Litsy

OriginalCyn620

Christmas by the Book | Anne Marie Ryan

I had a lot of good reads in July, but I think this was my favorite. Such a great story!
#12booksof2024

Andrew65

19 likes

KathyWheeler

Blue Sisters | Coco Mellors

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So many bad decisions made by the Blue sisters, but this is ultimately a hopeful book about the power of sisterly bonds. I enjoyed and liked each sister individually. Beautiful day today; I could‘ve worn shorts. #audiowalk

28 likes

Robotswithpersonality

Notes from a Small Island | Bill Bryson

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I am relieved to say that I felt a lot better about this book by the end then I did at the start. Bryson's journey begins with flashing back to areas he previously visited and lived and worked in, in the 70s, and there seems to be more of a cantankerous, cynical, judgemental attitude on display. There may be some cranky old guy 'when I was your age' deploring the changes time has wrought,and the bad choices by civic planning, at play. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Gradually, as he travels into areas with more pleasing architecture and scenery, and even to new places and experiences, the tone becomes less misanthropic-trying-to-be-funny, and his love for this 'small island' and his concern for the preservation of historic and natural features, his knowledge of underfunded institutions he wishes to bring to the reader's attention, and historical tidbits throughout, create a much more enjoyable reading 2d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? experience. I suppose I could sum it up and say he's scrupulously honest, about the condition of his rooms, the food on offer, the architecture, the place as experience and even occasionally his own less than sterling behaviour, and when other people are both intolerable and lovely. There are a number of moments however, where I think he could have said things differently, and indeed, if this were written today, no doubt would have. 2d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? I appreciate that when the accommodations/eateries are good the place is named, and when they are not, it is nameless, there's no specific attacks (libel concern?), beyond some very unflattering portraits of fellow anonymous travelers. There's a general shift from personal history to place history, which adds something to an account that would otherwise be solely 'I went here and saw this, did this', not to knock the framework of the tradition 2d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? travelogue! 😅
I am curious what this trip would have yielded if he had not traveled during the 'off season', evidently more things would be open, but he would probably also have been complaining volubly about the crush of crowds. Likewise, as 30 years have transpired since publication, I wonder both whether this book had an effect on tourism, increasing visits to less well known spots, and whether the passage of time 2d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? means that certain places no longer bear much similarity to the way they are described. It is 'Notes', not a comprehensive look, at anything really, but a decent meander from someone with an overall positive perspective.
I think I will pick up his other books. Having started with A Walk in the Woods, I was not entirely sold, and maybe the difference here was knowing and loving a good portion of the area involved beforehand, 2d

Robotswithpersonality 7/7 but I can see the potential for observational humour that's not quite as mean, and truly caring investigation of the places traveled, which I enjoy. I'm also very interested in travelogues where the majority if not the entirety of the rambling is on foot, and this definitely fit the bill. ⚠️ fatphobia 2d

willaful His books have gotten very “get off my lawn“ in tone in recent years, unfortunately. 2d

Robotswithpersonality @willaful 😬 I was afraid of that.... 2d

13 likes8 comments

Robotswithpersonality

Notes from a Small Island | Bill Bryson

Hallelujah! 🙌🏻
(Of course, the important addendum is that such a realization should happen when you're in reach of public transit. 😩)

Singout OMG. That all-day hike through never ending cold Scottish drizzle on the West Highland Way. When I thought I knew how to dress for outdoor weather because I‘m Canadian. 3d

8 likes1 comment

Robotswithpersonality

Notes from a Small Island | Bill Bryson

No idea whether these stats hold up nearly 30 years later, nonetheless I am envious of the walking potential, and horrified from a historical preservation perspective.

MariaW And presumably most Britons don‘t know about it. 🙈🙈🙈 I love Bryson‘s funny way of stating the facts. (edited) 3d

10 likes1 comment

Christine

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame: A Novel | Olivia Ford

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I loved this GBBO-inspired book so much!! The PERFECT cozy holiday read for me (it doesn‘t exclusively take place around the holidays, but the Christmas bits were great). Plentiful and detailed recipe descriptions and such a sweet story in all the ways. Great audio narration, too.

Librarybelle One of my favorite reads this year! 4d

Christine @Librarybelle SO charming but not treacly (other than when she‘s baking with treacle! 😁). 4d

33 likes2 stack adds2 comments

Librarybelle

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame: A Novel | Olivia Ford

I‘m cheating a bit, but March was an excellent reading month for me. I had three 5-star reads—books that I met at the right time, exactly when I needed them.

I adored Mrs. Quinn. The Collected Regrets of Clover was simply beautiful. North Woods was so different from my typical reading, but I find myself thinking about the book (and the other two as well). #12BooksOf2024

Andrew65

Librarybelle

The Collected Regrets of Clover: A Novel

Librarybelle

North Woods

Andrew65 Some interesting looking books. 4d

kspenmoll North Woods was a Christmas gift from my niece. 2d

Librarybelle I hope you enjoy it, @kspenmoll ! 2d

51 likes5 comments

Jas16

Blue Sisters | Coco Mellors

A book topping many a Litten‘s top reads of 2024 list (it is certainly high on my list) and the ebook is on sale for $1.99 in case anyone has been waiting to grab a copy.

tpixie Thanks! Merry Christmas 🎁📘🎄 6d

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Merry Christmas 🎄 6d

Jas16 @tpixie Merry Christmas! ❤️ 6d

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Jas16 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Merry Christmas Misty!❤️ 6d

kspenmoll Thanks! Merry Christmas!🎄 6d

tpixie @Jas16 bought it 📕📘📕 6d

Jas16 @kspenmoll Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 6d

Jas16 @tpixie Hope you enjoy it! 6d

tpixie @Jas16 🍀 6d

36 likes9 comments

KathyWheeler

Blue Sisters | Coco Mellors

Finally got my Christmas tree up today! It was a beautiful day to walk, so I took a short walk and then spent the rest of the day relaxing with my husband and daughter. #audiowalk

Julsmarshall Looks lovely! 7d

KathyWheeler @Julsmarshall Thank you! 7d

19 likes2 comments

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