Welcome to Litsy!

Books do furnish a room

New episode just posted!. “A Question of Upbringing“ is challenging too describe and even recommend broadly, but as we discuss characters, themes, and plot lines we find there is so much to enjoy and love from this 20th century classic. A rewarding read that favors a curious and patient reader. As always, thanks for listening and supporting us. Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lRhur5LEnNqWmkjxvcCOj

Volume 5 of his 12-volume A Dance to the Music of Time opens in the late 1920s with Nick recalling his first meeting with composer Hugh Moreland before jumping forward a few years to 1936 when both he and Moreland are navigating the shoals of matrimony. As well as Moreland we are reintroduced to old friends, most memorably Stringham, and Widmerpool continues his inexorable rise.

New house, old shelves. Loving this room so far. I got rid of 8 or so boxes of books and we still have boxes and boxes more to unpack once we get some new shelves. 😱 My husband had to do the actual moving of the boxes and boxes of books and I‘m not sure he‘ll ever forgive me. 😂 🤣 #booksellerlife

My May #bookspin roundup is a bit late as I have been busy and away from home lately. I haven't even got round to finding my #maybookspin book and I've decided not to post a new list for June but use the numbers to plunder this or an older list instead. I feel like adding in new books each month is making me feel backlogged in itself, though in a different way to usual, so I'm twisting the rules a bit to suit myself better.

Last year I ticked off four books in Jan and five in Feb. This year I got five ticked off in January so I need to get another four in February to stay even with myself I guess? The tagged book is Volume 8 of A Dance to the Music of Time, a series I want to finish this year so I'm planning on reading it this month no matter what the #bookspin numbers turn up for me! There are several books here I want to buy to read, so let's see what happens!

This is one of those books you settle into. It takes you on a leisurely float through Jenkins‘ life and the intricacies of human relationships. I wish I could pinpoint exactly what it is that puts this book in my favor but excellent books resist paraphrasing. I‘m looking forward to the next! (1 of 12) #1001Books

This series has really hit its stride; the gradual change in the characters over the years is what really matters here. This book sees Nick in his mid-thirties; I find it a bit alarming that this is the start of the “autumn“ of his life! I was concerned that the military nature of this would take us back to the all male cast that annoyed me in the first book, but I ended up fairly satisfied. The characters are more varied & interesting now.

August, you were a terrible reading month. Dragged down by Castle Shade, which was July's #doublespin, and this month's #bookspin being mediocre. What We Really Do All Day is interesting non-fic that's better read slowly. On the plus side I'm really enjoying The Valley of Bones and I got lots of productive work and home stuff done in August. I'm happy-ish with that. Can't win them all.

I‘m struggling to describe why I enjoyed this but I truly did. There‘s zero plot. It‘s rather like being a nosy fly on the wall, present at conversations you have no concern in. The writing is incredible and if you like between the wars time period this is perfect. On to book two.