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From the Forest
From the Forest: A Search for the Hidden Roots of our Fairytales | Sara Maitland
Fairy tales are one of our earliest cultural forms, and forests one of our most ancient landscapes. Both evoke similar sensations: At times they are beautiful and magical, at others spooky and sometimes horrifying. Maitland argues that the terrain of these fairy tales are intimately connected to the mysterious secrets and silences, gifts and perils. With each chapter focusing on a different story and a different forest visit, Maitland offers a complex history of forests and how they shape the themes of fairy tales we know best. She offers a unique analysis of famous stories including Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretal, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumplestiltskin, and Sleeping Beauty. Maitland uses fairy tales to explore how nature itself informs our imagination, and she guides the reader on a series of walks through northern Europe's best forests to explore both the ecological history of forests and the roots of fairy tales. In addition to the twelve modern retellings of these traditional fairy tales, she includes beautiful landscape photographs taken by her son as he joined her on these long walks. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Maitland has infused new life into tales we've always thought we've known.
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Bookwomble
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Next up... It has mixed reviews, which would probably have put me off buying it if I'd checked first, but I didn't so ...🤞

AllDebooks Ignore the reviews, go in with an open mind, and take it from there. 😅 2w
Bookwomble @AllDebooks I am quite a contrarian, so it's possible I'll like it *because* it has ambivalent reviews! 😜 I'm giving it its best chance by having a Sibelius soundtrack, including Tapiola (the Spirit of the Forest) and The Wood-Nymph 🌲🎶🌲 2w
45 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy #Scarathlon

Thank you so much to @Clwojick and @StayCurious for letting me tag on to your amazing event. I'm so sad it's all over for another year. It was SO much fun 🎃

If you enjoyed this, I will be hosting #MidwinterSolace again. BUT this time it's over 2 months rather than 21 days in the run up to the solstice. And I've got help from @TheBookHippie and @Chrissyreadit @jenniferw88 is running another lovely swap.
Links ⬇️⬇️

45 likes7 comments
review
Bookworm54
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Mehso-so

This book was so-so for me.
It started promising, and I liked how every chapter ended with a fairytale retelling. However the book itself didn‘t really deliver.

I enjoyed some of the authors thinking around how fairytales developed and how fairytales and woodland/forests connected. I also think reading it slowly helped keep it interesting as it got a bit samey… 🤭

#NaturalitsyBuddyRead #Naturalitsy #Scarathlon #MagicalMonsters

ItsAnotherJen That is such a cool tree! 14mo
AllDebooks Great review. 😍 that's such a fab tree 13mo
35 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy #Scarathlon

🍄 What are your final thoughts on our #buddyread
🍄 Hit or Miss
🍄 Would you read anything by Sara Maitland again?

Thank you all for joining me in this event. Please do let me know if you would like to be added to the main #NaturaLitsy taglist. We're reading The Secret Garden in November.

Hooked_on_books For me this was a miss. I didn‘t care for her approach to the natural world, led largely by ignorance and assumptions rather than educating herself. Plus, applauding logging was just gross. I wouldn‘t read her again. I did like the structure of the book, with the fairy tale at the end of each section. That was clever. 14mo
AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books yes, 💯 agree. I found some parts enjoyable, BUT I was very frustrated as I keep thinking how amazing this book would be in the hands of a better author, say Robert Macfarlane or Sharon Blackie 14mo
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TheBookHippie The idea i love -the author just NO. What a huge yuk. 14mo
TheBookHippie I‘m ready for secret garden! 14mo
vonnie862 This was a miss for me. I was liking it at first but then it became boring and frustrating. Thr concept was good but the execution could have been better. 14mo
vonnie862 *the 14mo
vonnie862 I was not too impressed with the author so I don't think I'll read anything else by her. Now on to the next buddy read! 14mo
Bookwomble Well, I bought this recently as it sounds right up my alley, but perhaps I should have checked reviews first! 🫤 Oh, well, fingers crossed I connect with it 🤞 2w
AllDebooks @Bookwomble, maybe you'll like it. I hope so. I did like a ĺot of it, but she's not an author I'd read again tbh. 2w
34 likes2 stack adds10 comments
review
jlhammar
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Pickpick

A thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between forest and fairy tale. Maitland‘s musings are meandering, much like a walk through a forest might be. Her descriptions of woodlands are enchanting and her fairy tale retellings fun (though perhaps not quite as fresh or feminist as they could have been). Thanks @AllDebooks for hosting and bringing this book to my attention!

#NaturaLitsy

AllDebooks Great review. Thanksfor joining in x 14mo
51 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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vonnie862
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Panpan

I really tried to like this book but I found many faults instead. It started strong: I liked how the author attempted to explain how some fairy tales were derived from some parts from the forest. However, the writing became too speculative. There was even a part where the author admitted that she did not do the research to her theories: "Based on no real evidence beyond anecdote..." Uh...that's bothersome. 2⭐️
#buddyread #naturalitsy @alldebooks

AllDebooks Yep, I agree. Great review x 14mo
30 likes2 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy #Scarathlon #buddyread

Thoughts on week 3 before we move onto our last week's reading of forests and fairytales .... 🍁🍄🎃

All are welcome to join in discussions. Please do let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

jlhammar So deer hunting season isn‘t a thing there? Growing up in the northwoods of Wisconsin and now living in Minnesota it is a big deal for many. Not for me personally (I could never), but first bow hunting season opens followed by firearm. It was also interesting to hear her mention relief at the absence of bears, wolves and lynx when we have all of those in parts of WI and MN. 14mo
jlhammar I was also a little surprised at her writing off wolf reintroduction as unsuccessful and “solely to manage the deer.” From what I‘ve read there has been success and it positively impacts the whole ecosystem - doing way more than controlling deer population. This book was great 14mo
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gossamerchild @jlhammar I thought that was fascinating, too, as I'm also a Wisconsinite and was raised in Michigan. Deer are pests here, so even though I don't eat meat I completely understand the need for culling. I was curious as to why bow hunting isn't legal there. Is it a less humane way of hunting? 14mo
gossamerchild @alldebooks could I be added to this tag list, too? :-) 14mo
Hooked_on_books I bailed on this book after this week‘s section. There‘s just too much that‘s making me angry. Between her celebrating the removal of wolves from the UK because she‘s afraid of them (it‘s beyond unusual for them to hurt people, so this is an ignorance on her part), being delighted to watch logging happen and the super misogynist telling of Red Riding Hood, I‘d had it. 14mo
AllDebooks @jlhammar not in UK. I feel angered by her response to apex predators, very ignorant viewpoint. Although to be fair, her book was published in 2012, so more positive outcomes and research has become available since then, regarding wolves etc. 14mo
AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books yep, I struggled with this too 14mo
AllDebooks @gossamerchild absolutely. My apologies if I'd already said I would. Noted ✅️ 14mo
TheBookHippie @Hooked_on_books we worked so hard to protect our wolves here. So I am in total agreement … I do not like this author at all. Wolves and foxes roam through our backyard in winter and have never proven to be dangerous. The red riding hood 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫. Logging makes me physically ill. 14mo
gossamerchild @AllDebooks thanks! No worries 🙂 14mo
jlhammar @AllDebooks Good point about keeping in mind when this book was published. 14mo
jlhammar I am still enjoying this for the most part even if some of it doesn‘t quite land for me. I like that she is making me think about fairy tales and the human-forest relationship throughout history. And that Gow book sounds fantastic - can‘t wait! 14mo
TheBookHippie @AllDebooks ooooo that looks good! 14mo
26 likes15 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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Bailedbailed

This book has a fun premise—pairing different UK forests with fairy tales. I enjoyed it at the start, but it steadily became clear that the author looks at forests as a tool for humans and prefers to center men in her version of the fairy tales. I‘m 3/4 through and after her applauding the UK getting rid of wolves and writing an actively anti-female version of Red Riding Hood, I‘m out.

Aimeesue Oh, ick. 1y
Itchyfeetreader Oh what a shame o read the first 2 sentences and thought that‘s a book for me … by the time I finished not so much 1y
rockpools Oh no! I was really hoping to love this when I eventually got to it. Maybe I should zim through it now, and move on. Thank you for the heads-up! 1y
SamAnne Blech. 1y
46 likes5 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Scarathlon #NaturaLitsy

Week 2 discussion thread

🍁 Thoughts on chapters 4-6?
🍁 Do you enjoy the author's wrihing style?
🍁 Is it as you expected?

All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

Hooked_on_books In the first of today‘s chapters, she talks about the loss of independent outdoor time for kids and it‘s so true. I was so free as a kid to explore, and it builds wonder and confidence. I feel bad for today‘s kids. I‘ve also noticed that in her fairy tales, she‘s really centering men. Even the goose girl was about the king and prince, not the female. The only one that has centered a woman has seen her mute. I‘m not a fan of that statement. 1y
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vonnie862 @Hooked_on_books that's a good observation about the shift of focus to men. I didn't catch that. However, I too agree with you in regards to the loss of independence in children. As a resource specialist, I really work on my students becoming more independent in their learning but they are too scared to let go of help. Children are no encouraged to try things on their own. 1y
AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books I worked in early years, and a lot of focus is moving to outdoor learning using natural resources. As practitioners/parents, we did an exercise where you mapped out your roaming range as a child, then do the same for your child. The difference was crazy. As a child, I was left free to explore up to a 15-mile radius from home, unsupervised. My children under a mile at the same age!!! So many variables in a different world now, ⬇️ 1y
AllDebooks However, it's crucial we foster that independent resilient spirit in our children for both their physical and mental wellbeing. As for the male dominance in her retellings, I hadn't noticed it 1st time around. Now it's really grinding my gears 🙄 1y
AllDebooks @vonnie862 watching children learn and doscover things for themselves is the best feeling. My heart breaks for kids who don't have support and encouragement at home that miss out on so much. 1y
Hooked_on_books @AllDebooks Wow, 15 miles vs less than one! That really says so much. I remember in 6th grade going to a camp for a week (all the local schools went) in the mountains and one of things they encouraged us to do was find a spot on this large wilderness property to do journaling. I still remember my spot. We went to our spots alone and were trusted to find our way back. That meant a lot to me and it‘s sad that kids now don‘t have that. 1y
Hooked_on_books This made me curious so I looked up the camp and they‘re still going! That‘s so cool. The property is 6000 acres. Here‘s their website: https://www.htoec.org/about 1y
jlhammar Just finished these chapters. Still enjoying it. I‘d love to visit Staverton Thicks and see those ancient oaks. Sounds magical. 1y
AllDebooks @jlhammar I do enjoy her descriptions if tge forests, very atmospheric 1y
AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books what an amazing place 😍 1y
28 likes13 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Scarathlon #NaturaLitsy #Buddyread

Week 1 - Discussion thread

🍁Are you enjoying the author's style?
🍄Any particular likes/dislikes?
🍁Does the subject matter hold your interest?
🍄Do you like the fairytale at the end of each chapter?

All welcome to join us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

TheBookHippie This subject is my jam. FairyTale and Forklore history and stories I‘ve always studied. 🧚🏼🧚🏼‍♀️🧚🏽‍♂️I find the writing dry 😅😵‍💫😩 but I like the subject matter and I love a good fairytale ♥️. 1y
TheBookHippie Also I‘ve always looked at the forest as a place where fairytales happen. 1y
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vonnie862 I started reading it today. Please tag me! 1y
AllDebooks @vonnie862 added to the list x 1y
AllDebooks @TheBookHippie mine too, fairytale, folklore, witch, gothic, forest = I'm all in. Tbh, I read this before and loved it. I bought her other book on the strength of it and that was an absolute bail due to her self-absorbed writing 1y
TheBookHippie @AllDebooks OY, I hate it when that happens, but yes that‘s how I feel about this read, it‘s a bit dry and she‘s a bit condescending 😵‍💫🤣🤷🏻‍♀️. 1y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I‘m enjoying it so far. Although I did have a shocked chuckle at the story about the young man that can suddenly talk to animals. When he decapitated his horse to feed the baby crows I thought, “Oh…guess whatever that particular animal had to say wasn‘t important.” 🤣 I agree with the aforementioned assessment that the writing is a bit dry, especially for someone writing about fairy stories! 1y
jlhammar This book is really cool so far! I hadn't really considered before the role artificial light may have played in the weakening of our oral tradition and storytelling skills - really interesting. @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm - I thought the same exact thing about that poor horse! 1y
jlhammar This book had me pulling my Grimm's off the shelf! Interesting to look at how certain fairy tales have been changed over the years (with later versions often being more sanitized - such as with Rapunzel). I love how they can be so dark, weird and unsettling and that is precisely why children appreciate them. I thought this article was great (and I loved The Skull):
https://lithub.com/let-the-kids-get-weird-the-adult-problem-with-childrens-books...
1y
Hooked_on_books I‘m enjoying it so far. I like the structure with the story at the end and how she‘s a bit cheeky in the stories. I found the bit about Forest Law interesting. I can‘t imagine living in a place with that much consolidated power! And I came to a screeching halt when she said forests are in their best shape when well managed by humans. Say what? Yeah, that‘s better than be poorly managed, but they‘re best off in their natural state! 1y
Hooked_on_books @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @jlhammar Yes, the horse! What about what the poor horse wants? 1y
julieclair Still waiting for my copy to arrive… 😕 1y
vonnie862 I am really enjoying this book so far. I like how there's some history behind a certain tree/forest and then how it ends with her version of the fairy tale. 1y
vonnie862 Also, I really liked how she mentioned that extinction of oral storytelling has prevented us from expressing ourselves and that literature has changed the way we think and process. 1y
26 likes15 comments
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Bookworm54
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Finished the week 1 section (chapters 1-3) for the #Naturalitsy #BuddyRead. I‘m really liking it. It feels like the perfect autumnal read, with beautiful descriptions of forests and discussions of history and fairytales, and with fairytale retellings at the end of the chapters. It also has some stunning pictures!

I read the third chapter for #ScarathlonSprint and managed to make it to the end for a total of 45 min!

#Scarathlon #MagicalMonsters

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Bookworm54
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It‘s quite late for me in the UK, but I am going to try and hit 15-30 min of reading during the #ScarathlonSprint before I crash!

I have chosen to carry on with the third chapter of Gossip from the Forest, as the other buddy read is getting too spooky for before sleep 🤣

#MagicalMonsters have you seen this?

Clwojick Sounds great! Every little bit of reading counts! 🖤😜 1y
Laughterhp Thanks so much for posting! I was in the middle of a lot of things when this started! 1y
Bookworm54 @Laughterhp yeah it was only because I checked before bed that I caught it 🤣 1y
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DieAReader Crap! I missed these🥺 Love this idea❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 1y
Laughterhp @DieAReader There will be plenty more! Don‘t worry! She decided at 430 to do it at 5 🤣 1y
Andrew65 I am listening to The Witch‘s Lens during this. Thanks for tagging us. 😍😍 1y
AnnR Thanks for the tag. I missed it too but that's ok. Next time maybe. 🙂 1y
DieAReader @Laughterhp 🤣❤️‍🔥I‘ll keep my eyes peeled! Thanks😊 1y
Bookworm54 @Andrew65 I look forward to your review! I have the ebook somewhere but don‘t think I will get to it anytime soon 1y
33 likes9 comments
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TheSpineView
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#BookNotes @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

For the tagged book I am currently reading, I feel Seven Bridges Road fits. I think it is the atmosphere of both and now so much the actual words.

@dabbe Do you remember this one?

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eagles/sevenbridgesroad.html

dabbe Oh, yeah! 🤩🤩🤩 Added to our Spotify list!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0BweE8nr34nXd8ooqLtjey
1y
43 likes2 comments
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TheSpineView
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#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

"It is dark, a soft, rustling night and not too cold."

#Naturalisty @AllDebooks

AllDebooks This book 😍 1y
48 likes2 comments
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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm
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Mycorrhiza!!! ❤️🤘😆🤘❤️ I love when a #Naturalitsy read circles back to a previous one.

Absolutely loving this so far!

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AllDebooks
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#Scarathlon #NaturaLitsy #Buddyread

It's a very dank, dismal day here in Derbyshire. I'm tucked up in blankets about to start our book. The cover art on my edition is magnificent.
Design by Michael Dalu
📷 by Adam Lee

📣 Also published as From the forest

Anyone else started yet?

#TEAMBooklovers @Bookwormjillk @Clwojick @StayCurious

Bookwormjillk 👻🎃👻🎃 1y
jlhammar Not yet, but can't wait! Love that cover art. 1y
See All 7 Comments
Kimzey Looks like a good one! Stacked! 1y
AllDebooks @Kimzey you're welcome to join in the buddyread if you wish. Original post - https://litsy.com/p/bVJaNEFFb1gx 1y
Bookworm54 I look to have the same copy ☺️ just started this evening but haven‘t made it all the way through the first chapter yet! 1y
Bluebird Just got my copy, hope to start it tomorrow! 1y
37 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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LitsyEvents
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Reposting for @AllDebooks
#Naturalitsy #Scarathlon

Here's the reading schedule for our #buddyread worth 50 points. Starting 1st - 31st October.

All welcome to join in. Please let me know if you wish to be added to the taglist

30 likes1 stack add
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AllDebooks
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#Naturalitsy #Scarathlon

Here's the reading schedule for our #buddyread worth 50 points. Starting 1st - 31st October.

All welcome to join in. Please let me know if you wish to be added to the taglist.

📣 Edit - US edition is From the forest
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675100/from-the-forest-by-sara-maitland...

@LitsyEvents @StayCurious @Clwojick

See All 41 Comments
TheBookHippie Library book is in! 1y
Read-y_Picker This looks fascinating! Please tag me. I'll try and get my hands on a copy ASAP!
1y
TheSpineView Just checked. Not at the library. Picked it up for 12.99 on kindle 1y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm I‘ll have to buy this one. None of the libraries in my network have it. 🥺 1y
SamAnne I will probably skip this one since my library doesn‘t have it. But will look forward to following the discussion! 1y
candc320 I can‘t find the book at my library so I might have to skip it. But I‘ll keep looking around! 1y
CogsOfEncouragement I‘m going to bow out of this one. 1y
Eyelit Looking forward to this! 1y
vonnie862 Add me! 1y
kelli7990 I‘m skipping this one. My library doesn‘t have it. 1y
Bluebird Count me in. Hopefully I‘ll get to join the discussion. Also, for those unable to find at the library. The same book is also titled ‘from the forest‘ (no gossip. Lol) try searching that title, or just by author🤷‍♀️ 1y
julieclair This looks really good. I found a copy on eBay, so please add me to the tag list. 😀 1y
gossamerchild Ooh, this looks interesting. Thanks for the tag! I also found it under “From the Forest“ in my library system :-) 1y
LocalTXLibrarian if it‘s not too late, i would like to join in! 😁 1y
AllDebooks @LocalTXLibrarian of course, added you to the taglist x 1y
AllDebooks @Read-y_Picker 🖤 1y
AllDebooks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm that is annoying. Have you checked under From the forest title. Some areas drop the Gossip 1y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yup, but it‘s okay, I managed to snag my own copy. ❤️ 1y
TheBookHippie I‘m all set!! 1y
Read-y_Picker My copy arrived today! I've been eyeing it alllllll afternoon lol. Thanks for the tag! 1y
jlhammar Yay! I've got my copy ready to go! 1y
DanaManiac My copy arrives tomorrow. Can‘t wait! 1y
AllDebooks @Read-y_Picker 😊🖤 1y
39 likes41 comments
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LitsyEvents
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Reposting for @alldebooks
#Scarathlon #NaturaLitsy

I'm posting now to give you time to grab your copies ready for an October #buddyread Join me as we delve deep into the forests and their inextricable connection with fairytales.

Please comment below if you'd like to added/removed from the taglist. All are welcome to join in.

AllDebooks Thank you for the share 😊 1y
Charityann I‘d love to join! 1y
44 likes3 comments
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AllDebooks
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#Scarathlon #NaturaLitsy

I'm posting now to give you time to grab your copies ready for an October #buddyread Join me as we delve deep into the forests and their inextricable connection with fairytales.

Please comment below if you'd like to added/removed from the taglist. All are welcome to join in.

@LitsyEvents @StayCurious @Clwojick

See All 43 Comments
TheBookHippie On the hunt for a copy! 1y
Chrissyreadit i am interested- im not sure if i signed up- i just can‘t keep track of the points- also am not very competitive so feel like i hold my team back. 1y
AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit I'll be running a collaboration alongside #Scarathlon similar to the solace events. My aim is for a chilled exploration of the natural world, all things ghouly with a bit of hyge/mindfulness thrown in. It's meant to be fun, so please don't put yourself under any pressure at all. X 1y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Woohoo!! This one looks great! I‘m looking forward to October SO much. It‘s my absolute favorite time of year. 🖤🎃🖤 1y
TheBookHippie It is From the Forest: A Search for the Hidden Roots of Our Fairy Tales here in my library system FYI. 1y
Roary47 Ooo that looks good. I‘m in! 1y
Cazxxx I‘m dying to read this one but my library don‘t have it and it‘s not available as an audiobook so I might have to skip it unless the kindle price comes down a lot. It looks really good 😊 1y
Chrissyreadit @AllDebooks I‘m all in for that! 1y
AllDebooks @Cazxxx I've just ordered a secondhand copy for £3.79 from Amazon 1y
AllDebooks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yay 🖤🎃🖤 mine too 🍄🍂🦇 1y
AllDebooks @TheBookHippie thanks for the info x 1y
Cuilin Yes. I‘m in. 1y
Cazxxx @AllDebooks I can‘t manage physical books anymore due to disability so I was hoping there would be an audible version! Kindle is ok on my phone too as it‘s easier to hold but it‘s too expensive atm. Hopefully a kindle deal will come up 🤞🏼 1y
TheKidUpstairs This sounds so good! And available at one of my libraries 🎉 1y
AllDebooks @Cazxxx that's a shame. 1y
Eyelit This sounds awesome - looking forward to it! 1y
jlhammar Oooh, very tempting…I just might need to place an order for this one and try to join you. 1y
Read4life Looking for a copy now 1y
yourfavouritemixtape This sounds very interesting! I‘ll try to get a copy! 1y
Hooked_on_books My library has it, so I‘ll give it a go. 1y
AllDebooks Oh my, love your reactions. This is gonna be great 🖤🍄🦇🧚‍♀️🌳🍂🖤 1y
KT1432 I would like to join! 1y
Bluebird Looking for a copy of the book now 😃 1y
bnp This sounds good, but I've got other commitments in October. Enjoy! 1y
Eyelit Will you be doing a buddy read in StoryGraph as well for this? 1y
AllDebooks @Eyelit possibly, time allowing. I'll look into it 1y
Eyelit Awesome - I‘ll keep an eye out. I just got the book and looking forward to reading 🙂 1y
AllDebooks @Eyelit me too. I'll be posting the reading schedule soon 🙌 1y
54 likes43 comments
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AllDebooks
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#alphabetgame #letterG

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

One of my all time favourites 😍
Maitland explores nature, fairy and folktales within our woodlands. It is my comfort read. #naturalitsy

Also Grief is a thing with feathers, Gormenghast trilogy, Gone girl and Great expectations (a childhood fave)

19 likes1 stack add
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merelybookish
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I am boxing up books but that hasn't stopped me from making a #bookspin list. I relied on my Kindle for some titles.
Who knows what my reading will look like this month but fun to plan nonetheless.
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
Graywacke Do we get to vote on your last four? Also, good luck with your packing. 3y
merelybookish @Graywacke Any recommendations? And thanks. I have 2 weeks. I think I can do it. 3y
Graywacke @merelybookish yes. 🙂 and yes, you can. 👍 3y
45 likes4 comments
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AllisonM89

#MidyearRush summary!
@clwojick

Books completed:
Gossip from the Forest
The Color of Angels
The Green Man
A Little Princess
Matilda
The Coyote Road
Memory and Dream
The Lost Queen
The Little Prince
Redemption in Indigo

Currently reading: Heartstone - hope to be halfway through by the end of the day

Clwojick Amazing! Way to go! 4y
AllisonM89 @Clwojick So maybe I went ahead and finished Heartstone in a day. It was too much fun to put down!
4y
Clwojick Awesome! You go girl! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 4y
13 likes3 comments
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AllisonM89
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Mehso-so

I hate marking this book “so-so.“ There were parts that were brilliant and beautiful. Her retellings were incredible (Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel being the best of them). But parts of the book were so dreadfully dull.

#MidyearRush @clwojick
Book 1/5 complete!

Clwojick Is is an anthology? If so, I‘d be interested in picking up for some of the stories, if I could find it at the library. 4y
AllisonM89 @Clwojick Each chapter, the author writes about how she visited a different UK forest at a different time of year. From there it becomes an environtal commentary and then her ideas on how the European forests impacted the fairy tales and folklore. The fairytale/folklore stuff is super interesting, but the environmental stuff is a bit of a bore. Each chapter is followed by a retelling of a fairy tale.
4y
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AllisonM89
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July #BookSpin #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Here is my July list! It's only 20 books. My free spaces can be saved for sequels to books or books i decided to read on a whim

I have a number of children's books on the list, but I'm looking forward to some lighter reading next month. Need to decompress a bit after what a crazy spring it was...

TheAromaofBooks You have some good ones there!! Dealing With Dragons is a favorite! 4y
AllisonM89 @TheAromaofBooks a friend of mine was going on and on about it a few months back when we were talking about our childhood book favorites, so i picked up a copy, but never got around to it. 4y
TheAromaofBooks The whole series is just so fun and frolicky. My sister loves that series so much that she's named all of her cats (and she's had quite a few haha) after various characters! 4y
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AllisonM89 @TheAromaofBooks That's amazing! I love it when pets are named after book characters 4y
ItsAnotherJen Ooh...I should of done that with 5 of my choices too. Nice idea!! Oh well. I'll do that next time if we do another bingo month. 4y
AllisonM89 @ItsAnotherJen I liked the idea of giving myself a little freedom with my book selections (and I have a few series to work my way through)... 4y
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AllisonM89
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AllisonM89
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#MidyearRush @Clwojick

According to Goodreads, I'm 13 books ahead of my reading goal for the year (52 books). Thanks, covid!

My goal is to finish 5 books during this challenge. Let's see what happens!

Clwojick You can do it!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
AllisonM89 @Clwojick it all depends on what craziness pops up in the next two weeks, but it should be doable! 4y
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AllisonM89
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AllisonM89
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Mistborn
Madeline Miller
Master and Commander
Meat Loaf
Mr. Jones
#ManicMonday #LetterM @JoScho

JoScho Great song choice ♥️ 4y
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AllisonM89
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From The White Snake

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AllisonM89
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Interesting thoughts on the matter...

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rockpools
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*Mind. Blown*

So, bear with me - convoluted as ever. #cherish ➡️ Cherish the Ladies ➡️ folk tunes ➡️ folk tales ➡️ fairy tales and forests ➡️ to my bookshelf to see if there was anything cherish-like in here... and I didn‘t get any further than the pre-book quotes. Stunned (and not stunned) that such a dismissive-sounding term comes from such a special relationship!

Really must read this some time soon!

#MOvember

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elinorrose
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Slajaunie Welcome to Litsy! 💙📖📚 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 6y
Crazeedi Welcome to litsy!🎉🎉 6y
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CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💙 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌸 6y
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elinorrose
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1 . Gossip from the Forest - Sara Maitland

2 . Hufflepuff

3. People just do nothing

Chelleo Tip: use the tag #weekendreads to play along and make your post show up in the feed. Also tag the person listed @rachelsbrittain (edited) 6y
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elinorrose

Today's chapter, of 'Gossip From the Forest', is set against the backdrop of Ballochbuie and the Forest of Mar (in Scotland). I've already learnt about the Red Deer 'problem' and the interesting life of Funghi. A good read so far.

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elinorrose
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An interesting insight into the book's title. Looking forward to this story.

RaimeyGallant Interesting. And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌺 6y
AlwaysForeverReading Welcome to Litsy!!!💜💙♥️💕💚 6y
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aentee
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"But forests, like fairy stories, need to be chaotic - beautiful and savage, useful and wasteful, dangerous and free."

This gives me the urge to go find a forest and get lost ?

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