Welcome to Litsy!

Cristabel and her younger siblings, Flossy and Digby spend their youth telling stories and putting on productions using the bare skeleton of a whale as their theater.
The acting skills they gained in their youth come in handy for Cristabel and Digby when they become spies for the British in France during WWII.
It felt like two entirely different books. For me, the first half when they were kids dragged but the second half during the war was great.

Adored it. Loved it. Very sad I‘m done reading it.

I am loving this book so very much

My reading for the weekend. Happy Mother‘s Day to all of you celebrating this weekend too!

Just ok

We follow Cristabel, Flossie and Digby‘s upbringing on a dilapidated country estate, where the care their self-absorbed parents should have provided is often replaced by their bohemian friends. WWII intervenes but their paths continue to cross and intertwine as the three find their way as adults in a world at war. At times this didn‘t feel like anything new, but there‘s a darkness and quirkiness I enjoyed, so overall a very good read 👇

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

I had no idea when I requested this audiobook from the library it was nearly 19 hours long. I probably would‘ve skipped it, but I‘m really loving it 🥰 Narration is SUPERB🎧🙌🏻 Chose for #IspyBingo curtain and #52Books September mini challenge #BookBeginsWithProperNoun

The story spans from 1919 through WWII. The story focuses around Cristabel growing up lonely & isolated after her mother died. She was raised by nannies & other members of her fathers household staff. The family lives on an estate in England. Since Cristabel was left alone she became an avid reader & loved to create stories to pass her time. It was an interesting story that spanned Cristabel‘s childhood through her becoming a spy during WWII.

Very well-done, but not quite fast-paced enough for me personally. The blurb only focuses on such a small chunk of the actual story that you really don't get a good sense of the scope of this novel. If you like sagas and want to get stuck in for a while, this one's for you. #historicalfiction

I loved the characters. I was disappointed that it turned into a WWII story, as those are very common in my reading list, but there is so much heart, it was worth it.

Lovely, captivating and heartbreaking.From a whale washing up on an English beach to the end of WWII Britain. I greatly enjoyed it.

Book 23

The Whalebone Theatre began as a very charming read. Cristabel is a vivacious three-year-old who runs around a grand estate in London with very little supervision. When her dad dies suddenly, her stepmom and uncle get married, and Cristabel becomes even more invisible. She gains two younger siblings, and, together, they make their own happiness in their imaginary, creative world. I wish this novel would have continued.

first half of this I absolutely adored. It had a hint of the kind of books I loved as a child - children largely left to their own devices by uncaring or vague adults in wonderful scenery. I wanted to ply with the Seagroves and could imagine myself there. The second half as they grew up and experienced Ww2 felt almost like a different book, well drawn but heavier and not quite as really special as the first half. A 4 plus for me #booked2023

OMG. Kleenex will be your friend here. This saga sucked me in from the jump and I loved every moment of this read. It will truly engage your emotions which is something I love when I read. A keeper for sure. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read 14 books in August with 2 5⭐️s.

I loved this “saga” for several reasons but mostly for the wonderful character development.

Honorable mention to this 2nd in series historical mystery. Loved it! (A Trace of Poison)

#12Booksof2022 #August

Pictured are the books I haven‘t read from @TheKidUpstairs ‘s #ALSpine list. I plan to start with Five Little Indians, The Colony and The Bass Rock. I‘ve had my eye on these! But my goal is to read them all throughout the year. 🎉
I‘ve read (and loved) 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 and all could have easily made my list — 2 did actually, this year and last! And I‘m currently reading #8. This just goes to show how AMAZING @monalyisha is with matchmaking.

I loved this novel about a family in Dorset between the wars. It‘s an English sensibility with a setting to match. I loved the warmth, Cristabel the strong, independent main character & the coastal atmosphere. Slightly hyper-real but believable characters & a fresh, tender take on WW2, reminded me of Sarah Winman & All The Light We Cannot See. Immersive, enjoyable & compassionate without being too sentimental.

It took a bit to get into it but once in it was really gripping. Set from 1919 to the end of WWII, it tells the story of Cristabel Seagrave and her family. Their lives and fortunes during the time periods. A cast of really great characters.

It took me a little while to get through this book because I don‘t usually read historical fiction but I did enjoy it. I found it heartbreaking at times and it made me want to cry at certain points. I really enjoyed it!

Finished my first book, the above, for #OutstandingOctober Readathon

Next book I'm reading is The Faith of Elvis 😊

@Andrew65

Beautiful Writing! The only thing I didn't like was that the very first part was a little slow.

Solid 4 1/2 ⭐

Y'all know that I'm always behind on my ARC's.🤷 There's just to many books I want to read our there🤪

Published October 4, 2022

Going to finish this book, then read some October ARC's. Not sure which ones, yet. 📚😊

#OutstandingOctober Readathon
@Andrew65

Starting this next

You know what I love most? Great writing ✍️

“His wooing of her had largely consisted of him presenting her with historical facts in the way a cat continually brings its owner dead mice, despite their perplexing lack of success.”

Here we go with the ‘I just finished my book and now I need to choose a new book‘ conundrum… Happens. Every. Single. Time. #bookwormproblems

Overall a good read.
Some parts felt too much for me, there was a lot of detail that became unnecessary.
I liked the relationship between the siblings very much, and also the servants.

Great book, but did I mention it's long?

I'm looking forward to reading this as it ticks many boxes... set in early 20th century, based in Dorset and involves the natural coastal world.

But alongside that feeling of rightfulness, there is an unease too, a slight embarrassment. She is discomforted by a nagging sense that stepping into her story she might somehow be seen. Because the imagined place of the child within the story does not show the child herself. Because had the Duke of Wellington or Admiral Nelson ever looked down and seen that a small girl had joined their forces, that girl would have been sent home.

Then the war came, and everything was stopped, and nobody knew if it would start again.

Which is why gardens are so useful, thinks Flossie. You don't have to think about all the questions that hang over them. You only need think about digging and weeding the patch of soil at your feet.

...she does feel some measure of sympathy for the vegetable baby disliked by the new mother. Surely sisters must be beneficial in some way. They know how to do weaving and how to cook simple warming fare. Sometimes they look after aged parents, when everyone else has left. Sometimes they are chained to rocks and offered up as sacrifice. She could probably find a use for that sort of thing.

My bookclub august pick and my #doublespin pick #augustreads #bookspin #augustbookbingo so far all who have read have loved 🥰 it !

I LOVED this one so much that my review is just too long for posting here. 😂 But I‘ll share my GR link below.

Above are two covers for this one: UK is on the right (released in June); US is on the left (out in Oct.). I really like both for different reasons

#coverlove

5/5⭐️ Wholeheartedly. 😊

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4912089095

Ooouuuu can‘t wait to read this one , published here on 9th June ; I adore the cazalet chronicles and haven‘t found much to rival them - this sounds like the one ☝️
#thewhalebonetheatre
#joannaquinn
#debutnovel
#cazaletchronicles