Welcome to Litsy!

August was another great reading month for me & I struggled to pick a favorite between the tagged book (read with #SundayBuddyRead ) & Chain-Gang All-Stars but ultimately this fascinating historical fiction novel won out as my #12BooksOf2024 pick.

A close second: Chain-Gang All-Stars (the audio book) Honorable Mentions: Hello Stranger, Black Sheep, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, Bear, Unwell Women & Incidents Around the House

#12Booksof2024 Day 8

My favorite book of August was The Forty Elephants, which I read with #SundayBuddyRead .

@TheBookHippie @Andrew65

Found this book interesting and entertaining! The characters were fun, the story was intriguing and it was an easy read. The only issue I had was the ending. It felt rushed and incomplete. And why did Alice never see her beau again?! I wanted a happy ending for them. But the dynamics of Alice being placed in a power position in The Mint was really fascinating and not something that you would expect in that time frame. Overall, loved it!

Was a entertaining read in a great era. Alice turned out to be everything I was hoping for her to be. 🖤Ruthless. Oceans 13 meet Peaky Blinders . The acknowledgements mention the inspo. It had all the right ingredients to be a five star novel. However, writing /pacing needed a bit more cohesiveness, sometimes actions and scenes feel uncompleted like there is gaps in between the actions that characters are doing so it feels rushed or empty.

Thank you @Eggs @TheSpineView @TieDyeDude for the #WondrousWednesday tags! 🤗

1️⃣ I had several but the tagged book was my most favorite!

2️⃣ I love all three depending on my mood & what I‘m doing but I read my Kindle the most!

3️⃣ Probably historical fiction but fantasy & mysteries from cozy to thriller are right up there.🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyone want to play along? Consider yourself tagged! 🤗

#WondrousWednesday

1🌻Leaving someone feeling happier than when I found them.
2🌻My grandsons.
3🌻Tagged, which I read with #SundayBuddyRead

Thanks for the tag, @Eggs !

If you‘re reading this, consider yourself tagged! 😃

Thank you @julieclair for the #Two4Tuesday tag 🤗 sorry I‘m a day late!

1. Several places—although my parents have passed, they gave me a good foundation & my family is still a support. I rely a lot on myself & use journaling, meditation & practicing gratitude to keep me going.💛

2. Alice Diamond in the tagged book (which is awesome!) is strong, determined & at times very ruthless but she is also very supportive of her family & of women.💪🏼

August #SundayBuddyRead #ReadAway2024 This was an excellent book filled with villains, no heroes, victims, and many people whose descriptions lie in the gray areas. Alice is a human being with conflicting emotions and behaviors. Those with whom she allies sometimes turn on her but she manages turn the tables every time. Others are fiercely loyal and Alice returns that loyalty. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024

Enthusiastic pick for this historical fiction based on the real-life Alice Diamond & The Forty Elephants, an all female gang of thieves or “collectors” who robbed high-end department stores & the wealthy society of Roaring Twenties London. I‘m so glad this was our #SundayBuddyReads pick for August because I hadn‘t heard of this book before & it was fascinating & thrilling with strong female characters. One of my favorites for 2024!

This was such a great book! I've never heard of the Forty Elephants before so it was quite facings to learn about Alice Diamond and the all female gang. It was fast-paced with a badass MC. I loved how strong, determined, and loyal Alice was, and I really loved her best friend Mags. I'm not sure how much of the book was based on fact but I'm definitely interested in learning more about this gang. 4.5 ⭐️

#BookspinBingo #5 #sundaybuddyread

My Saturday day vibe is quiet & restorative from a crazy week, so tonkotsu ramen, gyoza & lemon ice tea for lunch in the midst of running errands. It hit the spot as I finish up this excellent #SundayBuddyRead pick for tomorrow‘s discussion.

What a fun read! I see why there‘s a TV series and a stage musical based on this gang in the works. I‘m so glad we read this one together. Kick ass women in the 1920s is totally my jam, and now I know more about both! #sundaybuddyread

I love when someone finds something unusual and picks it for book club. I have no idea how this book was under everyone's radar but it was fantastic.

#SundayBuddyRead @TheBookHippie

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

What a riveting ride through 1920s London as Alice Diamond and her all-girl gang of thieves, The Forty Elephants, tear through high-end stores and mansions, stealing furs, jewelry, and cash from the well-to-do. I knew nothing of The Mint or Elephant & Castle or these notorious women. I couldn't even wait to finish it with the #SundayBuddyRead ... I had to keep turning those pages. Dare I say I'm quite proud to be a woman? 🤩

@TheBookHippie

Reading at Panera while I eat breakfast, I think I‘ll be finishing this today!

The writing style for this book slowly grew on me, and I knew I had to finish it this morning…based on a true story, Alice Diamond is a strong woman made tough by her background and her takeover of her father‘s gang. I like that the narrative balances the darkness with light, how Alice constantly struggles between duty, honor, justice, and a desire for a normal life. Parts are graphic, and parts made me tear up. Good choice for #SundayBuddyRead !

#SundayBuddyRead

I love a story of what is often called “women behaving badly”, or as described by the author in her acknowledgment “obscure, dangerous women of history”. Looking forward to our final discussion!

@TheBookHippie