pickI loved this book. Which would-be contemplative isn't familiar with some of the words of Julian of Norwich or other anchoresses, and yet I had never thought in great detail about what it must have involved. I loved the theme of the body being inescapable and eventually part of worship of God. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This novella was recommended by Everand because I'd read Next World Novella. It describes the life and relationship of a mixed couple (British wife, Pakistani husband) who meet in London & make a life together in 1950s/60s Karachi. It starts with a folk tale that made me wonder whether there was a pb with the book's description, but it all made sense later on! I wish it had been a tad longer.
pic by Salil Kumar Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0, wikimedia
so-soThe discrepancy between how important Saffron's financial independence and career are to her and how much time she actually spends at her job and on her plants was quite large and rather irritating. Also, it felt like there wasn't much of a conclusion to this one. The pacing was good and the relationships were more interesting.
pick#JuneSpecials Day 25: I featured these two #Beatles themed books at one point over the years at GatheringBooks.
See here:
https://wp.me/pDlzr-an6
https://wp.me/pDlzr-bgZ
I haven‘t been keeping up with sharing my progress on #ReadTheWorld2025 !
This nonfiction book takes place in and around the Cambridgeshire Fens in England.
3/10 countries
Thank you @GatheringBooks !
#England
pickOnce Upon a Murder is a captivating and entertaining story filled with a smart and loyal protagonist, a motley cast of supporting characters all caught up in an intriguing mystery . . .
Read my full review here - https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/2025/06/20/flashbackfriday-featuring-once-upo...
I suspect my audiobook listening is about to fall off significantly…🙈
I‘ve discovered Desert Island Discs, a British radio show (now podcast) that‘s been around forever (since 1942).
The host interviews all manner of celebrities (authors, musicians, NASA scientists, etc) about their lives through the conceit of being stranded on a desert island. They basically create a mix tape; they‘re allowed 8 music tracks, 1 book, & 1 luxury item.👇🏻
pickFound this in a 2nd hand bookshop & couldn‘t resist after Family Roundabout. Tilly enters service as a 15 year old in the late C19th and watches as the family she serves grows up and grows old. Unhappy marriages feature again & there is a degree of contempt for the social norms of the monied classes. Tilly has more sense & more empathy than all of her so called betters. I‘ll be looking out for more Richmal Crompton.
