger was such a jerk back to him that I guessed a few pages early what her name might be 😂 Maybe she really feels bad about how she neglected her daughter and is hoping to make up for it? Or is hoping for the appearance of making up for it… 9mo
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BarkingMadRead Yikes, he‘s a disaster! 9mo
TheBookHippie 😵‍💫 I keep saying it wouldn‘t be written IF it wasn‘t true of someone the writer witnessed- which is probably so 😵‍💫 YIKES. 9mo
AnneCecilie There‘s several terrible characters here, the Captain, Willoughby and the French guy. My first thought when I saw the name Willoughby was that‘s a character in Sense and Sensibility too, wonder if Austen was inspired? 9mo
55 likes6 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru Letter 13) Okay, honestly this book has been pretty adorable so far. While Evelina is borderline-annoyingly young, she still seems genuinely sweet. I was about ready to throttle that obnoxious jerk who kept following her around at the assembly! Oh my WORD!

I caught a glimpse of the heading for tomorrow's letter, though, and it doesn't look like Evelina is heading back to the country as soon as she hoped!!

Clare-Dragonfly I am enjoying this so far, though it feels very slow! I like Evelina‘s naïveté and how she is able to laugh—she makes a good narrator for those of us who are similarly unfamiliar with the social rules of her place and time. (edited) 9mo
TheBookHippie It is sweet, but I‘m enjoying it quite a bit! 9mo
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Deblovestoread I'm liking it so far. All the rules that were in place at that time would be hard to navigate exorbitant if you didn't have a clue. 9mo
rubyslippersreads I‘m really enjoying this. But does anyone else see Berry Hill and read it as Beverly Hills? 🤣 9mo
BarkingMadRead That guy at the assemble was so obnoxious and she is so sweet! 9mo
57 likes6 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

Continue with Evelina #RandomClassics and with Povery, by America

I want to finish Despentes latest.
Then I thought it was time I read som Jon Fosse and I‘ll one of his shorter works
Then I want to read Christmas at the Beach Hut and The Mystery at Lilac Inn #NancyDrewBR
And I‘m between these books I also want to get a start on The Sign of Four #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

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AnneCecilie
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#BookReport

I‘ve started the buddy read Evelina

I finished Beyond Black and read Da vi var yngre (When We Where Younger)

I had my first DNF of the year, Detaljene (The Details)

So I started Despentes latest novel and I‘ve also just started Poverty, by America

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TheAromaofBooks
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(thru letter 3) Well, we're off to an intriguing start. I had to pay close attention to get some of these people sorted - at first I didn't realize that Madame Duval was the grandmother and I got confused 😂 But now we have the tragic background squared away. Somehow, I don't think Mr. V is going to let his ward head off to London, no matter who asks!

How do you all feel about these opening letters?

Clare-Dragonfly I had to reread parts of the first two letters to get all the people straight! I think I‘m following now though. And I can only assume that Madame Duval‘s granddaughter, who is Rev. Villars‘s ward, is the titular Evelina since no one has used her name yet… (edited) 9mo
TheBookHippie Book just arrived!! Catching up today. 9mo
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Librarybelle We‘re setting the scene! And yes, @Clare-Dragonfly , you‘re correct! 9mo
AnneCecilie I feel like I just landed in the middle of the action and I‘m trying to figure it out. 9mo
rubyslippersreads @AnneCecilie I read somewhere that it gets more interesting when you get to Evelina‘s letters. So I think, like @Librarybelle said, these preliminary letters are to set the scene. 9mo
AnneCecilie @rubyslippersreads I think so too, and get some backstory 9mo
47 likes7 comments
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Daisey
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Started Evelina this evening!

#SerialReader #epistolary #RandomClassics #1001books

janeycanuck Is Serial Reader only as an app or will they do emails, too? 9mo
Daisey @janeycanuck As far as I know it‘s just the app. 9mo
37 likes2 comments
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForecast

Finish Beyond Black, then I want to read autumn‘s buzziest book by a 19-yr debutant da vi var yngre (When we were younger) and if there is time and if there is time get a start on Detaljene (The Details)

This week is also the beginning of a new month, so I will also be starting Evelina #RandomClassics and a new nonfiction book, Poverty, by America.

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CrowCAH
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#RandomClassics

February 2024 is Evelina by Frances Burney.

TheAromaofBooks Thanks for the repost!! 10mo
CrowCAH @TheAromaofBooks you‘re welcome ☺️ 10mo
40 likes2 comments
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LitsyEvents
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Repost for @TheAromaofBooks

Here's the schedule for Evelina, starting February 1!! We probably could have done this whole book in a month, but I tried to keep this more to 10-15 pages a day, so it will carry over into March. I've given us a couple of catch-up days after each volume because some of the letters are long!!

#RandomClassics #BuddyRead #ReadingSchedule

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2695523

TheAromaofBooks Thank you for the repost!! 10mo
33 likes1 comment
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TheAromaofBooks
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Okay, here is the schedule I have worked up for Evelina, starting February 1!! We probably could have done this whole book in a month, but I have a lot of books on my plate right now and tried to keep this more to 10-15pgs/day, so it will carry over into March. I've given us a couple of catch-up days after each volume because some of the letters are long!!

Tagging those who said they were interested; all are welcome!! #RandomClassics

Librarybelle Sounds good!! 10mo
julieclair Perfect schedule! 👍 10mo
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CatLass007 You do know that there are only 28 days in February, right? So letters 22-31 probably won‘t be read on February 29, 30, and 31. (edited) 10mo
AnneCecilie This schedule looks great. Could you keep me on the tag list for this? Also, if anyone else wants to join, it‘s available through the Gutenberg Project 10mo
TheBookHippie Looks fine to me it‘s leap year so maybe I‘ll read extra that day 😂🙃 10mo
TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle @julieclair @AnneCecilie @TheBookHippie - Here is the UPDATED schedule because as @CatLass007 so rightfully pointed out, February does NOT have 31 days 😂 10mo
TheBookHippie @TheAromaofBooks but January has 456 days it seems 😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️ 10mo
rubyslippersreads I‘d like to try this one. Could you please add me to the tag list? 10mo
TheAromaofBooks @TheBookHippie - FOR REAL 😂 😂 😂 10mo
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie Is this a leap year? I must think it‘s still 2023.🙄 January really does feel like it‘s 456 days long. 10mo
TheBookHippie @CatLass007 yes it‘s Leap Year 10mo
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie Now I know.😁 10mo
TheBookHippie @CatLass007 😂it‘s been a long year I mean month…. 10mo
Deblovestoread Thanks for the schedule and the reminder! 10mo
BarkingMadRead I‘m in!! 9mo
55 likes16 comments
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TheAromaofBooks
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We have officially finished Don Quixote🎉 and are working our way through Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe's book will carry over into mid-February (45 chapters), but on February 1 I will be starting the next #RandomClassic - Evelina! I know nothing about this book! How did it end up on my classics TBR? Why did I put it there? Who recommended it? What list did I see it on? NO IDEA 😂 So feel free to join me! I don't have my copy yet, but GR says 455pgs ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) We will see how that looks as chapters. In the meantime, I'm tagging my Master List of people who thought they might be interested in reading some of these books with me. If you're interested in reading Evelina specifically, please comment below as I'll be creating a tag list for just that book!! 10mo
Cuilin Apparently it was one of Jane Austen‘s favorite novels. I led a group read during the pandemic with some of the #pemberlittens it was a fun read. Enjoy. 10mo
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CatLass007 Please tag me for Evelina. Thanks! 10mo
janeycanuck Tag me for Evelina, I think? I‘ve always wanted to read it but I‘m not sure I have room on my dance card for Feb. We‘ll see… I still have to finish Don Quixote, I‘m super behind again!! 10mo
Librarybelle I‘m in! I read this years ago for a book markup group and never got mine back, so I‘ll look for another copy. I loved it the first time!! 10mo
Daisey I‘d like to be on the list for this one. It‘s also on the #1001books list. Not sure how well it will fit alongside my other reading, but I‘m going to try. 10mo
Lcsmcat I Hope you enjoy it! Like @Cuilin said it influenced Austen‘s writing and as I read it I kept thinking “so that‘s where Jane got that idea.” 10mo
Clare-Dragonfly I‘m interested. I hope it‘s on Project Gutenberg—can‘t get the site to load at the moment! 🤔 10mo
Deblovestoread I‘d like to read along and be tagged please. Thank you 😊 10mo
julieclair Please tag me! This has been on my TBR for awhile. 10mo
TheBookHippie It‘s on hoopla for me - but I may purchase it. I‘ve always wanted to read all three ladies by this author, no idea what list I got it from either. 10mo
TheAromaofBooks @CatLass007 @janeycanuck @Librarybelle @Clare-Dragonfly @Deblovestoread @julieclair @TheBookHippie - I have you all on the list!! As always, no hard feelings if it ends up that you don't want to read it after all 😂 I'll post a schedule when I get my copy!! 10mo
TheAromaofBooks @Cuilin - That may have been when I added this one to my list!!! 10mo
TheAromaofBooks @Lcsmcat - Thank you!! I'm looking forward to it!! 10mo
Clare-Dragonfly If anyone else is looking for a free version, it is on Serial Reader! Hopefully it‘s the same schedule. 10mo
CatLass007 Thank you! 10mo
julieclair @Clare-Dragonfly Thanks for the heads up about Serial Reader! 10mo
ChelseaM6010 Tag me for Evelina please. 10mo
TheAromaofBooks @ChelseaM6010 - Absolutely!! 10mo
BarbaraJean I read this one back in grad school, and I'm so tempted to join, but I'm trying to exercise buddy read self-restraint this year!! Keep me on your general tag list, though--I'm sure you can talk me into another one later in the year 😁 10mo
57 likes21 comments
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GinaKButler
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When I added this epistolary novel to my list, I didn‘t realize how long it was. 😳 Reading a little each day through December…enjoying it so far!

#bookspinbingo

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jhod
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My #lmpbc read is back from @jenniferw88 along with a lovely card and the tagged book from my TBR! Thank you! I loved reading your and Lucy's comments on An American Marriage and I will get yours in the post shortly @Mrs_B ! Hope you're both well 😘

Mrs_B Thank you! And glad you‘re happy with my scribblings. 😂 2y
52 likes1 comment
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llwheeler
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#fourfoursin21 completed! Just a wee bit late, I didn't finish the 2 in green until the new year.

Now, on to #fourfoursin22! I have ideas for a few of the prompts already...

Thanks for hosting a fun challenge, @Lauredhel!

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llwheeler
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Pickpick

My last book for #fourfoursin21 (late but oh well) for the epistolary prompt, as this book is entirely an epistolary novel. @Lauredhel

I really enjoyed this, though almost all the men are terrible (hello patriarchy) and at times I found Evelina's discomfort with the situations she's in pretty uncomfortable to read. I'd never read Burney before and will give her others a try.

Also this is the 100th book I've read from the #1001books list 🎉

llwheeler *for the correspondent prompt, bc the book is epistolary 3y
readordierachel 100 books from the list! Well done 👏🏼 3y
llwheeler @readordierachel thanks! 🙂 3y
Lauredhel Maybe you're not eligible for the prize, but still congratulations for finishing! 3y
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llwheeler
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A slightly belated #20in4 wrap up: got to 16 hours, finished 3 books, and read from 3 others. One of these times I'll hit 20 hours!

Thanks for hosting @Andrew65!

Graywacke That kitty! 3y
44 likes1 comment
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llwheeler
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My first (print) read of the new year, though I started it yesterday.

Happy new year!

Ruthiella Happy New Year! 3y
32 likes1 comment
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KVanRead
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Busy few days!! My niece had a healthy baby girl, my daughter & I finally finished Sir Fuzzyface Lambykin here (a kit from the Dickens Fair) to send baby with the blanket I knit, a raccoon came to visit in the night and when I scared him off came back with a friend, and I stayed up till dawn finishing this book! —Loved it! It‘s bonkers in an oh so 18th C way but also depressingly familiar in a #metoo way 🤦🏻‍♀️
Loved the London travelogue aspect

vivastory You've had a busy week! 3y
MsMelissa Oh that‘s cute! 3y
sprainedbrain That‘s adorable! Congrats on the news baby in the family! ❤️ 3y
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KVanRead @vivastory Yes! And all good except for the 🦝🦝 visitors ☺️ 3y
KVanRead @MsMelissa Thanks—it was a fun project since my daughter did all the sewing for me! 3y
KVanRead @sprainedbrain Thanks! We‘re so excited!! 👶💗 3y
LeahBergen I love it! I used to love to knit stuffed animals but haven‘t done one in years. 3y
KVanRead @LeahBergen Thanks! Our first ever attempt and I‘m pleased with how he turned out thanks to my daughter handling the sewing which not my forte! 3y
kspenmoll What a week! Congrats in new baby & your creative gift! ❤️ 3y
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KVanRead
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Hello Litsy family! I‘m back after a busy May with very little reading time. But I‘m more than making up for it this month by taking my first English Literature college course in a loooong time—one of my more nutso pandemic-induced ideas being that maybe I‘d like to go back to school and get my MA 🤷🏻‍♀️ So I‘m starting with this intensive summer course: The Rise of the Novel: Fallen Ladies Edition! I bet all you #Pemberlittens would love it!

Liz_M Sounds like it would be fun if one didn't have to write papers! 😆 3y
vivastory This sounds like a great course! Looking forward to your posts about the course & the books you'll be reading 3y
LeahBergen This sounds fantastic! 3y
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eeclayton Welcome back 🙂 3y
Annie1215 So exciting! 3y
KVanRead @Liz_M Um, yup, it‘s that papers part that has me wondering about my sanity 😂 3y
KVanRead @vivastory the first lecture at least was awesome. Was surprised that in an 18 and 19 C course we started out with an essay by Kundera! 3y
KVanRead @LeahBergen I think you‘d love it! 3y
KVanRead @eeclayton Thanks! Glad to be back! 3y
KVanRead @Annie1215 thanks, I think #thatsclassic is partly responsible 😊 3y
squirrelbrain Lovely to see you back! Good luck with the course - sounds fab! 3y
Ruthiella Welcome back. The class sounds awesome. 😀 3y
LitStephanie That course sounds great. I am kind of envious. Go get that MA! 3y
Lcsmcat Welcome back! 3y
Clare-Dragonfly Good to see you again! That class sounds amazing! 3y
KVanRead @squirrelbrain @Ruthiella @Lcsmcat @Clare-Dragonfly Thanks!! Great to be back and to see everyone‘s posts! 3y
KVanRead @LitStephanie Thanks! I‘m kind of terrified actually, but I‘m really enjoying it too.😂 3y
Tamra Sounds fun! 3y
batsy That's a fantastic plan! Woohoo! And yes, that course sounds amazing 😁 3y
SamAnne Ooh....jealous. Good luck! 3y
KVanRead @Tamra @batsy @SamAnne Thanks all!! Loving the reading 📚 and classes, just hope I can remember how to write papers!!😬 3y
kspenmoll Sounds fabulous!!! How interesting . Keep us posted in the ladies!!! 3y
58 likes22 comments
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lauracorum

I am not enjoying this book and it's keeping from discover other books. I may return to it, but not for awhile.