Ch. 41/42: Elinor grudgingly pays a last visit to John and Fanny before leaving London. John is ever the tactless twat and Robert Ferrars shows up and generally acts like a self-important windbag. Once at Cleveland, Marianne goes full-on emo, sad to leave the city where she last saw Willoughby but unable to stand being so close to Combe Magna, her personal Boulevard of Broken Dreams. She takes to sad-girl solo walks but uh-oh...she catches cold...

Ch. 39/40: These chapters genuinely crack me up. Brandon and Elinor hang out by the window to talk confidentially, and Mrs. J retreats just far enough for some plausible deniability while frantically straining to listen and read lips. She hears just enough to assume that the conversation is a proposal. In reality, Brandon tells Elinor that he's heard about Edward's circumstances and wants to offer him the parsonage and living at Delaford. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Ch. 37/38: Two chapters full of nothing but hot gossip! Fanny Dashwood invited the Steeles to stay (but only to avoid inviting the Dashwoods) and completely misreading the situation, nobody's favorite airhead Nancy spilled the beans on the Lucy/Edward engagement. And shit. hit. the. fan. Fanny had a meltdown and Mrs. Ferrars went nuclear, not only fully disinheriting Edward but vowing to take him down at every turn. Yikes on fucking bikes, folks!

Ch. 35/36: These chapters are getting so rich I can hardly summarize them two at a time! But I'll try: the Dashwoods have to attend an annoying party with Fanny and John, and Elinor is introduced to Toothpick Case Guy, aka Robert Ferrars, a pompous blowhard. He couldn't be more different from his shy brother, who previously tried to visit Elinor only to find that Lucy was also there, resulting in the most painfully awkward social call of all time.

I took a hiatus on posting due to some travel and am working on getting caught up on all things #PemberLittens! But I had to take a minute to post about the surprise gift waiting for me when I got home - this sweet collection of Louisa May Alcott titles. I've never read Jack and Jill, so I'm really looking forward to that one. I'm fact, I may need to do a full re-read of her works this year! #LouisaMayAlcott #BookishGifts

Ch. 33/34: OK, I'm cheating today by posting twice but I had to make a little commotion for one of my all-time favorite moments of Austen snark - the whole thing about He Who We Shall Meet Shortly buying a toothpick case. His self-indulgent frivolity leaps off the page and the author absolutely roasts him for it. No memes or quips that we conjure up in discussing her work could ever come close to Jane's humor when she lets it fly.

Ch. 33/34: LOTS of action in these two chapters, most of which boils down to the Dashwood sisters being surrounded by utter trash people. Mrs. Ferrars? A sour, sallow bitch. Lucy Steele? Still a scheming, calculating gremlin. John Dashwood? The worst of all- an oblivious, hypocritical asshole of the largest order. I mean, tell us again what is due to poor relations from their rich family members, John. GO AHEAD. TELL US.

Ch.31/32: Brandon stops by in the morning, and while Marianne flees the room (again), Elinor welcomes him. He proceeds to trauma dump his whole sad life story, ending with Willoughby's having seduced, impregnated, and abandoned Brandon's ward, Eliza 2. The fact that the two men duel is skated over pretty quickly, but I've gotta ask: why do a military man and an avid hunter both walk away unscathed? Starting to believe this meme was the real story.

Ch. 29/30: Marianne is rightfully heartbroken after Willoughby sends the most fuckboy letter of all time, straight up like, "Hey, sorry if you got the wrong idea from my excessive flirting, but I'm engaged, actually" and it's horrible. In her anguish, Marianne twists the knife, invoking Edward's supposed love for Elinor. Mrs. J offers up comfort food and wine but it's no use and Elinor happily chugs the Constantia herself. Girl has earned it!

Ch. 27/28: Willoughby is almost completely MIA- he dropped his card once when the Dashwoods were out, but other than that, he's giving A+ level ghosting. Marianne is slowly losing it, but at a party, she finally sees him! A miracle! However, in a dramatic turn equal to that of Demi blanking Kylie at the Golden Globes, Willoughby pretty much ignores her, greeting Elinor only, making some lame-ass remarks to M, and then making a quick escape. WTF?!

Ch. 25/26: Mrs. J invites the Dashwoods to stay with her in London and for some reason Marianne is...into it? But immediately upon arrival, M's motives become clear - she sends a note to Willoughby, and Elinor is like, "Engagement confirmed!" Why else would Marianne be so bold as to *gasp* write a letter? A knock on the door makes Marianne jump but when she finds Brandon on the other end, not W, she flees the room immediately. A little tact, girl!

Save the date, #BetsyTacy fans! The next Betsy-Tacy Convention will be held this year in Mankato, MN in honor of the birthday girl, Deep Valley's Emily Webster! More information to come on speakers, workshops, and activities, but rest assured- if you've never visited Betsy's house, sat on the famous bench, or gallivanted around Lincoln Park (”that pie-shaped wedge!") - you don't want to miss this chance. #BetsyTacyAndTib #MaudHartLovelace

Ch. 23/24: Elinor tries to come to terms with Edward's engagement to Lucy in the most exasperatingly Elinor way possible- by feeling worse for him than she feels for herself and by pretending that absolutely nothing is wrong. When she's next able to get Lucy alone, she gently pushes for intel, and eventually concludes that Edward could not possibly love his fiancee. I mean, who could?! I think the tweet pictured here speaks for all of us, amirite?

Ch. 21/22: Buckle up, gang, the Palmers left in the blink of an eye; now the Sisters Steele are here, and Lucy is a stone-cold bitch. Learning that Elinor's Mr. F is Edward, she puts on a bullshit innocent act to bring Elinor in her confidence while actually staking her claim: "See this miniature, this letter? Notice that grimy hair ring? He's mine, back off." Elinor gets it loud and clear and is finally left alone to be "wretched" about it.

Chapters 19/20: Using an old meme today but what better image to capture Edward's "plight"? OK, I feel for him, what with his harridan of a mom, but get some real problems, man. You're so rich that you can swan about being "dashing and expensive" and you're still gonna be a drag? I know, I'm hard on dear Edward but his Sad Boy schtick is wearing- on both me and Elinor! Luckily he fucks off to somewhere else, just in time for the Palmers to arrive.

Chapters 17/18: Edward spends the first part of his visit moping around like a saddo. He rallies a little after being generously welcomed by Mrs. D but "he was still not in spirits". He loosens up as time passes, teasing M about how to describe the picturesque countryside, and even ribbing her about Willoughby. But I can take no joy in it because in this chapter we're introduced to Edward's disgusting hair ring, which grosses me right tf out. ?

Got FAR too excited to see these Shakespeare Recording Society records at a library used book sale today- truly, like a kid in a candy store. We're talking Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Claire Bloom, Eileen Atkins, Paul Scofield, Albert Finney, Peggy Ashcroft, Glenda Jackson, Edith Evans, and more. And for about 12 bucks! My winter evenings are set, good night and thank you. 🙌 #CurrentlyListening #Shakespeare

Chapters 15/16: These chapters back to back give us a pretty terrible look at the men the Dashwood women are dealing with. First Willoughby blows town with absolutely no explanation, leaving Marianne in throes of (semi)performative agony and Elinor and Mrs. D puzzling for days. Then it seems like there might be a silver lining- Edward arrives! But he's dour, withdrawn, and cold. Marianne is pissed and Elinor is vexed and I'm right there with them!

Chapters 13/14: Stuff happens today, but honestly? I'm mentally stuck on the second line. Elinor anticipates a miserable time during a day trip to Whitwell, expecting to end up "wet through, fatigued, and frightened". Its been rainy, so the first point tracks, and it would be a long day so the second point checks out, too- but why 'frightened'? Why, why?? Is she afraid of sailing? Of open carriages? Of a picnic lunch?? Ya'll, help me out here! ?

Chapters 11/12: A season of revelry begins (cards! Dancing! Parties on the water!) and Willoughby is right next to Marianne for all of it. They are loud and indiscreet and Elinor hates it. The worst comes when W tried to gift M a horse that the family can't afford and then takes a lock of her hair (gasp!). In the midst of the drama, E and Brandon have a great talk about second attachments - making me want to buy the pictured shirt immediately.

Yelchin's memory tale of being a child behind the Iron Curtain is beautiful but harrowing as he navigates the everyday experiences of growing up, along with a crushing regimen of state surveillance, old family secrets, vicious antisemitism, and pressure from his parents to excel so that he may one day escape his circumstances. His art is his solace, and the illustrations throughout are gorgeous and interspersed creatively among the text.

Chapters 9/10: Marianne and Margaret take a walk when - oh no!- it starts to rain! Marianne slips and hurts her ankle when - oh yes!- dashing Willoughby comes to her rescue. When he calls on them in the coming days Marianne is charmed but Elinor only sees "a propensity of saying too much what he thought on every occasion, without attention to persons or circumstances...sacrificing general politeness to the enjoyment of undivided attention.” ???

Chapters 7/8: a dinner at Barton Park with jocular Sir John and my queen, Mrs. Jennings, really gets things going, especially when we meet the oldest man who has ever existed, 35 year old Colonel Brandon. Marianne's views on the "infirm" Colonel are exasperating, ridiculous, and perfectly in line with every teenager you know, and the article pictured here (link in comments) is pretty much today's version of the conversations in chapter 8. Enjoy!

Chapters 5 & 6: The Dashwoods leave Norland, which is actually heartbreaking, but of course Marianne milks her sadness in a "Hannah Montana Saying Goodbye"-worthy drama of her own making. But for real, it's terrible, and John and Fanny are total trashcans for driving them out. Over at the new digs, Mrs. D (who has never saved a cent in her life) makes expensive renovation plans and Sir John pops in with his ice-queen wife for an unwelcome welcome.

Catching up! Chapters 3 and 4 tell us that Elinor is smitten with shy, awkward Edward and Marianne cannot stand it. I mean, he's not even into music, and when he read out loud, it was boring as HELL. Marianne needs spirit! and fire! and someone who likes *exactly* the same art that she does! And when I read this passage, I may as well be reading my own teenage diaries because damn if Jane Austen didn't have my ass absolutely clocked.

"The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex." Hello, old friend...! #PemberLittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow #Jane250

SO excited to kick off a year of Austen with the #PemberLittens! I'm spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a copy to dig into, but I believe this time it's gonna be the beautiful Cranford Collection edition. I'm so ready for what Jane has to show me in these next 12 months, starting with the story that's in many ways the most dear to me- my first ever Austen, which has lived in my heart for decades now. #JaneAustenThenAndNow

I made a stack of books to reshelve; he knocked them over and promptly laid down. #menace #TomKitten #CatsOfLitsy

I didn't read as much as I'd have liked in 2024 but I'm glad that what I did read was so wonderful. More than half were new-to-me titles, and I also read a boatload of plays and books on Shakespeare - probably inspired by the tagged book, my hands-down favorite of the year. Honorable mentions to the other two pictured, Olga Ravn's fascinating non-linear fever dream and Taylor's walloping gut-punch of a novella. Cheers to a great year, Littens!

I've found the recent, ever-evolving Twitter Discourse on The Odyssey equally maddening, absurd, and fascinating (y'know, in the train wreck way). Has anyone else seen this come through your feeds? Anyway, in this house, YES, The Odyssey is a foundational text that everyone should know about and also, we stan both Fagles and Wilson, end of. Let's have it all! More interpretation! More poetry! More lenses through which to view all of our stories!

My husband has been wanting the Graham Ingles "Artist's Edition" from IDW for awhile. When he told me about it months ago, he casually added, "It's an oversized book". Cue my extreme shock on picking this thing up for his Christmas gift- where was I supposed to hide it?! Anyway, I managed to keep it under wraps through today, and here he is finally enjoying his prize. Oversized indeed! ?

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! My loveliest gift was this new-to-me Alcott two-pack from my sweet husband who knows that I can never resist a vintage copy of my favorite authors' work. I hope everyone had a wonderful day! #ChristmasReading

Happy Jane Austen's birthday to all who celebrate! I am getting REALLY excited to read her novels again with the #PemberLittens in 2025. I'm also really excited to break out this gorgeous new copy of Mansfield Park and *dig in deep*. Who's ready to join me on the Fanny Price Defense Squad? Up with strongly held principles! Down with am-dram hedonism! #HappyBirthdayJane #JaneAusten

Tom the Book Thief strikes again! #CurrentlyReading #TomKitten #CatsOfLitsy

I'm still making my way through Betty Gilpin's funny, dark, honest - yet frustrating - collection of essays, and while I don't know yet how I feel about the whole, I had to cackle at this line. There's always room at the table next to me if we're gonna be shading Hemingway! #CurrentlyReading #CurrentlyListening #audiobook

The play-reading spree continues! I recently finished off these two in quick succession and loved them both. Even on the page, you can see how engaging Fleabag was as a live solo work, and being a huge fan of the TV series, it was cool to see what was chosen for expansion in a new medium. Meanwhile Choir Boy is one of my favorite new plays of the past decade(ish). One review called it "a poem inside a play" and I couldn't agree more.

I had hoped that there would be some deeper meditation here on the nature of what it means to choose happiness, or on self vs. community, or any number of other topics. But instead it's a fairly straight-ahead first person account of a depressed woman heading into the holiday season. Not bad but not great, either, and ultimately as good as any other Christmas-adjacent book to kick off the season.

Even the stage directions slay me! You know I can't resist the move to wax poetic about my favorite art form. #SeeMoreTheatre

Choose your fighter!

In last few years, a number of new plays have been written that explore, critique, or investigate Arthur Miller's classic. One of them, John Proctor is the Villain, will have a Broadway run this spring so I figured it was a good time to revisit them as a series of sorts. Each retelling is great in its own way, but the tagged book by the unmatched Sarah Ruhl is the true stunner- surprising, heartbreaking, complex, and defiant.

First snow of the year here in Detroit! Not a ton of it stuck, but it was still perfect weather for an evening walk with an audiobook. I love love love winter- bring on all the snow! #audiowalk #CurrentlyListening #DetroitLove #MittenLitten

Somehow yesterday was just an absolutely phenomenal day on Hamlet Twitter. #hamlettwt

Two weeks ago, I saw the new Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet, so of course I had to revisit the source material beforehand! Like a million others, R&J was my introduction to Shakespeare. I don't love this play but I'm grateful for the teacher who made my 6th grade class read it. It made me a stronger, more confident reader in general and got me curious enough to seek out more of Shakespeare's work, enriching my whole life as a result. ❤️

Another afternoon at my favorite cafe with a rose iced tea and a book I can't put down. Something light and lovely is just what I've been needing! #CurrentlyReading

My best friends and I do an annual reading getaway to an up-north cabin, and that weekend is finally here! Is 40 books too many? Inquiring minds would like to know... #CurrentlyReading #MittenLitten

This was my book club's October pick, and I'm so glad it was. I doubt I'd have read it on my own, and I'd have missed out on a cool, magical, kind of witchy story. I loved the two sisters and their bond despite the distance and mysteries between them. Rumor has it that a TV adaptation is on the way, and I'd totally watch it- bonus if they do the right thing and cast Jack Wolfe as Nicholas because come ON!

No character in this book behaves like a rational human being at any point, and most of the "reveals" feel pretty obvious, but those things didn't stop me from plowing through this silly, deliciously trashy revenge thriller about a group of women getting a violent comeuppance from the person they relentlessly bullied at school. Kind of brought me back to my RL Stine Fear Street/Christopher Pike teen horror days, and ngl, it was pretty fun.

At times this book felt both obtuse and a little smug, I hate to say; I mean, who could've guessed that living in a place with some of the world's best air quality, bike-able cities, generous social supports, and an abundance of green spaces would lead to better physical and mental health?! I wanted to roll my eyes at times, but also, my kingdom for an invigorating daily cold swim followed by a steamy sauna! I'll take aspirational reading any day.

A little Sunday night Shakespeare for the soul. Not quite halfway through the tagged book yet, and still making up my mind about it, but there's no doubt that the project it chronicles - a two-year, worldwide tour performing Hamlet in every country on earth- is grand, audacious, and worth learning more about. #CurrentlyReading

I'd been slightly afraid I'd over-hyped this one for myself, but not to worry- it was every bit as decadent and lush as I'd hoped, with the kinds of larger-than-life heroes I love: full of gorgeous, stupid yearning and passion. I can't get enough of our two messy, slutty, big-hearted protagonists, and the pure vibes of each dreamy location are enough to make me swoon. Read with lots of sunshine and an indulgent drink and you won't be sorry.

That reminds me, I'm due for a re-read of the tagged book...

In all seriousness, I will accept no slander of my girl Susan and her fully epic take on the Phantom. How this complete and total fanfic ever got published, I don't know, but the 13 year old that perpetually lives in me is so grateful that it did! 😭😂🙏