Welcome to Litsy!

#12booksof2024 @andrew65 February and I picked up a book I had left unread in my huge tbr pie in anticipation of seeing the film adaptation. I'm still not sure why I didn't read it sooner as it was a brilliant piece of gothic comic writing that far surpassed the movie, albeit they made a good attempt. I then bought Lanark, so I plan to get to it in 2025

I haven‘t seen the movie (& don‘t plan on it tbh) but this was fun— unreliable, framed, epistolary narratives make me happy, as do the illustrations. Recommended for general weirdness & ✨vibes✨

📸featuring my fave new creepy snow globe— is it tiny bats w/ a normal-sized crow or normal-sized bats w/ a giant crow boy? You decide 🪦💀💗

Much to my disappointment, I‘m not enjoying this at all. I can see how it would be funny, but it‘s not working for me. Anyway, I wanted creepy, not funny.

I read this book because the movie trailer intrigued me. It was as wild and amusing as I hoped it would be.

This is a more modern, female version of Frankenstein. Without the monster and killing part. It's interesting. The main character is quite amusing.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Poor Things was just as weird and wonderful as I'd hoped it would be. And the final chapter, icing on the cake. I loved the film as well but I understand why viewers are divided. But here's the thing, men are idiots...that's the joke. Yorgos gets it.

Please enjoy this sideways photo as I continue to battle with litsy.com.

There is a lot more to this story than meets the eye. Many of the driving points can be found in the long “notes critical and historical” chapter at the end of the book. I read this book because the movie trailer intrigued me. I look forward to watching the movie. I admit that I the last few chapters of the book confused me at first. I had to re-read and perform google searches in order to fully understand the end. All in all, I enjoyed this book.

The underlying ideas are super interesting, but the format and all the “extras” (that you can‘t really skip if you want the whole story) toward the back make for an ultimately tedious read. The “book within a book” framing is also executed somewhat clumsily, and I would have preferred just a “normal” novel overall.

Ahead of seeing the film I read this astonishingly imaginative novel which creates a fantastic narrative of a woman rescued from the dead whose unborn child's brain is transplanted into the adult body.The subsequent tale is bawdy + funny but with a twist at the end as Bella's own afterword turn the readers beliefs on its head. The novel is far better.The film, however, is visually + musically stunning and Emma Stone is brilliant.Next step Lanark.

Reading at the Broadway cinema yesterday. Went to see The Holdovers (which was incredible) and Priscilla (beautifully shot, but not a happy film).

Also saw Poor Things here the week before, which was incredible too. I want to read the book now, but I doubt it will come close to the film, which was bonkers.

Frame tale with lots of addenda, pastiche, layers. Satire of Victorian novel, author as editor, unreliable narrator. Hysteria, women‘s education, class struggle. Odd & fun & questioning. Ornate, cheeky language. Lolita x Galatea. Invented female fiend, superpower=sexual appetite & sheer will. 1992

216 “She has a right to know why you say she is an unstable woman with insane appetites who should have had a surgical operation after her honeymoon.”

I imagine this is a divisive book, that you either read it compulsively, like I did, or you are entirely repelled. It is a sharp, dark and mischievous satire of Gothic literature and Late Victorian society but that really doesn't explain how weird it also is. I will be thinking about it for a while. Anyway give it a try, you'll know quick if it's a yes or a no. Loved the illustrations.

Looking at the past posts, I can see that I proudly said 7 yrs ago that I'd picked it up on a charity stall + planned to read it soon! Anyway I plan to have a cinema trip on Saturday to see the film so I started the book last night and was chuckling away today as I had my lunch at work. So far, but only 100 pages in, a) I can't see how the film can top the book, and b) im annoyed that i didn't read it sooner.
Still will make for a fun comparison

Catching up on some reviews.

I‘ve been following Jen Campbell on her YouTube channel for years. This is one of her favorite books, and when I saw it in the bookstore I knew that I had to read it.

This book was different from what I expected and there was more than one surprise here.

#SummerEndReadathon
Extended #RushAThon
#1992 #192025

Preview: https://youtu.be/7dEQhZfDQjk

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/29/alasdair-gray...

😢

#90sinJuly #ScarTissue I've used this book for a lot of photo prompts. AG is my favourite Scottish author. Poor Things is a retelling of Frankenstein. Not even a modern day retelling, as it's set in Victorian Glasgow. The twist being that it's a female being brought alive. He also is a fantastic artist and illustrates all of his books in great detail ❤️ This is my favourite by him

#melodicmay #takeachanceonme
I have always wanted to read Lanark but have been daunted by the size so when I saw this for £1 in a charity shop the other day i thought i would take a chance. Has anyone read lanark or any by the author?

#signed #readjanuary I also have a load of signed Anthony Horowitz in my library, my eldest brought them down a few months ago as he says he's grown out of them! I told him if he's anything like me he'll want them back some day ❤️📚

#seasonsreadings #bookwithpictures #2

#seasonsreadings2016 #bookwithpictures #1 Alasdair Gray is not only fantastic author but also a fabulous artist and illustrator. All his books are beautifully illustrated like this. He has also painted some beautiful murals in The Glasgow College of Art 💞

#signedsundays ❤️ Alasdair Gray is the finest living Scottish author. Also an amazing artist. I've met him a few times and was even in his home! I arranged, with his wife, to buy a few signed first editions ,while I was home in Glasgow. She worked in a bookshop back then. I couldn't believe it when Morag invited me to their home. I met him again and he talked me through his illustrations for Songs of Scotland a beautiful book he illustrated❤️📚

This had been sitting on my TBR for quite a while and I finally got around to reading it. I wasn't blown away but liked the Victorian setting and the quirky take on Frankenstein. It also reminded me a bit of Pygmalion. :)

Truth! Though I'd prefer tea. 😉

This has been on my shelf for ages. Now a student wants to write his term paper on it so I'd better start reading. :)
BTW, I finally (after nine years of slaving as an adjunct lecturer) signed my permanent contract with our university yesterday! I'm so happy I'll now get to teach British Lit until I retire. 😍