so-soThere is a gradual growing up in this book, a softening of edges, a looking back at the past both with frank disbelief and a flat lack of surprise. Of course this is where you find yourself. Is it: there is so much you can achieve in a single life? Or, only so much that you can. In making it unclear which, this book is neither disheartening nor inspiring.
The young man seemed ill at ease. 'Is there something wrong?'
Mm well... yes, in fact his library books.'
'What?'
"Well, he must have had two out, he always did....'
.....
Even a murder doesn't let him off those overdue fees??
pickParks spent the entire book comparing the ups and downs of train travel to meditation. And, it worked. I wouldn't mind reading my book on a train and observing people, humanity at its worst (hustling/body odors) and its best (sharing food and stories).
#Italy #FoodandLit @Catsandbooks @Texreader
#TodayILearned #NonfictionNovember @Bookwormjillk
I don't believe I just learned it, but it had reopened my eyes.
I feel some kinda way about disliking this book that is so well-liked. I missed something. Not sure what it was. It was way up there on the New York Times Best Books of the Century (something like that). My Brilliant Friend was #1.
pickThis 👏🏻 was 👏🏻 so 👏🏻 good🙌🏻
A family vacation in Florence goes very awry.
There‘s family dysfunction at White Lotus levels ~ a transatlantic haunting ~ creepy kids ~ so much and so good.
And the horror of the haunting mirrors the horror of the family dysfunction so well.
Definitely worth a read, and I think the audiobook is a plus here.
pick4⭐️ Really enjoyed this #contemporary #paranormal book. It definitely was creepy in areas and definitely gave off Halloween vibes. #2025 #fiction #bookclub
panFinished this last book in the Quartet but it was a challenge.In a lot of ways, I could not make it all make sense, asking myself, What is the point? This book focused on Elena‘s life & not on the toxic relationship between her and Lila. Her life was horrid and she was the most confused and conflicted character I‘ve known. What‘s intriguing though is that it‘s probably the author‘s life story. The character has her posthumous name. Poor thing!
pickWell, I like this one. It does just what I love horror to do: Mirror the horrors from real life and make them manifest in a foe that's more easily fightable than addiction or toxic family dynamics or self-sabotage or addiction to toxic family dynamics that lead to self-sabotage. The setting is rich and immersive, even for someone like me, who's never been to Italy (the juxtaposition with NYC, which I have been to, helps). Fun spooky season read!
