pickIn this companion book to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, we learn more about the woman who inspired his walk. She's living in a hospice & decides to write out her memories for Harold to read in a letter. From meeting him at work to her unexpected relationship with his troubled son, Queenie's POV unfolds with a quiet, lonely beauty. I loved her description of her sea garden & the unfettered joy she's able to glimpse when David dances.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book was just good to read.
It is light and happy, all the characters are immensely likeable, and there is so much emotional introspection from all five of the "main" people, it's just enjoyable.
There is also a focus on male friendship and found family that is rarely shown, and of true family loving each other while fundamentally, though not purposely, misunderstanding each other.
If you need a fun, happy break, I recommend this!
so-soWomens Prize Winner 1996 - The first ever women's prize.
We meet our protagonist Cathy when she is around fifteen. She lives with her brother Rob, their Grandfather and their Irish nanny, Kate.
Along with Cathy and Rob, we dont know why their parents left. We can only watch as they live with the reality of this and as their relationship grows closer, complicated, taboo.
This book is written beautifully however the ending is very odd.
panWell they can‘t all be five star reads. After a pretty successful reading month I‘ve found a dud. This book was infuriatingly unsatisfying. Nothing happened. Nothing was explained. I‘m terribly disappointed because I love The Woman in Black by the same author.
Full review: https://wildwoodreads.com/2025/10/27/the-mist-in-the-mirror/
pick#Offmyshelf “romance”
#10beforetheend
This was a really lovely portrayal of life and love across three generations of women in a family from the 1930s to the early 21st century. Penelope Lively is such a great writer. I can just pick her stuff up, no need to read the blurb. I know I am in good hands.
I bought this used at a library book sale and it had a clipping of the review of the book from the LA Times Book Review from June 17, 2007.
pickA soft pick - good plot; enjoyable, realistic characters.
I didn't realize until I started this cozy mystery that it's the fifth book in the Lily Adler series. I haven't read the previous books, but I was able to follow the plot line and references to events probably covered previously in the series.
For me, it dragged a bit in the middle; but overall, the plot moved steadily forward. I may go back to the previous books.
#litsylove #mystery
