squirrelbrain

Thanks for a wonderful first month at #camplitsy25! 🏕️

We‘ve had some great discussions this month and now it‘s time to vote for your favourite book - will it be Audition or Wild Dark Shore?

Let us know your choice in the comments ⬇️ and your reasons why too, if you want to do so.

Looking forward to next weekend, when Meg will host the discussion on the first part of Death of the Author.

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 7d

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 7d

squirrelbrain @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books 7d

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squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 7d

squirrelbrain @karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx 7d

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 7d

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @texreader @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 7d

squirrelbrain This has been a fascinating month of discussions. Everyone‘s insightful input on Audition helped me to understand and like it more. Equally, I came to understand some of the issues and challenges around WDS. However, WDS is still a long way ahead of Audition for me.

Wild Dark Shore

rockpools Oh my goodness! I‘d forgotten all about voting 😂😂 (Will finish WDS today & join the discussion - my reading glasses are in the shop, so I‘m being slow! ) 7d

Lesliereadsalot I loved Wild Dark Shore, my favorite book of the year so far. I found the story compelling, the characters believable and the ending right on the money. By far the best of the two and probably all six! 7d

jenniferw88 Audition, hands down. I'm still thinking about it several weeks after finishing, and I don't think that will happen with Wild Dark Shore.

Audition

Kitta Definitely WDS. Audition was interesting with all the layers to it but ultimately I didn‘t like it and was frustrated reading it. I was glad it was short. WDS was much more my style of novel, atmospheric and emotional. My vote is for

Wild Dark Shore

Chelsea.Poole Great discussions this month, thanks for hosting!! Wild Dark Shore for me 7d

Bookwormjillk This is harder than you‘d think. Wild Dark Shore was the better story and I actually understand it. However I‘m still thinking about Audition weeks later. It was a tie for me. I need to vote for the weird in this case

Audition

Zuhkeeyah This is a hard one. Both books were good. I liked reading WDS more, but I the discussion for Audition was more compelling. Final vote will be for WDS because I love a dark atmospheric read.

Wild Dark Shore

Jess Wild Dark Shore gets all my votes. Loved the sense of place.

Wild Dark Shore

mcctrish

Wild Dark Shore

Susanita Two novels with a limited cast of characters and a lot of internal rumination, but otherwise quite different. My vote is for

Wild Dark Shore

Maggie4483 Hands down

Wild Dark Shore

Megabooks Even though I rated WDS higher, I liked the discussion on Audition better, so that‘s my vote! 6d

JenReadsAlot I liked discussion of Audition, but voting for

Wild Dark Shore

CBee WDS for me (I didn‘t finish Audition 🫣😂)! 6d

LeeRHarry Mmmm I didn‘t read Audition so maybe my vote shouldn‘t count but voting for

Wild Dark Shore

Suet624 By a mile.

Wild Dark Shore

BkClubCare I could vote for either but different reasons. I thought our Audition discussions were very engaging and not that WDS didn‘t, but I couldn‘t think of much to add. I liked reading WDS but now can‘t articulate why 🤔 I suppose I best cast my vote 🗳️ for

Wild Dark Shore

Jas16 Really great discussions but for me the choice was obvious.

Wild Dark Shore

peaKnit Wild Dark Shore for me too! 6d

Texreader Wild Dark Shore hands down. 6d

TrishB Wild Dark Shore for me. 6d

ChaoticMissAdventures I know it is an unpopular opinion but I absolutely hated WDS. I think the more interesting and better book all around was

Audition

Oryx WDS 6d

AmyG Wild Dark Shore 6d

Reggie Audition 6d

Ruthiella It‘s only going to be me and @ChaoticMissAdventures who vote for this one 😆

Audition

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella 😂 😂 😂 We have a couple of others we can make a Contrarian Camp group with! @jenniferw88 and @Bookwormjillk @Reggie 6d

Karisa 💗💗💗

Wild Dark Shore

Christine I agree with @Bookwormjillk and @Zuhkeeyah - hard to choose! But I‘ll go with

BookwormAHN I loved

TEArificbooks Wild Dark Shore 6d

sarahbarnes I‘m with the small group of people here voting for Audition. I loved it and was a little disappointed by WDS. 6d

Bookwormjillk @Christine haha are we the weird tent? 6d

Hooked_on_books I didn‘t even want to read Audition (and so didn‘t) and loved WDS. So it‘s Wild Dark Shore for me! 6d

vonnie862 Bookish, Wild Dark Shore. It was a more engaging book. Book group discussion, Audition. I didn't care for the book but i enjoyed everyone's response to the questions. 6d

DGRachel Hands down, Wild Dark Shore. 6d

TheKidUpstairs This is a much harder decision than I initially thought it would be, and I keep going back and forth. I loved both books in the reading, but Wild Dark Shore was just that much more engrossing for me. But the discussions definitely brought extra depth and interest to Audition, where I felt that discussing WDS brought out some of the flaws. But ultimately I think I have to go heart over head for this one:

Wild Dark Shore

Christine @Bookwormjillk LOL, I hope so as I would totally embrace Weird Tent identity! 😆 6d

BarbaraBB I loved the Audition discussion but Wild Dark Shore is among my favorites of the year so far! 6d

CogsOfEncouragement I enjoyed both. I‘m going to go with WDS because I appreciate multiple POVs. 6d

Roary47 I didn‘t get to read Wild Dark Shore. But… my vote is for it. 😅 6d

Read4life Wild Dark Shores because I loved the characters and the multiple POVs. 6d

GatheringBooks I vote for - thanks so much for hosting! Great questions, as always!!!

Wild Dark Shore

Butterfinger Definitely, Wild Dark Shore. Just finished and I have to go on a shopping spree for junk food. The evocative imagery, the love that all five had for each other. It was a book definitely out of my comfort zone, and I am so glad I read it. 5d

KarenUK Wild dark shore, for sure! 4d

63 likes54 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

Welcome to our second week of discussions on Wild Dark Shore, and our final weekend of camp in June!

There‘s lots to discuss in this book, that‘s for sure!

Don‘t forget that we‘re only tagging Littens on the first question so check further down for the next two questions. Looking forward to hearing everyone‘s thoughts.

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 1w

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 1w

squirrelbrain @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books 1w

See All 83 Comments

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 1w

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 1w

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @texreader @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 1w

Bookwormjillk Multiple voices is hard to do, but I thought it worked well here. It added to the sense that each character only had a piece of the story. 1w

TheKidUpstairs I found it quite effective here. Especially because the characters weren't telling each other the whole truth, the multiple POVs gave us a deeper story. And I loved Orly's sections, they offered an opportunity for in depth nature info, while still feeling like part of the overall narrative. 1w

Susanita Agree that it can be hard to pull off multiple voices but this author did it well. For the most part, while it was frustrating that they kept secrets from each other, I didn‘t get the sense it was just done to serve the suspense of the plot. Orly was especially interesting, because he didn‘t seem to me as naive as the rest of the family described him. 1w

Zuhkeeyah I liked the multiple voices here because each character carried a different part of the island. Fen spoke for the seals and the water. Orly spoke for the plants. Raff was the voice of the whales. 1w

Soubhiville I loved the multiple voices. Orly was my favorite too. 1w

JamieArc @Zuhkeeyah I didn‘t think about that but really like that idea. 1w

JamieArc I‘m trying to think about if there were a POV missing, would I be missing out? And I feel like yes. Parts of the story would have been missed. There are so few characters so it feels like each one should be represented to give a full picture of both the loneliness and joy of the island. 1w

jenniferw88 I liked the multiple POVs too! I loved Orly too. 1w

Kitta @Zuhkeeyah oooh I like that description of how they were each a part of the island. 1w

peaKnit I enjoyed multiple POV also because you never knew who was not telling the whole truth. Or was everyone telling “their” truth?! 1w

CBee I loved the multiple and different POVs. But, that‘s a favorite format of mine anyway. My favorite was Orly - he added an innocence that was needed but also a wisdom that you wouldn‘t expect. An old soul ♥️ 1w

fredthemoose I enjoyed all of the characters but identified most with Rowan because as a reader I was learning the island‘s and family‘s history and secrets with her. I also recognized her ambivalence about marriage and family. 1w

Megabooks I love multiple POVs as a rule, but in this book, as in most I guess, I preferred the adult POVs. (edited) 1w

BarbaraBB @Zuhkeeyah That‘s a great take on the story indeed. 1w

BarbaraBB @JamieArc I agree that I‘d be missing out if one of the PoV‘s were missing. 1w

BarbaraBB I really liked Orly and how he added much to the story with his innocence - as @CBee already pointed out. But like @Megabooks I prefer adult pov‘s in general and I loved Dom‘s complicated attitude towards his kids, grief and the world in general and how Rowan‘s arrival made him see things differently somehow. 1w

Karisa @Susanita So many secrets! I wanted to yell at them I was so frustrated. 😅That tension propels the story but also ends up being deadly. As a reader seeing all POV, we are watching a slow motion train wreck. Beautiful storytelling! 1w

CBee @BarbaraBB I usually prefer adult POVs as well. Orly seemed much wiser than his 9 years and I think provided a break from the immense grief and sadness the others were struggling with. 1w

AmyG I, too, liked the different narrators as each revealed different parts of the story. Yes to Orly….I had fun googling plants. 1w

BarbaraBB @CBee That is true, I loved all scenes he was in and his view on the island and its inhabitants. 1w

squirrelbrain @Zuhkeeyah - I love that idea! ❤️ 1w

mcctrish I love @Zuhkeeyah ‘s take on the three children speaking for themselves and for part of the island. I liked their voices POV the most - Dom was so complicated with grief and what felt like menace sometimes - the kids felt more in the present moment. Dom was the one that held the mystery 1w

squirrelbrain I agree @Megabooks @barbarabb and I‘m afraid I didn‘t love Orly as much as others did. 😬 @TheKidUpstairs @Susanita @Soubhiville @jenniferw88 @CBee @AmyG - I found him a bit too precocious. 1w

squirrelbrain @fredthemoose - I identified with Roman the most too, for the same reason as you - through her we learnt about the island. I agree with you as well, @mcctrish , re Dom - I found him slightly threatening, probably because Fen seemed scared of him. 1w

CBee @squirrelbrain I can absolutely see that. He was quite precocious! 1w

Texreader The audiobook made the different narratives so pronounced and so well done. I loved it. 1w

Texreader @Zuhkeeyah Wow!! 1w

kspenmoll I did enjoy all their voices- I felt I learned from Orly about the land‘s nature. Each person had something different to contribute to the telling of this story. 1w

Ruthiella I don‘t like multiple narrative in general, which is probably why the book didn‘t work for me as well. Ronan was the easiest or most accessible because like the reader, she is coming to the situation ignorant of the island‘s history. 1w

Lesliereadsalot I loved this book and part of the attraction for me was all the different voices showing me their take on their lives. They were all so individual, so alone with their thoughts. I felt like they were all trying their best in an impossible situation. I did love Orly, so smart. And Rowan, trying to make sense of this island. 1w

Deblovestoread I generally love multiple POV and this was no exception. And Orly was the light in an otherwise fairly dark book. Everyone‘s comments are so spot on. 1w

TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain I can see that, he definitely was a bit precocious. But I think being brought up in that way, it felt like an earned precociousness, if that makes sense. He's only had his family (and their traumas), scientists, and nature for company. 1w

TheKidUpstairs @Zuhkeeyah I love that way of describing the characters, you're so right! 1w

TEArificbooks Usually five POV is too many for me but she made it work well here. I definitely liked Orly, he reminded me of my son. 1w

Maggie4483 It's hard to do multiple POV well, and in an unskilled writer's hands, every character has the same voice. But I think she did a great job. I feel like you could open up the book to a random page, read a few sentences, and know exactly who was speaking. I also thought it was interesting that Dom, Rowan, and Orly were in first person, but Raff and Fen were in third. 1w

Ruthiella I think I have hit upon why I disliked this book so much. I love character-driven narratives. But this was trauma driven. Everyone is acting and reacting based on their wounds. Their trauma is their only character trait. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @JamieArc weirdly I am trying to think back to if we got much if any of Fen. I don't remember her POV at all. and unfortunately unline @TheKidUpstairs I am not super interested in botany and after a couple of pages of Orly I started skipping his talks all together. Overall I thought it was too much and I could have used less. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella I agree. I think that it was too much. It didn't work for me either. I could have used maybe 2 POVs, Knowing they are all lying. The rest could have been communicated through dialogue between the characters. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Maggie4483 this threw me off so much. I didn't enjoy the change in 1st to 3rd person. I reread a lot of pieces because I couldn't understand why she would do it this way. I am glad it worked for you though! 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella agree. Mcconaghy seems to relish their pain. It could even be classified as “Trauma Porn“ 1w

TheKidUpstairs @ChaoticMissAdventures I totally get that. I LOVE that stuff, and love reading NF about plant life, so it was completely up my alley, but I can see that it could be too much for someone who doesn't have my same level of interest! 1w

BkClubCare I have 30 pages yet to read and no time so will check in tonight! 💖 1w

Jas16 I liked the multiple narratives and gaining insight through different perspectives. I think they each had a distinct voice and added a lot to the understanding of their situation on the island. 1w

Christine I loved the multiple POVs, with one exception being that the audio narration for Dom felt very aggressive to me - definitely conveyed that “menace” that @mcctrish mentioned. I‘m curious whether I would‘ve thought the same if I‘d read in print! 1w

Hooked_on_books I felt the multiple POVs added richness to the story, as it was done so well. Like most of the others here, I really liked this approach. I think if it had been written in one POV or close 3rd that it wouldn‘t have been as good of a book. 1w

Gissy Love multiple POV because you can know better each character their motives, personality perspective of the situation. I enjoyed the audiobook. I loved this story even when it was so sad. 😢So slow, beautifully written👌 1w

BookwormAHN I loved the different voices and I agree it can be hard to pull off but it was done really well here. 1w

Chelsea.Poole @zuhkeeyah great observation of the various voices speaking for different aspects of the island. Like many others I can see how the multiple POVs were effective but each was so unrelenting in their trauma. Orly felt like a repreieve to me when his sections came up. Even if he was a bit precocious as @squirrelbrain points out. 1w

squirrelbrain Yes, I can see that now @TheKidUpstairs - precocious in a good way, with his knowledge, not in a brattish way. 😬 1w

squirrelbrain @Maggie4483 - that confused me at first - I had to go back to check if I was misremembering other POVs. I think it probably made their stories more distant, less immediate and therefore slightly more difficult to care about them. 1w

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - at least we helped you figure that out! 🤨 1w

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - yes, Fen had arguably one of the bigger storylines and yet she disappeared, for me. 1w

squirrelbrain Interesting that the audio made Dom rather aggressive @christine. Makes me want to try the audio just to see, but of course having read in one format we already have pre-conceived ideas if we try another. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I hate to be negative nancy on this but I really disliked this book, and I think it is because it really feels like Mcconaghy hates women. We have three main women - 1 dies in childbirth, one is raped & attempted murdered by the others husband, and the third is beat up over and over again and finally dies trying to say the firsts child. And all the men though sad get off to go live their lives. 1w

willaful I did like Orly, but not his narrative so much (also not as interested as he is in biology.) I think Rowan and Dom's narratives were the most relatable for me. 1w

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - you don‘t think that‘s the author trying to portray the reality of life for women? 1w

squirrelbrain @willaful - yes, those parts drew me out of the story somewhat. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I think it crossed reality and went to women suffer porn. There has to be a lesson for the men or the reader here and I just don't see it? I guess for our adults the lesson is that we are the ones dying for the children (whether we decide to have them or not). But I just don't think it was done well here. Or maybe it is just me b/c others seem fine with it...😀 1w

JamieArc @ChaoticMissAdventures while I did like the book, the amount of trauma did almost put me off. I‘m not quite sure why Raff‘s storyline (of Alex, if I‘m remembering the name right) was necessary. So many deaths. I do think that everyone suffered to some degree though, so I didn‘t see it as happening to only women. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @JamieArc I agree that everyone is suffering, no one gets away untraumatized. I just think it is unnecessary that of the 6 MCs (the family and Rowan) the women get directly harmed. Their harm is to their bodies vs men who are "injured" by others dying and it makes them sad. 1w

BkClubCare @fredthemoose - I was most invested in Rowan‘s POV, also. 7d

GatheringBooks @ChaoticMissAdventures ooh i never considered seeing it in this way - but now that you have pointed it out, i can see it. I have to confess that I enjoyed the narrative - and like the rest, I enjoyed the multiple POVs, and especially enjoyed orly‘s as well - i love precocity in young people, and while I am not all that versed in the sciency stuff, I felt that it was introduced in an accessible and engaging way that I found interesting 7d

GatheringBooks @Chelsea.Poole @Zuhkeeyah loved reading your takes on the multiple POVs. What was most interesting for me is how each had a distinct voice which requires skill on the part of the writer. It reminded me somewhat of Sabaa Tahir‘s Heir but Heir introduced another component - that of different timelines along with multiple voices. I was wondering if that would have worked in this case as well - considering the suspense and the buildup of the story 7d

Well-ReadNeck I‘m not always a fan of multi POVs, but I think it works/is necessary for this one. It also helped make this a bit more of a page-turner for me, wanting to get back to one POV or another. 7d

squirrelbrain I agree @GatheringBooks - I can see the ‘suffer‘ porn now that Shawna @ChaoticMissAdventures has highlighted it. That‘s why these discussions are so valuable, to help us see another perspective. 7d

Suet624 Coming in late here ..... I really enjoyed the multiple POV's. Kept me focused instead of drifting through the narrative. In thinking of which character I identified with I'd have to say it was Dom. Rowan a close second. They carried the weight of the novel for me. I loved reading the kids sections, but I identified more with the adults due to their ultimate responsibility of keeping everyone alive. 6d

rockpools I loved your point about the children‘s voices and the island @Zuhkeeyah . The multiple voices did work for me, although I was aware that we didn‘t seem to hear as much from Fen as I‘d have liked. I hadn‘t made the connection with her sections being in 3rd person - thanks @Maggie4483 . 6d

vonnie862 I listened to the audio and having two different narrators really helped with the characters. They brought the story to life. 6d

DGRachel I was annoyed at first, that I was going to have to keep track of everyone, but I ended up really loving the set up. I loved Orly‘s chapters and would have liked more chapters from Fen and Raff‘s viewpoints, although considering what happened to Fen, maybe fewer from her was better. 6d

DGRachel I read so little literary fiction (and usually only for Camp Litsy 🤣) because most of it feels trauma-centric, so I kind of expected this to be full of suffering and misery. I will say I did not expect what happened to Fen at all, and that‘s something very triggering for me, and I could have very happily not read that chapter. (edited) 6d

squirrelbrain It was really quite easy to keep track of everyone wasn‘t it? @DGRachel 6d

squirrelbrain I‘m really intrigued re the audio @vonnie862 - I bet it added another dimension to the story. 6d

Butterfinger I also listened to the audio @vonnie862 Dom's voice was so similar to Hugh Jackman, I already loved the character. But through the book, his deep love for his wife, for his children, for Rowan floored me. As a parent, I will do anything to protect them mentally and physically. I make mistakes, and I own up to those mistakes like I think Dom did, especially with the eldest son. 5d

Butterfinger Ooh @Zuhkeeyah I loved your rationale for the voices. 5d

JenP I am coming to this late but just finished it. I do like multiple voices/pov in novels and I liked them all in this book. Orly‘s voice wasn‘t the voice of a 9 year old for me but I still enjoyed reading his chapters and enjoyed the descriptions of all the seeds. His perspective was valuable so I was able to suspend my dislike for when authors make children who are written to sound like adults. 1d

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @JenP - I don‘t usually like children as adults. I didn‘t particularly like Orly‘s chapters in this though, not because of that, but because they took me out of the story. 15h

47 likes83 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

A few of us mentioned grief in last week‘s discussions. Everyone on the island was grieving for someone or something - how did you find these different portrayals?

What about the ‘ghosts‘ and ghostly voices? Were they part of the grieving process or something else?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Bookwormjillk I thought it was very realistic- no two people are going to grieve in the same way even when they are faced with the exact same circumstances. 1w

Zuhkeeyah The author did a great job weaving grief into the suspense. Each character carried or spoke to their own ghosts. There‘s no correct way to grieve and the author showed how different people cope with such a strong emotion. Orly broke my heart the most for being so young and yet so aware of the violence that was visited upon the animals of the island. 1w

JenReadsAlot I thought it was well done and realistic. 1w

See All 43 Comments

Kitta Agreed with @Bookwormjillk and @Zuhkeeyah there‘s no one way to grieve. I thought Orly added an interesting perspective in how he grieved the loss of his mother - by having others tell stories since he didn‘t know her. He was curious but had a sense of loss without knowing different. 1w

Kitta I thought the ghosts were the winds of the island but also sort of the loss of the animals and devastation that had happened there. A silent scream from the island or the earth. I think Orly had a bit of an overactive imagination but when it turned out he was talking to Hank in the vault speaking by the wall I wasn‘t surprised he was hearing voices in the winds. 1w

peaKnit It felt heavy, just like grief often does and it never goes away, no amount of time or life change, you‘re never the same. Like the characters here. 1w

Megabooks At times the grief was almost oppressive, and I think that was purposefully done. I think grief can be like getting stuck in quicksand, when you‘re stuck, the struggle to get out can pull you even deeper. I think all of them were trying to deal with their grief alone, and it left them stuck. 1w

CBee There are some who are more connected to spirits than others - I think in this case it truly was grief, because I don‘t know if it would be realistic that they all heard and felt the voices. Agreed that it was very realistic and powerful. Grief affects everyone differently and there was SO much sadness and loss in this book. 1w

BarbaraBB On the island, everyone is mourning something: a lost person, a broken belief, a shattered identity, or a stolen future. What makes the portrayals compelling is how individual they are — shaped by personality, history, and role in the community. Each portrayal adds realism to the island‘s atmosphere. The setting itself feels like it‘s soaked in loss — not just from individual tragedies, but from the disintegration of what the world used to be. (edited) 1w

Karisa @BarbaraBB Yes! Nicely said. All connected by their grief while going through it individually. 1w

AmyG Well, I LOVE a damaged character and they were all damaged in way. Grief and loss was everywhere in this story….from the characters to the earth and the loss due to climate change. There was loss of people, of homes, of beliefs. Beautifully weaved into the story. A huge part of life is loss and how we grieve thatloss and how we recover (or not) from that loss. Ha, like minds @BarbaraBB ….I was typing as you posted. (edited) 1w

squirrelbrain Beautifully put @BarbaraBB @AmyG ❤️ 1w

mcctrish So many kinds of grief like @BarbaraBB listed were covered, past and present and future, weighing them down, bringing up old griefs, foretelling the future ones. The characters isolating themselves with their grief from each other in the most isolated place 🤯 what a story 1w

squirrelbrain @Kitta - I wondered about Orly‘s grief - I guess you can grieve for someone you never knew and he certainly had a sense of loss, but more for the animals and plants, I think. 1w

AmyG @squirrelbrain Orly never knew his Mom so I think his grief was different. Ilost my Dad when I was 3, I didn‘t remember him. I grieved for something I never had. 1w

kspenmoll I agree with ever 1w

kspenmoll I agree with everyone- grief was interwoven throughout the novel. It exemplified how we all grieve differently & in our own individual ways. This was cataclysmic loss: land, people, animals, flora, seeds, the possibility of the family‘s deaths & struggles with imminent death. I love @BarbaraBB list: broken belief, shattered identity, stolen future. That nails it. Rowan certainly had her future stolen. 1w

Ruthiella I found the grief portrayed in the book overwhelming, which was an intentional choice by the author, I think. But it was too much for me in novel length. 1w

Lesliereadsalot There were so many losses on so many levels. So much bottled up grief and anger and sadness. It could be a little overwhelming, but I felt that the stories were beautifully told. Amen to @BarbaraBB and @AmyG Also the theme of isolation was so profound as @mcctrish pointed out. (edited) 1w

Deblovestoread Loved @BarbaraBB description. Each of us grieve differently because of who we are and also because our relationship to the lost person or circumstance is different as well. 1w

TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain I think Orly's grief for the natural world and his grief for his mother were tied up together. A larger grief for all the things he would never know/meet/see, how much loss has come before him. 1w

TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB so beautifully put, I agree totally. It was like the island - because of its history, isolation, and its role as seed storage - held the world's grief. And the people there couldn't help but be affected by it, along with their own traumas and griefs. 1w

Jas16 I totally agree with everyone that everyone grieves differently and that grief is woven deeply into this story. It made me think about how my siblings and I have handled our father‘s passing so differently from each other based not only on our own personalities but also our individual relationships with him during his last few years. 1w

Hooked_on_books I thought using grief as a motif worked well both for the story and because of its universality. Since it is so unique to each person, seeing it come through so differently for each character gives the reader a way in when they recognize themselves in one of the forms of grief. 1w

BookwormAHN The grief was overwhelming in certain parts but very real and the destruction of the island was the saddest. 1w

Gissy Wow! It was hard to read these parts because each one of them were still in the grief process. I think this isolation situation with limited support, make the process of healing a little difficult, creating a complicated grief healing. So well described. I think Rowan narrator in the audiobook was a beautiful voice and in my case I liked Dom, Orly and Raff narrators which made me more conscious of their feelings. 1w

Chelsea.Poole The grief in this book was so well done. And as @Megabooks says “oppressive” —to the point I didn‘t really look forward to my time reading it. It was a difficult read for me personally. It just took me to a dark place. Which is undoubtedly a skill that the author was able to bring about such feelings but still made this my least favorite of hers just because the reading experience was painful. 1w

squirrelbrain @mcctrish @Lesliereadsalot - I guess isolation can be a form of grief, or a way of reacting to grief - they‘re so intertwined with each other. 1w

mcctrish @squirrelbrain I think it lets grief fester 1w

willaful @mcctrish It was definitely festering here, though it's meaningful that Dom realizes that in the end. 1w

squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - well put, I like that idea of grief being universal but unique. 1w

squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole - I get how this was a difficult book to read - there wasn‘t any lightness or much hope in there, I felt. 1w

squirrelbrain I‘m beginning to wish I‘d listened to it on audio @Gissy - it sounds wonderful. 1w

mcctrish @willaful yes, thankfully he does 1w

GatheringBooks @Kitta i love the “silent scream from the island or the earth” and @BarbaraBB ‘s collective and personal tragedies intermingling that it “soaks” the earth bringing up ghosts in the wind that Orly speaks to. It is interesting that I felt the grief profoundly - but never in an oppressive way similar to how others experienced it. I felt there was always beauty slicing through despite dangers & devastation - that it still is all worth it in the end. 7d

Suet624 @BarbaraBB Such an accurate analysis. 6d

Suet624 The grief I felt most acutely, both from the book and personally, was the ravages caused by climate change. The loss of seeds, the loss of the island, they were/are what we/I are experiencing right now. And not to be too melodramatic, but if you listen closely I think you can hear the silent scream of many of us who fear the future we know is coming through climate change. 6d

rockpools @GatheringBooks I think my reading of it was closer to yours. Although grief permeated everything, I felt there was an element of hope - in the seals as they left, in the seeds Orly saved and in the resolution Fen experienced… 6d

BarbaraBB @AmyG Great minds 😉😘 6d

squirrelbrain I‘m glad you could both see the hope @rockpools @GatheringBooks ❤️ 6d

squirrelbrain Yes @Suet624 - this author is really valuable in the way she portrays the climate emergency. 💔 6d

DGRachel @BarbaraBB I love the way you perfectly summed it up. 6d

Butterfinger At the beginning, I thought it was going to be very depressing-everyone will die at the end because of how humans won't take care of Earth. It became so much more. Sacrifice for children (future) is the purest love. I know the question is about grief, but I think it is more survivor's guilt. Alex and Rowan lose their brothers, which causes extreme pain. The family loses a wife/parent which causes Dom to question his choice making. 5d

36 likes43 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

** WARNING FOR SPOILERS**

There are no spoilers in the question above but please do not read the comments if you don‘t wish to see spoilers for the ending of this book. Everyone else, please go ahead and discuss, with as many spoilers as you wish included!

Thanks for being such great campers in June - come back tomorrow for our first vote of #camplitsy25.

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Bookwormjillk Normally I would have found an ending like that emotionally manipulative, but given climate change is a focus of this book a happily ever after ending wouldn‘t have fit. Question though. Do you think she went to the island knowing her husband was a narcissist, or did she just realize it when she realized all that he had done? 1w

Zuhkeeyah I agree with @Bookwormjillk on it being a good finale. It was certainly dramatic, but this grief brought them all back together which is fitting since her husband‘s actions are what caused the divide. (edited) 1w

Zuhkeeyah @Bookwormjillk I think she made this discovery only once she hit the island. Rowan was too caught up in the grief of losing the house to fully mourn the loss of her marriage. She gained perspective on the island as she watched Dom miss his wife even after so many years. 1w

See All 65 Comments

Susanita @Bookwormjillk I agree about the emotional manipulation potential, but in this case it made sense that at least one of the five wasn‘t going to leave the island. I guess that‘s a spoiler! As for knowing he was a narcissist, I think not. She was dealing with a lot of past trauma herself, and one thing about narcissists is that they are good at gaslighting. 1w

jenniferw88 I think she knew deep down, but because they'd been apart for a while and with the loss of her house, she'd forgotten and was wearing rose-tinted glasses when she started looking for him on the island. And then when she learnt the whole truth she realised that she'd been right back on the mainland about Hank all along. 1w

JamieArc I didn‘t expect the ending to be so dramatic and normally may have rolled my eyes about it. I still do think it all may have been a bit much. I too didn‘t expect a happy ending, but would have liked one. I like the idea of some of the loss being healed by Dom and Rowan being together. And I like the idea of Rowan being a sort of anchor for the children as they have to figure out how to live in a different world after the island. 1w

Reggie I felt a little let down by the ending so much that it removed me from being in my feelings that the rest of the book had me. The book was soo sad and doom and gloom. By fire, by water, or starvation whatever she kept saying. I needed a pick me up. Which I thought was gonna be Rowan surviving. And then the ghost mom shows up and like in Poltergest 2 when the Angel grandma shows up in the ethereal purgatory to return Carol Ann to the family I 1w

Reggie thought for sure ghost mom was gonna return Rowan to the family who needed her. But. O. I guess she was there to welcome her to the afterlife. Comfort her in death? Say, not my family? lol idk I was kinda what was that all about? 1w

Reggie Also there was this meme post on Litsy where it said- he shows all kinds of red flags but I still go for it because my favorite color is red. lol I literally thought of Rowan. ‘You‘re just a baby vessel to me.‘ ‘Our house burned down and you‘re too sad, bye.‘ ‘Help me- she‘s on the first boat out. I just didn‘t understand that. And why couldn‘t they just tell her hey by the way we have this guy imprisoned until the boat gets here for (edited) 1w

Reggie statutory rape and attempted murder. After they felt out her character. 1w

Kitta @Bookwormjillk I think she knew beforehand Hank was a narcissist - she had talked about how their marriage was suffering and how when she got married she didn‘t want to be seen exactly, how she realized that he didn‘t know her and that she wouldn‘t change her mind about kids. I think she went because she still felt something for him and she was worried but I think she knew. 1w

Megabooks @Reggie I was kind of wondering that myself. Why they didn‘t just tell her, your husband is a bad dude? I guess maybe that since she‘d come all that way she‘d do anything to free him and that felt dangerous. Idk. The ending was a bit weird for me! 1w

CBee I think she knew but was too immersed in all of her other feelings (so much loss) to admit it. The ending - sigh. It was fitting despite of course not wanting it to go that way. It came full circle though - Claire dies giving birth to Orly, saving his life. Then Rowan dies to save his life as well, years later. I knew it was coming but I was still “NO NO NO” in my head 💔😢 (edited) 1w

Reggie Also this has nothing to do with this question but my favorite passage in this whole book was about Dom saying being a mother was Claire‘s role but when she died it was just him and this baby but then there were these 2 9yos who also had just lost someone and there they went raising and helping this baby and how he realized it wasn‘t him versus this baby but that they were all a family in it together. 😭😭😭 1w

BarbaraBB I agree with @Reggie in wondering why they didn‘t just tell her. 1w

BarbaraBB To me the ending certainly makes sense this way. The book is steeped in themes of environmental collapse, loss, and the fragility of human connection. A tidy or “happy” ending would undercut the realism and the urgency that pervades the narrative. 1w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk I think Rowan probably went with hope and loyalty, and only fully grasped his narcissism—and its consequences—once she was there, facing the reality head-on. 1w

sarahbarnes Honestly I think I‘m with @JamieArc on this one - it was a little too much for me. It felt so unnecessary. Was it to justify Dom‘s decision to have kept Hank locked up - to show indeed how terrible he was? I was disappointed in the ending and I‘m not a happy ending kind of reader. 1w

Karisa @Bookwormjillk I was wondering if Rowan had realized her husband was so flawed before too. The images she shows of him shaping the landscape in their earlier life seemed so magical but also narcissistic to manipulate the place‘s habitat to that extent. @jenniferw88 “Rose colored glasses” for sure! I think that was why the Salt family knew they couldn‘t trust Rowan with their secrets yet. She was still deceiving herself. 1w

AmyG I, oo, thought that on a subconscious level Rowan knew he was a narcissist but hearing about him and the incident made her face his narcissism head on. I was “all in” with this book so I loved the end. I got the feeling Rowan came into the life of this family to serve a purpose. She did and sadly died. But the reader “knows” now that the family will carry on, somewhat healed. @CBee Yes….it came full circle. 1w

AmyG @Reggie Ha, loved your thoughts! As in any story….works for some, not for others. (edited) 1w

Karisa I thought the ending was right on the target even while being dramatic. The themes in the book are so big that an operatic conclusion felt necessary to me. Rowan and Hank had caused so much grief (intentionally or not) that it felt correct and balancing somehow. As @BarbaraBB pointed out happy just wouldn‘t have suited this book. 1w

squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk @Zuhkeeyah @Kitta @cbee @karisa @amyg - I think she knew something was seriously wrong in their relationship but couldn‘t figure out quite what, otherwise why would she have chased after him to the island? 1w

CBee @AmyG I was all in as well. As with all of her other books. 1w

squirrelbrain @jamiearc @sarahbarnes - I agree, the ending was very over-dramatic. I also agree with @barbarabb that it needed to not have a ‘happy‘ ending, and it couldn‘t have been one of the family who died, but it was the manner of it that seemed a bit excessive. 1w

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @Reggie - why couldn‘t they just tell Rowan what her husband had done? They wouldn‘t have been arrested themselves for locking him up. 🤷‍♀️ 1w

CBee @squirrelbrain makes you wonder more about Hank and his backstory. 1w

mcctrish @Reggie I laughed out loud reading some of your posts ❤️ I feel like the window for telling Rowan about her husband was minuscule- this women chartered a boat to find her husband on a island in the middle of nowhere about to be decommissioned. Said husband is a bad man. First she has to heal. Then they have to get to know her. Then the deadline is fast approaching to clear off. Not a lot of wiggle room. 1w

CBee @squirrelbrain I think they were trying (in a very extreme way) to protect Fen. They didn‘t want Rowan to let him out. I do think Dom should‘ve told her sooner, though. 1w

mcctrish And didn‘t Hank make good choices when they did decide not to let him drown?! I WAS SCREAMING #rotinhellmotherfucker 1w

mcctrish But I did want a HEA 1w

Kitta @squirrelbrain as someone who was raised by a narcissist, you can still care for them and you sorta lose all sense of self preservation due to the gaslighting. They‘re very charismatic and convincing! I think she felt she had to help him, even if she knew. I certainly felt it was my job to « rescue » my family from messes all the time. She was distracted by the loss of her house I think and finding him gave her purpose again. Even if he‘s not good 1w

Reggie @mcctrish yes! I was like why we have to lock Orly in there like that? lol and I love horror and am used to all kinds of horrible and terrible things happening to character endings but I really wanted the HEA here, too. 1w

Ruthiella I thought it was ridiculous. The plotting is mostly what drove me nuts about this book. No one behaved in a way that made any sense to me. The withholding of information was a means to draw out the tension, and that annoyed me. 1w

Lesliereadsalot I thought the ending was perfect, not tying up all these damaged people in a neat little bow. They couldn‘t tell Rowan that Hank was there, they didn‘t know how she‘d react. We don‘t know how she‘d react. And I think they were all too damaged to live happily ever after. They needed to recover slowly, off the island, find out who they were in another environment. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Reggie I totally agree. Why didn't they just tell her? It is a emotional manipulation -miscommunication trope. 1w

TheKidUpstairs @Bookwormjillk It seemed to me that she knew, and honestly it's the one thing about this book that I have trouble reconciling. I don't quite understand why she'd risk so much to get to him when it really seems that she knew who he really was. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Kitta I agree I think any rational woman would know, with the way he talked to her about her home, and how he talked to her about kids. She is still married to the guy and he disappeared, I think personally it was stupid of her to go to the island in the first place, but she was worried for her husband who was erratic before disappearing. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes I am disappointed in the ending too. What are we supposed to learn from it? Dom is the one who locked Hank up, the whole family lied and manipulated her. She is there trying to find a husband who sent scary emails then disappeared, what is the message we are supposed to get from her death. Having both of the adult women figures in these childrens lives die? Why? 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I get that someone should have died in the end. With the themes as you say, but why Rowan? What is the message we are suppose to get from it being her? I personally, after 3 Mcconaghy books think this author hates women.... I wish I was joking, and I really think she hates women who do not have children. Every book of hers she either forces the woman to change her mind, treats them like idiots, or makes them regret their decisions. 1w

Deblovestoread Some books there is a voice in my head analyzing an author‘s choices and others I‘m just all in. Not sure the reason but in all of her books I‘m 100% in. I trust that whatever the story goes it‘s right. I was sad about the ending but also wondered if they all got off the island would the relationship last. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1w

Christine I think I‘m mostly with @BarbaraBB and @Karisa on the ending - fittingly dramatic. And yay, I‘ve been waiting to learn the details about your hate this week, @Ruthiella !! 😁 I enjoyed the book but I agree that a lot of the decision-making was not sensible. 1w

Christine @squirrelbrain Thanks for leading such great conversations this month! 1w

BookwormAHN I think the ending was a little too dramatic, mostly I hated that Rowan died. I would have rather have seen them all get a fresh start. But I did love the book. 1w

Hooked_on_books I think the most important thing about an ending is that it fits the book and honors what has been told in the story to that point, and this one does. So it really worked for me. It also gave Rowan a complete character arc and the others a path forward. I thought it was really well done. 1w

Gissy It was a heartbreaking ending💔 Of course I didn‘t want Rowan to die, I wanted a second opportunity for each character, but I respect author‘s choice. Her stories are dramatic😭I think Raff and Fen would emerge stronger from this experience and they will help Orly and specially Dom to start their healing process. So sad 😭 Love this book4.5/4.8 ⭐️ 1w

willaful @ChaoticMissAdventures I'm intrigued by you opinions because that part of the storyline about Orly's birth sat uncomfortably with me. And if it really is a pattern in her books, even though I loved this I don't think I'll want to read her again. 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures @willaful I mostly have been looking at her from a child free lens. This is my 3rd (&last) book of hers I have read Wolves- MC doesn't want children, gets pregnant, ignores it, then decides there is nothing in life she wants more than a baby has the stupidest birth, (I think her sister dies?) Migration & This 1 childless women run all over the globe suffering searching for their connection to men. All of her women go through it. None are spared.👇 1w

ChaoticMissAdventures 2/2 the women who do live have to change their minds about having children (wolf girl) and even then she might kill them off for the plot! Is it possible that here the moms death doesn't sit right with you b/c no doctor in the world would ask a husband to choose?? People talking about she is writing women suffering b/c it is reality when there are insane plot devices like asking husband to choose mom or baby in an actual hospital. 1w

Chelsea.Poole I think another mother figure passing away from this family was connected to the idea of the environmental crisis//Mother Earth, a symbol of one generation giving way for the next to inhabit the earth. Motherhood is often about sacrifice for children and their mother made the ultimate sacrifice at the beginning of Orly‘s life and now Rowan does too. It was awful and sad…fit with the rest of the book. @Reggie commentary is golden✨ 1w

JamieArc @squirrelbrain I‘m impressed that such a robust conversation can happen through short comments. So many people engaging with it! Thanks for hosting a great month of conversation! 1w

TEArificbooks I was upset Rowan died. I thought maybe she would drown but the ghost and Dom doing CPR would save her, maybe leave it unclear at first if she survived but in the epilogue make it clear she did. I definitely figured Hank would die. And would never read another book by her though if she killed off Orly. Would have been way more upset about his death. 7d

GatheringBooks @Reggie i miss youuuu! Love what you said about the ghost of the mother and “not my family” bit - or maybe they bonded? Lols. I have to admit that I am of the camp who loved this book. I did cry when I read through the last part - as I was hoping for something more uplifting. But @BarbaraBB is right- it wouldn‘t have blended well with the overall vibe of loss and devastation that McConaghy was going for. I felt it was heartbreaking - yet hopeful. 7d

Reggie @Chelsea.Poole lol, thanks! I like your take on mothers and the connection to Mother Earth. I get so bummed out when I go see zombie movies and the end is like, no, there are no humans left. And in here she was laying it on thick. Like sooner, much sooner than we think, climate change is coming for us. But until then can we just have a happy ending? 7d

Reggie @GatheringBooks hi Myra!!!! I was crying while reading this book up until the ghost mother showed up. Why was she there?!!!! lol What was the point? I felt like we were about to have a real ghost Susan Sarandon to the new stepmom Julia Roberts-treat them like your own moment. Whatevs, whatever Charlotte McConaghy- I‘d still read another by her. I‘m excited for the next camp books! 7d

squirrelbrain @JamieArc @christine - it‘s the Littens who make camp so wonderful - with wide-ranging discussions and such insightful commentary. ❤️ 7d

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Oh wow is that true? I hadn‘t realized that and it seems hard to believe but it‘s an issue in each book, that might be a motive indeed 6d

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I am sensitive about the topic, being passionately child free I hated wolves & how she showed the MC pregnancy and change of mind so it was top of my mind here. Here I really hated how she acted like it is shocking that Rowan could care about others children. When she had made her decision due to the environment. She never said she hated children. Being willing to be a stepmom is a whole other thing than being willing to have children. 6d

vonnie862 I was not expecting the ending 6d

BarbaraBB I loved Rowan‘s attitude towards the children. I didn‘t feel like the author was judgmental about that but I get that you‘ve paid much more attention to it so you‘re probably right! @ChaoticMissAdventures (edited) 6d

DGRachel Going to comment again before reading others just because I was absolutely devastated by the ending. I‘m glad the Salts survive, and that they seem to be pulling closer with honest communication, but I‘m devastated they have to move on without Rowan. One more person for the family to grieve and it marked the death of the hope I had for their off-page future. 6d

squirrelbrain Yes, it was a truly shocking ending, wasn‘t it?! @vonnie862 @DGRachel 6d

Butterfinger I was completely shocked. Hank. Oh my goodness gracious. Was not expecting him. AND, I WILL REMAIN ANGRY FOR HOW HE TOLD ROWAN HE WAS GOING TO THE BASE. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME, YOU JERK!!!!I'm just glad that the children survived. Broken, but together. 5d

Butterfinger @ChaoticMissAdventures you make a very valid point about women choosing to be child free. I find myself thinking all the time-she's been married for awhile, is she having trouble getting pregnant? I realized while reading WDS, I was being judgmental. It's 2026 and every woman doesn't want to be a mom. I guess it was ingrained in me as a child-you can work and you get to still be a mom. So, I am grateful that this book opened my eyes in this regard 5d

Butterfinger @Chelsea.Poole wonderful parallel between the characters and Mother Earth. 5d

34 likes65 comments

squirrelbrain

A Month in the Country | J.L. Carr

pick

A little while ago Richard Osman chose this as his favourite ever short book / novella. (on The Rest is Entertainment podcast with Marina Hyde). It just appeared as an audiobook on my library app so I thought I‘d give it a go.

WW1 veteran, Tom, arrives in a Yorkshire village to restore a medieval mural in the church and finds restoration himself. It‘s such a beautiful but sad story - reminded me rather of The Remains of the Day.

Tamra I love Carr‘s beautiful prose in this one. Quietly beautiful & poignant. 1w

squirrelbrain It is gorgeous isn‘t it? @Tamra It‘s very local to me as well. Osgodby is a made-up village but Ripon, where they go to buy the church organ, is only 12 miles away. 1w

Ruthiella I absolutely loved this book. ❤️ 1w

See All 9 Comments

BarbaraBB I loved this one as well, but it‘s a long time ago I read it. 1w

Tamra @squirrelbrain ♥️ 1w

LeahBergen I loved it, too! 1w

Cathythoughts A beautiful book. I loved it too. ❤️ 1w

youneverarrived It‘s such a beautiful book. 3d

Centique Im joining in on the chorus - loved loved loved this! 16h

59 likes2 stack adds9 comments

squirrelbrain

Woodworking | Emily St James

pick

Loved, loved, loved this #camplitsy25 pick!

I won‘t say any more until we discuss in the second half of July… 🤫

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB Oh really? That sounds very promising! 1w

Ruthiella Agree. This book was fabulous. This sort of character driven novel is my sweet spot. 1w

AmyG I am reading it now and I just got to one part and thought….I love this book. @barbaraBB it IS promising! 1w

See All 10 Comments

BarbaraBB @AmyG @Ruthiella High praise from you too, I‘ll get to it as soon as I return home! 1w

squirrelbrain I think you‘ll love it too! @BarbaraBB 1w

squirrelbrain Oooh @AmyG - now I need to know *which* part?! 😜 1w

squirrelbrain Yes, I love a character-driven novel too! @ruthiella 1w

AmyG @squirrelbrain I will let you know when we discuss that part! 1w

Lesliereadsalot Not loving this book as I keep putting it down. I see everyone else loves it, so I‘ll stick with it for #camplitsy25. @BarbaraBB 1w

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot interesting! Now I am very curious where I‘ll end up with this book! 1w

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squirrelbrain

Havoc | Rebecca Wait

pick

Whilst I liked this I‘m *really* disappointed to say I didn‘t love it. I usually adore campus novels and, with such high expectations for this author, this just fell a bit short.

There were too many characters with at least one unnecessary storyline, meaning there wasn‘t the emotional heft of previous books.

It felt too matter-of-fact, with a lot of the book taken up with faxes between medical professionals ⬇️

#netgalley
Pub 3rd July in the UK

squirrelbrain which, while interesting, also detracted from the emotional side of the book. There also wasn‘t enough exploration of the MC and her supposed ‘difficult‘ new roommate. 2w

TrishB Pre- warned 👍🏻 2w

sarahbarnes Oh no - I just found out she has a new book AND that I need to temper my expectations of it all in one post! 😂 2w

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB Oh no! I have been highly anticipating this one! Incidentally I just started a book with the same title

Havoc

squirrelbrain You may all love it, but it just seemed rather ‘ordinary‘ to me. 🤷‍♀️ @TrishB @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I‘ve seen the tagged book around Barbara - looking forward to hearing how it is! 2w

TheKidUpstairs Oh no, I'll temper my expectations. I've loved both of her books I've read, so I was really looking forward to this one! I'll look to borrow not buy! 2w

youneverarrived Same @sarahbarnes 😂 3d

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squirrelbrain

The Unwilding | Marina Kemp

pick

This was really good - a holiday / beach read but with more about it.

In 1999 the Travers family gather at their Sicilian villa, along with assorted hangers-on of the patriarch Don, a renowned writer. The story is alternately told by the youngest daughter, Nemony, and Zoe, a new addition to Donks retinue.

20 years later, they both look back on the fateful holiday, where Nemony‘s eldest sister made a mistake that will haunt all their lives.

CarolynM Sounds good. 2w

69 likes1 stack add1 comment

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

Welcome to our second book of #camplitsy25! We hope you‘re enjoying Wild Dark Shore and we look forward to 2 weekends of discussions.

Don‘t forget, this week we are discussing the first part of the book only so, if you have read on to the end, please take care not to post spoilers for everyone else!

Also, we‘re not tagging on every post, so please scroll down for the other questions for this week.

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 2w

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 2w

squirrelbrain @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books 2w

See All 85 Comments

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 2w

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 2w

DGRachel This has been a bit of A Week, so I haven‘t started yet. I have a bit of catching up to do. 🙃 2w

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 2w

Kitta I think Dom needed control over his life due to grief and moving to the island was one way to make things manageable for him. But I‘m not sure it‘s what‘s best for the children. They need to socialize with other kids their own age and develop friendships etc. It sounds like Raff especially needs extra support with learning and he‘s not getting that. They‘re so isolated. 2w

Lesliereadsalot The situation in which the kids have been raised seems nearly impossible. So inter-dependent, no friends except for the sea life, such a limited childhood! It‘s all they know, but still, how does a parent do this to his kids? Very selfish. 2w

Bookwormjillk Gosh, it's part loving family and part hostage situation. I don't see it going well when/if they get off the island. 2w

TEArificbooks I think the family is grieving and the world is suffering from climate change disasters and there is no perfect way to deal with all that. But people do tend to hold the ones they love closer after such a big loss and they become more codependent. And just because it was not a typical upbringing doesn‘t mean it was wrong or damaging. It might have been what they all needed. 2w

TEArificbooks It even reminds me little of The Light Pirate. The main character was young when Florida began to sink and everyone left it. But she stayed with an old lady and her brother left her. And by growing up in a new climate world she adapted in ways adults couldn‘t and lead to her survival. So maybe the isolation in a rough environment would help them learn how to survive on their own in such a challenging new world. 2w

Chelsea.Poole I really feel for Dom. He‘s lost and grieving. He wants to protect his children but I‘m not sure he‘s doing that in such a remote location. This wildness might be what he needs but it may not be what the children need at this point in their lives. 2w

Suet624 Just a reminder: Don wasn‘t always there with just his kids. There were others on the island at some point. It‘s funny because I never thought to be critical of Dom. His kids, while grieving, seem to be doing pretty well - much like any isolated family in a rural area would. (edited) 2w

TEArificbooks No matter how the dad chose how to raise his kids people would judge them. And he judges himself. He is always questioning himself and regretting word choices and his own parenting. Regretting the things he said or things he didn‘t do. Even questioning if coming to the island was a good idea. Just like every parent. 2w

Kitta @Suet624 that‘s true, I forgot there were others at one point, but now it‘s very isolated and his reluctance to leave and the broken radio equipment worries me. 2w

TrishB Always very difficult to be a parent- because everyone has an opinion on how you do it. I think he made a decision for good reasons for himself and the family at that point in time. 2w

AmyG They were a family in pain after such a loss. Dom did what he thought was best as he deeply loves his children, though he is a very the damaged man. What @TrishB said….he made a decision he thought was best. As for family dynamic…they all deeply love each other and, even with all their issues, I felt they were a close family and very dependent on each other. BUT…wow, there is so much pain there together and separately. (edited) 2w

KarenUK Totally agree @TrishB I think that that opinion of others parenting is often in comparison to what is they consider the ‘normal‘ way. More isolated communities exist all over the world. There isn‘t one way to live. And as @Suet624 said, there were other people there at first. They are grieving as a family. And the kids seem to be empathetic, kind and loving, and developing interpersonal skills even though they are fairly isolated. 2w

BarbaraBB I find Dom‘s parenting both heartbreaking and deeply human. He‘s trying to raise strong, capable children in a world that‘s falling apart, but in doing so, he passes on some of his own pain. He protects them fiercely—but at a cost. 2w

Susanita What @Bookwormjillk said! 2w

LeeRHarry I agree @KarenUK - people live in isolation in many different places and the children share a solid and caring relationship. The grief is palpable and seriously needs to addressed though. 2w

squirrelbrain @DGRachel - it‘s a fast read once you get going - enjoy! 2w

squirrelbrain @kitta -I felt that about Raff, too. Out of all of them I felt he was struggling the most. 2w

squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk @Susanita - that‘s a perfect way of looking at it! 2w

Zuhkeeyah I think Dom is doing his best. He knows he's not a warm and fuzzy but he loves those children with his whole being. The distance we see in the book is recent because he does mention before times where they sought him out for comfort. 2w

squirrelbrain @TEArificbooks @TrishB @AmyG @KarenUK - great point that parents are criticised whatever they do. Dom, like all parents, is doing what he thinks best in the circumstances he found himself in. 2w

Zuhkeeyah @BarbaraBB Exactly. This is seen in how he helps Raff channel his anger. 2w

squirrelbrain @Suet624 @BarbaraBB @Zuhkeeyah - he certainly does love his children fiercely, and is trying to protect them from (perceived) threats, but in doing so, has he exposed them to different dangers? 2w

BkClubCare For me, the fact (whatever incident HAS happened that I don‘t yet know because I have only read to half 😊) that something horrific has recently happened and Dom is all calm, “yep, power out, it‘s only 6 weeks left, carry on” with NO dealing with it all besides, “let‘s not talk about it, shall we?” Seems a bit weird. There is no conversation of what next, no prepping for any new life elsewhere. Just washing the salt off the windows as needs must. 2w

Bookwormjillk @BkClubCare I stopped at halfway too and have the same frustrations. 2w

jenniferw88 I think Dom's children are coping better with their grief than Dom is, and the relationships between them is OK. Raff might be struggling slightly more as he's dealing with 2 losses (his mum & Alex), but they're trying to work as a unit to help their Dad, who doesn't know how to go about restoring their relationships. 2w

Zuhkeeyah @squirrelbrain Hmmm yes and no. The kids know more about the natural world than most adults. The problem is that they're not part of the human portion, which is going to be hard when they go back to the mainland. Also, no one talks about their feelings but Orly. 2w

Karisa Nodding along with your voices. The complexity of the situation that McConaghy builds in this cold world of work, nature, and family is sublime. I admired Dom‘s strength in carrying on when leading his family while also worrying that the noncommunication is putting them all at risk. They are in survival mode. It‘s both sad and beautiful this place. 2w

sarahbarnes Agree with many of the thoughts here. Dom seems to be doing what he believes is best for his children. The future of the planet also factors into that for him - I think he feels a heavy obligation to protect the seeds until they are picked up. And on top of all that, he is immersed in grief. His kids are experiencing some incredible things. And in many ways it still feels like any childhood - joking about how their dad makes them do chores etc. 2w

mcctrish I agree with all that has been said - I do question moving to an isolated place with the kids after they lost their mom preventing them from having friend supports but global warming ramping up negates that luxury?@TEArificbooks I had The Light Pirate vibes too with the kids being able to negotiate this new world better. I haven‘t read ahead & I feel like whatever has transpired has rocked them & caused the riff between dad & daughter 2w

Susanita @BkClubCare Yes! The family had things barely under control or at least at some kind of equilibrium…then Rowan comes along and upsets the apple cart. It was funny to me that Dom was mad at her for lying, when they‘re obviously lying about SOME BIG THING. And yeah, let‘s just get to it already. 2w

Karisa Random but…. Does any one else love that she made their last name Salt? 😍 2w

JamieArc I haven‘t thought a lot about criticizing Dom, like @Suet624 I feel like there is a lot we don‘t know yet. What does the world actually look like? How bad is it? I‘m not sure how to balance how much the kids‘ situation will hold them back or put them ahead once they get into “the real world.” And - they are leaving with the next boat, so there‘s that. 2w

Zuhkeeyah @Karisa Lol I didn‘t catch that. A lot of earth themes throughout. 2w

peaKnit @Bookwormjillk I like how you said that - part loving family, part hostage situation. I think the kids may be flourishing in some interesting ways, ways that wouldn‘t make sense anywhere else but while suffering and missing so much socialization. I understand why but don‘t agree with it as a long term situation for everyone‘s mental health. 2w

kspenmoll I have just read the first part also. The lush descriptions of the land, its sea creatures, traveling seed on the albatross, birds, light & darkness are captivating. It‘s heartbreaking to feel the grief-it‘s palpable like a character in itself. I think Dom is doing his best to- he is not a man to explore feelings in words which does short change the children - he does not seem to understand that one word will bring his daughter back to him. 2w

Deblovestoread Loved @Bookwormjillk comment and agree with the comments about the deep love this family shares although shattered by the loss of their mom/life. It is so easy to judge parenting from the outside looking in and Dom could communicate more but he‘s doing his best. 2w

squirrelbrain @BkClubCare @Bookwormjillk @Susanita @kspenmoll - this halfway split was just perfect.👌 Things really start to happen soon, although it takes a while to build! 2w

squirrelbrain @Karisa @sarahbarnes @jamiearc @peaKnit @deblovestoread - I agree that Dom is doing what he feels best, and also that they‘re in survival mode. But surviving on the island and surviving in the real world are two entirely different things. 2w

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk hostage situation is the word I was looking for. I think he loves them but is controlling them in a very negative way, too. 2w

Megabooks @TEArificbooks that is a really good comparison to TLP!! I loved the MC in that book. 2w

MeganAnn I actually think that a lot of the grief/ pain the kids are experiencing stems from the big thing that happened before Rowan arrived on the island. They‘ve been on this island for 9 years & their mom died before they came so while they still miss her, they are more worried that Dom cannot seem to find a way through his grief over losing her. Raff is struggling because of the loss of Alex. We don‘t know what happened with Fen yet but something did. 2w

Megabooks @Suet624 idk if I agree that kind of isolation is good for any kid. I found myself wondering why didn‘t he leave when the other people did. It just bothers me that Fen sees more communion with animals than other people. 2w

MeganAnn @TEArificbooks yes this is reminding me a lot of The Light Pirate also! One of my favorites. @mcctrish I agree that whatever big thing happened has caused the rift between Dom and Fen. 2w

MeganAnn While the kids may not be socializing with children their own ages, they were clearly still social with the scientists who were on the island until recently. So while it may not be ideal and they will probably struggle at first to join a new community, I think they have the skills to adapt. And they have learned a lot from nature. Dom‘s refusal to deal with his grief and talk about his feelings is harder for the kids than anything. 2w

vonnie862 It is not healthy. Dom is going through grief and is doing his best to raise his kids in this deserted island. But...what happened? They are obviously hiding something. 2w

MeganAnn @Megabooks I see Fen‘s need to stay with the seals as a result of her dealing with whatever big thing happened that we don‘t know yet. Something clearly happened to her that caused her to pull away and feel uncomfortable in their home which is why she wants to stay out with the seals. Every time she is at the house she says something about not wanting to be there that feels like a trauma response to whatever happened. 2w

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain yes it was quite the cliffhanger! 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Suet624 I agree, there mostly seemed a constant flow of scientists on the island until we get to the point where we the reader join them. I do think though that kids need to socialize (more than whatever virtual school they were doing) with other children their own age. They miss so many mile stones and are going to find it difficult to make friends, which I feel they will need when they eventually skater off the island. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I agree, McConaghy in the end writes the children in general to be well adjusted and rational, even mature for their ages, I think she was trying to show the situation in a good light because though there is something going on with the kids in the middle we see that they are mostly okay. Even with Fen sleeping with the animals. It isn't much different than the scientists they grew up with. 2w

JamieArc @Megabooks I‘m not convinced they did leave. It‘s probably a big jump to say they didn‘t, but with Hank‘s passport left behind, I‘m now wondering. At least the circumstances under which they left. 2w

GatheringBooks I love @BarbaraBB‘s take on this question along with @Zuhkeeyah‘s thoughts that Dom is doing his best. I also agree with @TrishB that it is easy for an outsider to have opinions about how you raise your own children. As @TEArificbooks noted Dom has sufficient self-awareness that he also second-guesses his choices. More than anything, I find this to be an admirable undertaking - the sense that one has purpose & doing something valuable - what ⬇️ 2w

GatheringBooks (Cont) what a remarkable opportunity for the kids to be surrounded by nature and be mentored by passionate scientists and be raised by a loving parent. I don‘t see what they miss in the regular sense - but marvel at what they have instead. Normalcy is overrated. This is something else altogether that not everyone will ever get to experience in their lifetime. If mainlanders don‘t get them, it‘s on them - not the kids‘. 2w

Hooked_on_books I think he‘s doing his best. Plus, in this changing world, they‘re learning resilience and how to interface with the natural world, which are vital skills they likely wouldn‘t be learning in another setting. And with the rapid sea level rise, what is going on on the mainland? Is it chaos and violence? Probably. So they could well be better off where they are. 2w

Larkken A little late to the party, but chiming in to say that to some degree the parenting seems to be a bit of commentary by the author on the breakdown of society at the end of the world. The undertone is : everything will be tribal & insular & the only people you can depend on is family. So Dom‘s parenting, I guess I would argue, is somewhat a result of the world-wide crisis itself? But maybe I‘m being cynical bc I find McConaghy rather dire/dismal 2w

BookwormAHN I think it's clear Dom is hiding but I also think it would be fascinating to grow up like that. 2w

squirrelbrain @Megabooks - aren‘t all children controlled by their parent(s) though? Although, the kids here have no chance of breaking away from Dom. 2w

squirrelbrain @MeganAnn @vonnie862 @ChaoticMissAdventures I agree, the kids seem really well-adjusted, considering. They almost seem to be parenting their father. 2w

squirrelbrain I love this @gatheringbooks - ‘normalcy is overrated‘ ❤️ 2w

squirrelbrain @Larkken - not cynical at all, and a well-made point that no-one else has yet made. 2w

Jas16 I think parenting is hard enough when you aren‘t dealing with everything on Dom‘s plate. I agree with others that he is doing the best he can Oftentimes that might not be enough but he clearly loves his kids and they seem to know that he loves him despite it all which is half the battle. 2w

Jas16 @Larkken interesting point. 2w

Lesliereadsalot It‘s really hard for me to discuss this book only discussing the first half! Really looking forward to next week. 2w

BarbaraBB @TEArificbooks I now really want to read that book! 2w

BarbaraBB @Karisa I wasn‘t aware of their last name but it‘s well chosen! 2w

willaful @BarbaraBB Well put. 2w

willaful @Megabooks I'm by no means sure that any of the other people actually “left.“ 2w

squirrelbrain @Jas16 - I can‘t imagine how Dom is feeling with everything that is going on, and how guilty he must feel for his kids and the situation they‘re in. 2w

Well-ReadNeck This question has me thinking about the movie Life is Beautiful where a father is raising his son in a concentration camp and imparts the beauty of the world to his son in the worst senecio. I think it‘s a lovely thought and a great movie, but wholly unrealistic. How to keep children protected and innocent while also teaching diligence and the skills to survive is a tricky balance. Different circumstances also make this different for every family 2w

Megabooks @squirrelbrain I think there‘s a difference between control and support. Yes, you can say control is an appropriate word for a child Orly‘s age. I think support would be a more appropriate word for teen, and he‘s taken away a lot of their ability to make any decisions separate from him by isolating them so much. 2w

Megabooks @JamieArc @willaful that‘s a good point. I just kind of pictured it like the research village on Lost. 2w

squirrelbrain @Well-ReadNeck - it doesn‘t feel like the children are innocent of the world in this case, expect maybe Orly. It feels as though Fen and Raff have seen too much already. 2w

CBee Finally finished the first half and am loving it (I knew I would). Agree with so many of the thoughts here, but also many unanswered questions that I‘m looking forward to finding answers… And as a parent who constantly doubts, I admire Dom. He‘s doing the best he can after losing his wife and well, during the end of the world. But, Raff and Fen are closed off for some reason, Orly is an open book. Curious to find out more 🧐 2w

squirrelbrain Glad you‘re loving it! @CBee You can read to the end now! ☺️ 2w

CBee @squirrelbrain yay! Cause I don‘t think I can stop 😂 2w

Butterfinger As I was reading the comments, my thoughts of child-rearing were quite different until I read @GatheringBooks. What an opportunity for children to be on this island where hope for the future is kept in the form of life (seeds) and to see nature in its primal state. As a parent, I try not to do things but give them adventures, and I was envying being there. On the other hand, I would never allow my daughter to sleep in another place by herself. 2w

Butterfinger I also agree with @TrishB with the judgment. In particular, homeschooling. Homeschooling parents are judged because of the lack of socialization, whereas public school parents are judged for too much socialization. They have no friends their age. I agree with adventures, but not for that long. And we don't know, maybe Dom has no support system to take the children, so he did what was needed for his job. I'm going back and forth, aren't I? 2w

DGRachel It‘s funny but I never thought to criticize Dom‘s parenting. As others have noted, he did the best he could while in the throes of grief and guilt. I do wish he‘d been softer for all of his kids, I think even at the halfway point, it‘s clear they needed that, but he loved them and cared for them the best he could. 6d

53 likes85 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

The author has addressed climate change in all of her novels – how do you find the portrayal of the climate crisis in this book, through the medium of the seed bank and other factors?

Do you think fiction is a good way of calling for action on this and other similar issues?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Kitta I think fiction is a good way to engage people about climate change and the devastating consequences if we don‘t act now. I like thinking about the island and its environment as a character going through a tough time. It‘s like the ocean is angry and reclaiming land that we humans have destroyed. The closing of the seed bank and Hank having to make the decision of what to save is depressing and stressful. Orly‘s thoughts add to it well. 2w

Bookwormjillk My main volunteer gig has to do with the environment so I am always happy to see people treating climate change like something that actually exists. (Although I admit I have tried to read one of this author's books before and bailed.) 2w

Chelsea.Poole I agree with @kitta —introducing/exposing people to some of these concepts with fiction is a way to get messages out to many who would not otherwise consider reading or learning about climate change. Picking up “a story” that reflects our current struggles is often the way to expose people to these climate disasters to wake them up. Love the author‘s use of nature/environmental concepts in her books. 2w

See All 75 Comments

Suet624 I appreciate how she writes about the consequences of climate change. Her descriptions of nature have always put me right in the spot she‘s talking about. 2w

TEArificbooks I think it is an excellent way to expose people to the fact that climate change is real and just around the corner and our grandchildren will be dealing with the things this family is dealing with. I have noticed a huge uptick in climate change fiction. I hope it inspires people to try to fix it and our next generation does better than us. 2w

TrishB I enjoy learning via fiction, if you‘re interested you go away and find out more. I love the way she portrays nature as a character. 2w

KarenUK I love her writing because of this. So evocative. It‘s very immersive, moving and thought provoking. 2w

AmyG I loved the climate and descriptions of the land and sea. Her writing gave me such a clear picture of where they lived. I think it‘s a great way to get across to people the situation we are in as a world. I found myself googling seed bank etc. I now have a better understanding of that…which I didn‘t have before I read this book. 2w

rockpools I think she writes the environment wonderfully! And seeing the island (and Rowan‘s lost home) through both Rowan and Orly‘s eyes is really effective. It feels very real, and very close. I haven‘t read her before, but am loving her ability to transport you to this place. 2w

BarbaraBB You could argue the strength lies in its balance: the book doesn‘t just highlight ecological catastrophe—it delves into personal grief, survival, and moral choice. I regard the seed bank both a literal and symbolic heart of the story, representing what we value—or risk losing. fiction like this delivers more than facts alone, by bringing climate change into our emotional and moral worlds. 2w

Susanita Fiction can drive home the emotional impact of a situation in a way that just reporting facts and figures can‘t really do. We feel the loss of Rowan‘s home to the fires and the loss of the island because we see those losses on an individual and immediate level. 2w

squirrelbrain @rockpools - you should definitely read the other books by this author! 2w

squirrelbrain Playing devil‘s advocate here - do you think the people who *should* read and do the research around a book like this, will do? Or will they just see it as pure fiction and not rooted in fact? @Kitta @Bookwormjillk @Chelsea.Poole @Suet624 @TEArificbooks @TrishB @KarenUK @AmyG @rockpools @BarbaraBB @Susanita 2w

squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - I was only seeing the seed bank in a very literal way. 🤔 2w

Zuhkeeyah The island and Rowan's house are themselves characters in the book. The island shows what is still there, while Rowan's home represents how fast it can all disappear. This is mirrored with the seed bank and the need to protect it. Fiction reaches a wider audience than nonfiction. I'm glad to see authors making an effort to highlight the imminent dangers of climate change. Once you relate to a character's struggle, it's harder to ignore the issue. 2w

rockpools @squirrelbrain The people who ‘need‘ to read around this - maybe they will see it as fiction. But it builds. They will hear about wildfires. And floods. And maybe even seed banks (or biodiversity loss). And the impact of those things will become more real, more relevant and the stories more human through having read fiction. 2w

Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraBB excellent point about the seed bank! I thought often about what I would protect at all costs in my own life while reading. It‘s the seeds for the future —my children and the environment for them and all living beings. Seems to be a deeply ingrained drive for humans: preparing for the future. 2w

Chelsea.Poole Well put @rockpools !! I‘m not sure those who need this will be willing to pick it up on their own but this author sure is gaining popularity and perhaps that will help propel her message…plus, as mentioned above all the other cli-fi out there. It‘s going to become more and more difficult to avoid. 2w

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain good point- on the whole probably not, but maybe someone will. 2w

BkClubCare Oooo! Does anyone have any NF suggestions to pair with this? I definitely looked up snow gums and buzzy burrs, amongst other stuff. Great comments here. 👏 2w

Karisa @BarbaraBB Ooooh, the seed vault as the heart is beautiful (after all, seeds and hearts can be transplanted). Their home is the lighthouse—the eyes? Both are failing with the people/lifeblood/brain trying to keep it all running while time is running out. They are hoping but unsure if help is on the way and if so, will the help make it in time? A microcosm of the larger, ailing world. 2w

KarenUK @squirrelbrain Good point! Probably not is the sad answer… 2w

mcctrish @Karisa I love your description of the island I love fiction that teaches me something and @rockpools that connections people who stumble across this book make in real life is enough to propel them to make changes ( or be loud enough to get the people in charge to) I loved reading the descriptions of this island - I continually wavered between wanting to be there and absolutely not wanting to be there 😆 2w

JamieArc I really like that she makes it something really tangible and personal. It‘s not some big thing that has turned us into a dystopian planet. But it‘s affected the island, their home, their work. 2w

AmyG @BarbaraBB Spot on. I viewed the seed bank as the future. Dom was saving the seeds so his children, and basically humans, could have a future. 2w

Ruthiella I pretty much hated the book. But I do agree the writing is good and the environment, the weather, the atmosphere of the island is beautifully rendered. 2w

peaKnit @BarbaraBB yes, I also appreciate your thoughts about the seedbank, now I can see it as the heart more - I‘m learning I might read too literally. 2w

kspenmoll The author‘s descriptions of the land, sea, & its creatures were mesmerizing. I I loved the chapter that featured the truss from the seat on the back circling the Earth. I agree with @rockpools that seeing the island through the eyes of Rowan & Orly is effective- Rowan‘s eyes are new, so you feel her wonder & Orly‘s joy at sharing his world with her. @Karisa I love your view/ ideas about the novel as a “microcosm of the larger, -ailing world.” (edited) 2w

Deblovestoread I love how I know exactly where I‘m at with her writing. Her descriptions are vivid. And yes I think novels can open our eyes to something we should be paying attention to and can spur you on to learn more. 2w

squirrelbrain I agree with @chelsea.poole - that was beautifully put @rockpools , and so hopeful! 2w

squirrelbrain @Karisa @JamieArc - this author is so good at linking large, expansive issues with more personal challenges, giving them so much more heart and meaning in the process. 2w

squirrelbrain @mcctrish - maybe a short visit?! 😜 2w

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - I‘m sorry you didn‘t like it 😞 but glad you could see past that to some of the positives. 2w

squirrelbrain @peaKnit - I read too literally too! A book like Audition *makes* you look for metaphors / analogies / whatevers but with books like this one that are so immersive and ‘easy‘ I tend to take them at surface value. 2w

Megabooks @Kitta that‘s a good point. I feel like some folks feel lectured at with nonfiction or news in the way they don‘t with fiction. It opens us to new worlds even if they‘re scary. @Chelsea.Poole 2w

Megabooks @BarbaraBB wow!!! Great thought/observation!! 💜💜💜 2w

Megabooks @Suet624 @KarenUK @AmyG she is one of the best descriptive writers I‘ve read recently!! 2w

Christine Great points, @BarbaraBB and @Zuhkeeyah ! And 🤣 @Ruthiella , I‘m enjoying the book but am eager to learn more about your hate! 2w

vonnie862 The description of the island really helps portray the situation the characters are in. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I think the people who should read it, will never be changed, until something very drastic happens to them, and even then it is a 50/50 chance they will “believe“ in climate change. I think they would read this book as a dystopian thing that cannot happen like Mad Max or other wild tales. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures I will begrudgingly admit (I did not like this book) she writes a scene/landscape well. I can visualize the island, and the cottages in my mind even now weeks after I have finished the book. I think she selects in all her books the harshest climates, the places that feel like they want to drive humans away by the force of nature. 2w

JamieArc @Megabooks I was also thinking of the lecturing point. I feel like I‘ve seen people say that even with fiction books. But climate change is woven into the story in a way that doesn‘t feel like…I‘m not sure how to say it. It‘s all interconnected - the land, the climate, the characters and their grief. The climate doesn‘t overshadow the other parts. 2w

Hooked_on_books I love how the environment is portrayed here. Especially the ocean, which here and in reality is relentless, unstoppable, and untamable. And she shows that so well. And I do think fiction is a good medium to explore things like climate change, since it allows an author to reach forward into what is to come and create characters people can relate to so they can see what it might be like for themselves. Plus, so many people just don‘t read NF. 2w

Hooked_on_books @BkClubCare It‘s less about climate change specifically, but looks at human damage to locations and what nature has done to reclaim those places from human injury. It‘s fantastic and I think would pair well with this:

Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape

TEArificbooks @Hooked__on__books thanks for the suggestion. As for if I think the people need to read the book would read it and change their opinion on climate change? I hope so. I think if they can be empathic to a character then they can be empathetic to the environment too. However, I know that there are people that never believe no matter how much logic and evidence there is. There are still people that think the earth is flat for Pete‘s sake. 2w

GatheringBooks Great follow up question by @squirrelbrain - that is the rub, isn‘t it? Whether those who need to read it manage to do so in the first place - but at least it IS there. You are right in noting how the setting is very much a character here. The sense of aliveness of the place and the evocative way it was described is lovingly detailed. Like @JamieArc noted, i never felt the climate change aspect was heavy handed or prescriptive, it simply is. 2w

BkClubCare @Hooked_on_books - Thank you 🙏 2w

BookwormAHN I was a little torn on the climate change aspect. On one hand I can see the need to find a way to convey the need for everyone to take it more seriously but I think that she almost pushed it in to a dystopian novel. Or we are a lot more screwed than I was previously aware if. 2w

squirrelbrain @jamiearc @Megabooks - I don‘t think that this book felt like a lecture at all. Conversely, while I really enjoy Barbara Kingsolver, sometimes she gets on her soapbox and becomes really didactic. 2w

squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - you‘re right, so many people shy away from NF for fear of it being ‘dry‘. 2w

LeeRHarry @Hooked_on_books great NF book suggestion - I loved that one. The way that nature writing is woven into this book is my favourite part about it. Living in a country that regularly has bushfires, I thought the sense of devastatingly loss for all things as a result of fires was done really well. (edited) 2w

Jas16 @BarbaraBB I love that so much. I didn‘t think of that while reading the book but you are so right 2w

Jas16 @rockpools I agree with you. People may not do a deep dive into climate change after reading this but stories like this enter people‘s consciousness which is a way to get them thinking and empathizing outside of their usual bubbles. 2w

rockpools @Hooked_on_books Thanks for the recommendation- I‘d wanted to read that when it came out, but it somehow fell off my radar… (or got buried under other things). 2w

rockpools @squirrelbrain Yes re how she wove in climate change elements. And I agree re Kingsolver - I‘ve loved her books for years. But you can feel lectured! 2w

Lesliereadsalot @Ruthiella You hated this book?!? Can‘t wait for next week to find out why. 2w

Ruthiella @Lesliereadsalot Pretty much! 😂 2w

rockpools @BarbaraBB I love your thoughts on the seedbank. For some reason, the decisions Hank was forced to make made me think of the UK education system (go figure!). ‘Useful‘ subjects only, none of that artsy, wild, beautiful stuff we need to thrive, just the crops we need to exist. 2w

Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB What smart observations! You really got the best out of this book. 2w

rockpools @squirrelbrain I will definitely read more by this author. Are camp sessions finished for today? Can I go back to my tent and read the second half now??! Can‘t wait to get back to it 😁 2w

Hooked_on_books @rockpools I know we can all relate to that! 😂 2w

squirrelbrain @rockpools - yes you can read more! At least you don‘t have to be secretive about it - at this camp we encourage reading after lights out! 😜 I have both other books if you can‘t get hold of them - I can bring them to Gladstone‘s and you could post them back to me, or I‘ll post them to you beforehand 2w

rockpools @squirrelbrain Aw, thanks Helen 😘. But my library has both of the others, so no need to risk them to the post! Very happy you all pushed me to read her xx 2w

Kitta @squirrelbrain late reply but I think you‘re right that the people who need to read it and understand, won‘t. But there will probably be a few who pick it up and have the ideas planted in their minds. We need to celebrate those wins, however small. And I think cli-fi is more engaging than NF sometimes. There‘s really good NF books but deciding to read it is a step too far for someone not engaged in climate change I think. 2w

squirrelbrain That‘s great! @rockpools I just thought they‘re not that easy to come by in the UK so I‘m glad you can get them. 2w

squirrelbrain We can but hope! 🤞 @Kitta 2w

Well-ReadNeck I think the author is doing an amazing job of show-don‘t-tell here letting what the reader knows evolve through observation. Lots of ominous vibes here. I am a little confused about what the state of the world is here, but I think that‘s also part the story-they are so isolated they don‘t really know either. 2w

Butterfinger Before I read comments, I am going to say - climate change is real and its scary and you think about everything humans have done (penguins in the barrels, oh my goodness) and the last black rhino that died in the current past. It's shameful. The author does a good job with describing the wild beauty and the ugly reality. And when you add Rowan's harrowing ordeal with the fire - it can get depressing. @Chelsea.Poole well said. 2w

Butterfinger I agree with the symbolism @BarbaraBB I will also add that the seed bank is hope for mankind's future so the family and Rowan may have hope for a solid future. I love the idea of the seed bank. I knew the world had it, but I assumed it was in the north. Well said @Zuhkeeyah yes @mcctrish I also learn about major issues from fiction and this cli-fi will stay with me for a long time. My fav part so far is Orly sharing his love with her @kspenmoll 2w

Butterfinger @ChaoticMissAdventures I remember the ozone scare in the mid to late 80s. Because I read my Nanny's newspapers as a child (lack of books and being a bit too far to get to the library) she stopped using her aerosol hair spray and burning Styrofoam. She grumbled, "Tammy Lynn needs to stop reading."? But she stopped. When the young get invested, they will share the message to family and/or raise their children more conscientiously. 2w

Butterfinger Thanks @Hooked__on__books for the nf. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Butterfinger there are actually lots of seed banks around the world! You are probably thinking of what I think is the largest of them all, it is in the north in Norway way up by the Arctic pole by a town called Svalbard. Definitely not on an island that will flood soon, but that wouldn't be very dramatic for a novel. 2w

Butterfinger Aaah!!! @ChaoticMissAdventures I see. That must be the one I know from CNN10. 2w

squirrelbrain Yes @Butterfinger - those barrels were truly horrific weren‘t they? And I love how you demonstrate that even the little things have an impact on ‘saving the planet‘ like your Nanny did. 2w

DGRachel I love when the setting can be a character in its own right. The descriptions here are so evocative. It was hard not to feel frozen and windswept while reading (even though it‘s been between 90-100* F here the last two weeks 🥵). Also @BarbaraBB I love the idea of the seed bank as literal and metaphorical heart. I know there was a lot of symbolism I missed. 6d

35 likes75 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

There are two polarised views about the island, from Fen and her father. Orly also seems to love the island, although he knows nothing else. What about Raff?

Who do you think is more correct in their views?

Could you live (or even thrive!) in such an environment?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Kitta I think Fen says it‘s killing them but she clearly loves it too. The animals there, especially the seals, have a real acceptance of her if not a bond. But I think she‘s right and it‘s not sustainable forever to live there. Dom‘s grief is clouding his judgement imo. Maybe it was a good idea for a short period of time but 9 years? Orly‘s whole life? Only knowing the island? Idk. But I grew up in a city. I can‘t imagine growing up so isolated. 2w

Bookwormjillk I would love to live on an island like that by myself for a year just to see if I could. That is assuming it wasn't trying to kill me.

I think this is one of those situations where everyone is right. It's such an extreme environment that it may kill some people and others may thrive. I think Raff is so deep in his grief that he's not really feeling anything at all. 2w

Lesliereadsalot I don‘t think Dom can see straight in this life where he has placed his family. He has his single minded focus on saving the seeds, and the kids come second. Of course he loves them, and he sees who they are, but he‘s sort of helpless to nurture them. Fen knows they need a different life, even though she has grown to love the sea. Raff and Orly go along, but only the reader can be objective enough to know how much they could grow elsewhere. 2w

See All 53 Comments

Lesliereadsalot I could never live like this for even a week. 2w

Chelsea.Poole Maybe how each character feels about the island symbolizes their feelings/grief of losing their mother/wife? Fen is angry, Dom cannot let go, Raff is adrift, Orly doesn‘t know what he‘s missing out on. 2w

Suet624 Oh gosh. Honestly, I‘m sad they will have to leave. While the conditions are harsh, moving to civilization feels scary to me for this group. The outside world will be hard to get used to and the conditions experienced living among other people could be as harsh as the island. 2w

TEArificbooks I agree with @Chelsea.Poole there is a connection between their grief and how they feel about the island. But there is no wrong way to grieve and everyone has a different experience even when they are having the exact same experience. So I don‘t think anyone is wrong or right. You feel what you feel. 2w

TrishB No way I could live this life. There is some attraction to isolation for short periods. But not forever. Their life there is not sustainable, which is sort of a sub plot about nature and life! 2w

rockpools I‘m intrigued by Fen‘s view. Of everyone, she seems the most a part of the environment, and yet the most realistic about leaving. Her need to leave seems to be based on the mental health of the others, particularly Dom. She comes across as so capable… but possibly more aware that they need support. I do wonder what happened, why she won‘t sleep in the house. 2w

rockpools And no. Much as I would love to live this kind of life, and have lived in some differently isolated places (never this extreme!), turns out I quite need to be around people, or at least have decent transport links back to civilisation, to stay sane. Annoying, really! 2w

KarenUK I‘m definitely attracted to the idea of isolation in small doses, but long term… eek! I love what @Chelsea.poole said about their grief and their feelings about the island being intertwined. 2w

AmyG I, too, agree with @Chelsea.Poole about the island and grief/loss. Fen comes to the island after her loss of her home, her husband and the family after the loss of their Mom/wife. I understand Dom wanting to desperately save the seeds…he couldn‘t save his wife so maybe he can help save the future for his kids. I think Fen believes this island is killing them. I also think Dom is afraid to leave…he may (in his mind) “lose” his kids to the world. 2w

BarbaraBB I think the book pushes us toward a synthesis: the island isn‘t just wild or dear—it is both, and only by acknowledging both can the characters (and we) truly connect to it. I think island doesn‘t fit into a single box. 2w

squirrelbrain @Lesliereadsalot @rockpools - Fen seems to be the most mature of everyone doesn‘t she? 2w

Zuhkeeyah Fen is more self-aware than Dom, who is completely committed to protecting the seeds and keeping his kids close. The island was what they needed when drowning in grief but it's time the kids got to stretch their wings. Dom is afraid of them flying away from him because he's not ready for another loss. 2w

Zuhkeeyah I don't think I'd mind the isolation of the island back when the researchers were there too. As it is now... no way. 2w

Lesliereadsalot I think Fen expresses the most thoughts, so we clearly see how she has evolved. Her life should get better and better off the island. I did love Orly though, such a cool kid! 2w

jenniferw88 I agree with @Suet624 . 2w

squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole @TEArificbooks @AmyG - there‘s definitely some link to grief there, in all of them, isn‘t there? Hopefully, we‘ll explore that a bit more next week. 🤔 2w

Karisa Totally agree with @Suet624 and @jenniferw88 there‘s no guarantees that the outside world seems unsafe too. @Lesliereadsalot I admire Dom‘s family and the place so much but wouldn‘t last a week either! 😅 2w

mcctrish I think the island trying to kill them is 2 fold - the extreme weather is one making it hard to do anything and it‘s getting worse - plus whatever happened has scarred not only them but the island making them not function together. I could maybe handle it for a period of time but not to live and work for years. I don‘t even like the idea of not being able to walk somewhere and having to rely on a car for everything 2w

Susanita Isolation sounds good in some ways…until it‘s not. And they are REALLY isolated now with whatever happened to the comms. Also, like @rockpools I really want to know the story with Fen and Dom. 2w

Ruthiella I think they are both correct and the author means this to be a microcosmic portrayal of the planet and our relationship to it. Nature owes humans nothing. We are killing the Earth and so it defends itself - Earth abides. 2w

peaKnit I imagine this family with a hard shell and squishy insides. They are so damaged but maybe stay distracted and build walls by the work of living on this island? Fen seems to have taken on a more adult role out of necessity but also protects herself by staying isolated much of the time. 2w

kspenmoll I agree with @Suet624 as well. This family is so poorly equipped to deal with the real world- I have this gnawing feeling it would kill them. Also agree with @mcctrish in that the mysterious tragedy is eating them alive in different ways. I could visit an isolated spot but only as a visit, not to live & with the assurance I can leave. 2w

mcctrish @Ruthiella YES!!!!! 2w

kspenmoll I love these discussions for the different views and insights that I gain (edited) 2w

kspenmoll @Ruthiella Perfect statement! 2w

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - that‘s a wonderful way of seeing / understanding the portrayal of both the family and the island. 2w

vonnie862 I can see how they love the island but the island is not sustainable to live in. Maybe if they move to the middle of the woods instead? 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Lesliereadsalot I am right there with you. Absolutely not. I could never live in this environment! But I am a sunny warm person, cold make me so unhappy. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole I think this is a great way to look at the characters and their attachment to the island. That is a wonderful way to look at them. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures I think Fen is seeing the island the way I do in question 2, it is like the elements are getting harsher and creeping in and trying to literally kill them. Fen sees that the world they build is not in their control, and is becoming to dangerous to hang onto. I agree with others she seems like the only rational person of the bunch. I personally am a city rat and could never live like this I would be bored out of my mind. 2w

Hooked_on_books I‘m apparently one of the few (appropriately!), but yeah, I could totally live in that environment. 😂 I do pretty well with isolation. @Chelsea.Poole I love this take on each character‘s feelings for the island mirroring their grief. And @Ruthiella , you took the words out of my mouth! The island as microcosm for the planet is exactly how I see it. 2w

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot I think Dom is blinded by grief and needs to save something — his children, the seeds, the planet — because he lost something monumental. 2w

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole count me as another fan of your interpretation! 2w

Megabooks I don‘t even want to live on a well inhabited island (even up to the size of the British isles — sorry @squirrelbrain ), so yeah, this doesn‘t sound good to me at all! 2w

GatheringBooks @BarbaraBB loving the non-binary and more complex ideation of The Island: the same thing that we are most attached to can also be slowly killing us - a truth in most other situations too. The Island has become a sort of family to them, notwithstanding whether it is dysfunctional or otherwise. I think we would not really know what we are capable of unless we are in a situation where we have limited choices in the matter, which is why I admire Dom. 2w

BookwormAHN I was kind of surprised by Fen's view since she seemed more attracted than any of them. But I also think it would be scary to like on a place that is so harsh and disappearing in front of them. 2w

LeeRHarry I think Fen out of the three children has the most interest in the outside world even though she clearly loves the animals on the island, there is some contradictory resentment there about being stuck on an island. I‘d like to visit Macquarie Island - just visit mind - but then I‘m a bit of an islophile. 😊 2w

BkClubCare Gosh, no one has even mentioned the ghosts. The island / nature might be both “wild and dear”, but what about the voices and sense of an otherworldly presence? 2w

TEArificbooks @BkClubCare I think the ghosts/spirits of the dead people and animals have a greater role to play in I haven‘t read ahead, but there are so many hints (the story orly tells). I think maybe Hank went mad from the ghosts on the island and killed everyone and maybe Dom took him out. Or maybe there was mass hysteria cause Alex also was hung and it‘s not clear if he did it or he was executed 2w

rockpools @LeeRHarry *googles Macquarie Island* Is this where this is based on then? I assumed it must be a real place when Orly mentions it as the only breeding ground for ?royal penguins - too specific a fact to make up (maybe). I‘ll fall down that rabbithole when I‘ve finished the book 🙂. But I‘d like to join you on your visit! 2w

rockpools @BkClubCare @TEArificbooks And the footsteps Rowan hears behind her in the fog. Was that just her getting creeped out, ghosts, or is there someone else on the island? (edited) 2w

LeeRHarry @rockpools oops is that a spoiler? 🫣hopefully not. I think you can definitely visit from here so the more the merrier I say. 😊 2w

squirrelbrain @BookwormAHN @leerharry - there‘s clearly something else going on with Fen, despite the fact that she loves the island. 🤔 (edited) 2w

squirrelbrain @BkClubCare @TEArificbooks - we were going to ask a question about the ghosts / voices but there were so many questions we had to cut some out. I do think this will come out more in one of the second-half questions though. 2w

squirrelbrain No spoilers there! @LeeRHarry 😉 2w

Butterfinger I think Fen means the secret is killing the family. Raff, as the eldest, wants to protect his siblings even though he is dealing with his own pain and grief. He may be my favorite character. Dom is so ruthless and mean to him, but at least he knows and is reflective of that fault. @Lesliereadsalot Fen is so scared about returning to society. You are so right. WELL SAID @Ruthiella @BkClubCare I credited the presence to highly sensitive imagination 2w

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - reading on and already, GHOSTS 👻 2w

squirrelbrain Maybe?! @bkclubcare 2w

DGRachel (Answering before reading comments) I lean more to Fen‘s interpretation, but I think it‘s the isolation and the lack of open, heartfelt communication that is destroying them. I know I couldn‘t survive the isolation. I lived in the mountains of NC, not as isolated, but disconnected from friends and family, for two years and it honestly made me suicidal. I need easy access to people, even if I choose to stay home. 6d

DGRachel Also, like @Suet624 I worry about how they will adjust to life in civilization after being on the island for so long. 6d

32 likes1 stack add53 comments

squirrelbrain

Seascraper: A mesmerising portrait of a young man hemmed in by circumstance and class, but dreaming of more | Benjamin Wood

pick

Isn‘t this the most gorgeous cover?!

20 year old Thomas is a ‘shanker‘ - he collects shrimps in an unnamed beach town, in mid-20th Century Britain, still using a horse and cart. One day a charismatic American arrives, offering money and requesting help that only Thomas can offer.

Will he be able to break away from his lonely drudgery or is it all too good to be true?

#netgalley Pub 17th July in the UK.

BarbaraBB Super attractive cover indeed! 3w

Cathythoughts Sounds beautiful ( cover is too ) stacked. ❤️ 3w

TrishB Oh I love that cover ♥️ 2w

74 likes2 stack adds3 comments

squirrelbrain

Untitled | Untitled

so-so

Well, that was batshit crazy! I‘ve no idea what just happened. I tried this author before and didn‘t get on with them but I persevered with this, as I read a review that said the ending was oh-so clever. Well, I must be oh-so stupid as nothing made sense to me. 😝

The MC is Kinga, but Kinga-A on Monday, Kinga-B on Tuesday…They keep a diary so each Kinga knows what the other is doing, and then Kinga-A finds a man tied up in their apartment. 🤷‍♀️

TrishB You didn‘t sell it…. 3w

sarahbarnes I liked other books of hers I‘ve read, but may not rush to get to this one. 3w

AmyG 😬(hard pass) 3w

See All 12 Comments

Lesliereadsalot Oh-so disinterested. Thanks for your honest review! 3w

Ruthiella I don‘t get her books at all. They are too experimental for me.. 3w

Reggie Omg, I‘m having flashbacks of the Gingerbread book of hers I read. Lolol I might try her again. Great review. 3w

Cathythoughts Great review! I‘m steering clear 👍🏻❤️ 3w

squirrelbrain Yeah, I tried Peaces but didn‘t get very far…. Not sure why I persevered with this one - I have so many other books I‘d like to read! @Ruthiella @Reggie @sarahbarnes 3w

squirrelbrain Glad to be of service! 🤣 @TrishB @AmyG @Lesliereadsalot @Cathythoughts 3w

Hooked_on_books I‘ve tried reading her and she just doesn‘t work for me. 3w

Centique @Reggie remember when we sort of buddy read White is for Witching? It made a lot more sense after I heard your thoughts on it! I might need to try another Oyeyemi 🤔 2w

Suet624 She always confuses me. 2w

79 likes12 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

Thank you all for some wonderful discussions about Audition over the past 2 weeks! I think we managed to wrestle a tough little book into submission between us! 🤣

Next Saturday we‘ll discuss the first half of WDS. It‘s much more difficult to identify chapters as most of them have 1 of the same 5 names! Anyhow, Orly has some short snippets about plants and we‘ll read to the end of the one about mangrove seeds, page 146 in my copy.

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 3w

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 3w

squirrelbrain @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books 3w

See All 20 Comments

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 3w

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 3w

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 3w

Megabooks Great! Can't wait to discuss this one! (I just emailed you back. Thanks for checking in. 💜) 3w

Ruthiella Looking forward to the discussion! 3w

MeganAnn I am looking forward to this book! Have my copy all ready to go 3w

CBee @squirrelbrain I had to DNF Audition, but cannot WAIT to start WDS. Yay! 3w

Karisa 👏👏👏👏 3w

Gissy I haven‘t read Audition yet because it arrived yesterday. But I already started this one and I like it. I like this author writing style. I‘m reading the physical book with the audiobook. 3w

Hooked_on_books Kitamura hasn‘t worked for me in the past, so I skipped Audition, but I loved this and look forward to the discussions! 3w

squirrelbrain Are you going to try Audition? @Gissy It‘s a quick read, but very confusing!🫤 3w

squirrelbrain @CBee @Hooked_on_books - looking forward to welcoming a couple of latecomers to camp! 😜 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures Peeping myself to be the odd one out on this 😂 3w

BookwormAHN I loved this one ❤️ 3w

Roary47 I‘m still on a library hold for this one. 😭😭😭 I‘m 6 in line so don‘t think I‘ll make it. 3w

Meshell1313 Sounds like a perfect plan! 3w

75 likes20 comments

squirrelbrain

Book of Haikus | Jack Kerouac

Posting this for the #haikuhive - it made me chuckle! I could try to write this post in the form of a haiku but….no! 😝

It‘s from a UK company:

https://www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/products/haikus-are-hippopotamus-unisex-t...

Ruthiella 😂😂😂 3w

Deblovestoread ❤️❤️❤️ 3w

JenlovesJT47 😅😅😅 3w

Reggie Love it! 3w

lil1inblue 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 3w

55 likes5 comments

squirrelbrain

Gabri�le | Anne Berest, Claire Berest

pick

#europacollective

I liked this but I struggled with whether it was a novel or NF. I didn‘t like the authors‘ comments at the end of each chapter, they really drew me out of the ‘story‘.

I also found it frustrating that they kept saying ‘we don‘t know anything about Gabriële‘s life‘ - not in the past tense ‘we didn‘t know but we‘ve learned‘ but in the present so it read like ‘we still don‘t know‘.

A soft pick for me.

tpixie, BarbaraBB, Lesliereadsalot

Lesliereadsalot I‘m halfway through this one, not loving it. Also not interested in the authors‘ comments, so misplaced! @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB #Europacollective @tpixie (edited) 3w

tpixie @Lesliereadsalot @squirrelbrain the comments do abruptly pull you out of the story. I‘m slow reading. I find the characters are not likable. But some of the information has been interesting. But it certainly is not moving me like the postcard did. (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB Great review. I didn‘t find the author‘s comments as annoying as you and @Lesliereadsalot did but I just didn‘t think Gabriele that interesting. To her great granddaughters alright, but to us? 3w

See All 7 Comments

Velvetfur This sounds very interesting so I've stacked, thank you! 3w

squirrelbrain @Velvetfur -this one by the same author was *so* much better so if you haven‘t read it yet, try it first.

The Postcard

Velvetfur @squirrelbrain Cool, thanks for the tip 👍🏻☺️ 3w

67 likes1 stack add7 comments

squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

#camplitsy25

It‘s been a perplexing first fortnight at camp, hasn‘t it?!

That new girl, Katie, I think she‘s called, seems to think she‘s an actress and she has all sorts of stories to tell, but she changes her mind every few hours as well! Hopefully we can figure her out between us. 😜

Don‘t forget we‘re only tagging the first question each week, so scroll down for questions 2 and 3.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 3w

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 3w

squirrelbrain @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 3w

See All 66 Comments

squirrelbrain @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 3w

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 3w

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 3w

CarolynM I don‘t have a direct answer to the question, but I thought the passage at the beginning of Part 2 about the transition scene in the play was interesting as a metaphor for changes in our lives. Understanding, even enjoying, the change as it happens sets us up to make the most of the new life. 3w

RaeLovesToRead The book mentions a big scene in the middle of the play that the MC has to nail but struggles with, and that this is a transition between the first and second parts of the story. And structurally it feels like this is deliberately missing / not shown to us! The play she is acting in some ways reflects the actual book. 3w

TrishB I think it‘s reflecting how we all play parts in real life- not just on stage 🤷‍♀️ 3w

TheKidUpstairs Like @TrishB said, there are parallels between the roles played on stage, and the roles we play with different people in our life. In the second half, it felt like MCs various roles were collapsing in on each other. I also felt like comments in the first part about aging and memory and perception r were then reflected in the second part's fever dream - it felt like the nightmare of being thrust on stage, but you don't know the part or the lines... 3w

BkClubCare @RaeLovesToRead EXCELLENT observation 3w

TheKidUpstairs ... she was always trying to catch up to the story she found herself cast in, but was unsure of her role there. 3w

BkClubCare The book uses the play and probably the Shakespeare quote “All life is but a stage” etc as inspiration of the ways to be a mother or NOT be a mother and every day the roles are unpredictable. 3w

RaeLovesToRead @BkClubCare Also observe how I didn't actually answer the question 🤣🤣🤣 3w

mcctrish Now that I read this quote/question again and I think of @Bookwormjillk ‘s dementia idea I think it can refer to what part of it all she remembered and could take with her on the stage each night. The parallel being her real life too. She‘s so unreliable and there is so much underlying in the text I‘m just 🤯 3w

squirrelbrain @CarolynM @RaeLovesToRead @TrishB @TheKidUpstairs - I thought the fact that she had nailed the play in the second half, but then things started to go a bit awry was demonstrating that we can‘t always have it all. 3w

GatheringBooks @RaeLovesToRead everything that you said about the scene MC struggles with & how it is metaphorical of the narrative. Love the question as it captures in essence the strangeness of the book, a strangeness that makes a bit of sense structurally, and the fact that we have an unreliable narrator here who shifted from being a flighty wife to a devoted-yet-hard-to-please mother in the transition phase. A case where story form matches characterization. 3w

AmyG I question if there is a blurred line between the main character‘s acting on stage and living life. Does she live her actual life as if she is on a stage? Does she feel the need to get the “performance” in life correct as she does on the stage. I wonder if she can separate the actress from the person. 3w

AmyG @TheKidUpstairs what you just said….as in the play and in her life she is unsure of her role. In the play, she can‘t quite grasp, or perfect, that one scene. But one cannot live life as if it‘s a scene in a play as life is a “living, changing thing” where a play is the same, over and over. In a play you have an opportunity every night to make it perfect. Life doesn‘t always offer that opportunity. You know what happens in a play…not in life. (edited) 3w

vonnie862 I agree with many of you. The MC is unsure of her role in real life, so her life is a stage. Now, the idea of possible dementia did cross my mind. 3w

kspenmoll I did not pick up on possible dementia but then she could be hallucinating if that is the case in the 2nd half. Agree with all regarding blurting of lines between a role on stage & her actual life- is she always acting? I like @GatheringBooks “ a case where story for matches characterization” Who is she? Does she even know? 3w

BkClubCare @kspenmoll @GatheringBooks - great comments! She does NOT know who or how to be. 3w

Susanita When they were in the elevator together I thought: What if Hana is a serial killer? But that would be a totally different book! 🤣 3w

Deblovestoread Thanks @AmyG. I quickly read the second part last night before bed and my mind went so many places. I think you nailed it. 3w

Meshell1313 Anyone else thinking of this: "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts…” (edited) 3w

Butterfinger @TrishB I had the same thought. There are so many roles I have to play, and each different "audience" has different expectations. Ms. Dayton, Tammy, Tammy Lynn (my parents), and my favorite role - momma. I also find there has to be a transition between each act. It's hard to go straight to mothering from teaching. 3w

Butterfinger @TheKidUpstairs @AmyG I relate to the blurriness as well. Those quick moments of transition can make it seem that you have become insane. I think the dynamics of the small family of 3 changed when the woman arrived. The narrator became an observer, an audience member. She didn't know her role anymore. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @TheKidUpstairs I love this look on things. How she is always trying to catch up and figure out her role. The mirroring of herself and her characters self. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @RaeLovesToRead I have read and listened to a few of her interviews about this book and I think she would be elated at you not actually answering the question 😂 😂 she very much wanted people to go in for the idea of each part but just enjoy the ride and not find answers. 3w

AmyG To add to what I said….in a play, you have many opportunities to “get it right”. Not so in life. In life, there are no auditions. Definition if audition: an interview for a particular role or job as a singer, actor, dancer, or musician, consisting of a practical demonstration of the candidate's suitability and skill. Did the MC have skill in acting, life or both? Was she suitable to be a Mom or not? (edited) 3w

TheKidUpstairs @ChaoticMissAdventures your right, I think she'd love all the different interpretations people are offering here. It takes all to offer up a story that can be so open to ideas and interpretations and leaves so many questions, but its still so well crafted. I tip my proverbial hat to her! 3w

squirrelbrain I agree with @Deblovestoread - I think you nailed it! @AmyG And I love your take on the title too. 3w

squirrelbrain It‘s interesting that a few Littens thought of dementia, @vonnie862 - it hadn‘t even crossed my mind. 3w

squirrelbrain @Susanita - it might have made for a better book! 🤣 3w

squirrelbrain @Meshell1313 - I hadn‘t thought of that, but really it encapsulates the whole narrative, doesn‘t it? 3w

Maggie4483 @Susanita I had the same thought! Or, that Hana and Xavier were scam artists and this book was going to take a weird, violent turn. 3w

Maggie4483 I definitely agree that the MC is not sure of her place in life. And as a reformed theater kid, I can relate. People are always so surprised when I tell them that I did theater, because I am so shy. But if all my lines and stage directions (and the other characters' reactions) were laid out for me in life, I'd probably be a lot more talkative! 3w

Maggie4483 I think she likely stays in the background until she knows the reaction she will get - like when she intentionally spilled the wine to get out of dinner.
Dementia didn't cross my mind, but mental illness did. Especially the way Tomas was always trying to protect her. Like going along with her delusion was safer than contradicting her. 3w

BookwormAHN I think @RaeLovesToRead called it. In the first half of the book it's mentioned that the playwright doesn't seem to like her character so she drastically changes her and it seems like that's what is going on in the MC's mind. 3w

squirrelbrain @Maggie4483 - yes, it‘s easier to live another life that is written for you, than to live your own life where there is no script. 3w

BarbaraBB I am getting more confused by each answer and I love it. I love your take on the story @RaeLovesToRead and I also think you nailed it @AmyG , explaining the title too. 3w

BarbaraBB @Maggie4483 @vonnie862 @kspenmoll @mcctrish @Bookwormjillk I didn‘t think of dementia when I read it, although aging was definitely a theme, as we concluded last week. So I might have missed the signals. 3w

BarbaraBB @Meshell1313 That‘s a great comparison. She must have thought of Shakespeare while writing this book! 3w

BarbaraBB @Butterfinger @TrishB Her role as a mother felt so unnatural to me. More like acting if you will. I couldn‘t believe she really was Xavier‘s mother 3w

Roary47 I like what @trishB and @TheKidUpstairs said about different roles. Our MC was trying to be a roommate, mom, wife, and owner of her home in the second part. @BkClubCare Your statement reminds me of a movie where we follow the life of the actress with and without being pregnant at a certain point in her life. That reflects what we all saw in each of these parts. @squirrelbrain I agree it does show we can‘t have everything line up perfectly. 3w

Roary47 @Maggie4483 I thought about them being scam artists and thought it would end up with the “parents” getting a new place or moving out and leaving the house to them. I also like how you mention Tomas not contradicting really anyone. Like him giving the two food so they wouldn‘t take over the kitchen. I didn‘t pick up on dementia or mental illness, but after hearing it from everyone I can see it being a possibility. 3w

squirrelbrain @Roary47 - so many roles that we all have to play, and there has to be a few that we‘re not very good at. 3w

Megabooks @RaeLovesToRead @bkclubcare I kind of thought the same thing. I felt like she used the situations in her “real life“ re: Xavier and Tomas to work through the issues she had in the scene. I think that's why she gave Xavier so much credit in the second half. (Hope this makes sense!) 3w

Megabooks @AmyG And does her blurring that line make her “phony“ or disingenuous. Idk why I go there with actors sometimes. Imposter syndrome must feel a bit different in that career!! 3w

Megabooks @Susanita It felt to me that Anna and Hana in each of the halves were almost empty vehicles to drive interaction and conflict between the MC and Xavier. Hana did have that weird quality where it seemed she was haunting the apartment. Creepy! 3w

AmyG @Megabooks Good point. I DID get feeling of disingenuousness about her. She was trying so hard to get it right…all the time. And at the end of part 2…you realize she got none of it right. 3w

MeganAnn @BarbaraBB I also thought her as a mother felt unnatural to me. After the questions about Xavier in the first half, the second half felt like a role she was playing rather than a reality. To mimic the ways she talked about finding the character in the play, she also was trying to find the role of mother. I felt like the entire book was “auditions” if you will — she walked through life like it was one audition after another. 3w

squirrelbrain Good thought about Anna @Megabooks - we‘ve hardly discussed her at all, but there was so much else to chew over! 3w

Suet624 I'm very late to this conversation - had a protest and a town birthday party to go to. I did not get this book at all so I'm taking time trying to understand it through these comments. I'm glad the book was short because it just annoyed me. 3w

Kitta @BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk @vonnie862 @squirrelbrain The first thing I thought of reading this was dementia tbh. There‘s so many inconsistencies and her reactions don‘t make sense sometimes. What I thought after reading the end, was that the book was Xavier‘s work about his mother‘s failing memory. 3w

Kitta Or maybe the audition is the first half, auditioning for the role of a mother, and the second half is what it would have been like if she hadn‘t had the abortion. Like different realities? I don‘t know. So many layers and so much to think about! 3w

Kitta @Suet624 honestly me too, I didn‘t enjoy this one too much too. The style and unreliable narrator didn‘t appeal to me. I‘m glad it was short. 3w

Suet624 @Kitta my personal opinion: Something about the state of the world is requiring that a book make sense because nothing else around me does. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 I get that 😳 3w

squirrelbrain @Suet624 @kitta - the comments certainly helped me to understand a bit more! (edited) 3w

Kitta @Suet624 😂 well that‘s true to for me too. I enjoyed our discussion at least even if I didn‘t enjoy reading this. Excited for

Wild Dark Shore

Addison_Reads I'm late to this discussion. I just finished the book yesterday, and like others, I just wasn't a fan of this one. Everyone's thoughts here definitely help me understand a bit more about what may have been happening with the MC, but it still didn't change my opinion about the book. 😁 2w

squirrelbrain 👋 Welcome to camp! @Addison_Reads - I agree, the comments certainly helped but they didn‘t change my mind, either. 2w

Susanita Anne Bogel recommended it on a recent episode. I nearly spit out my coffee! But what she said about it made a lot of sense as a suggestion for this guest. https://overcast.fm/+AAKhJ7e66cQ 3d

squirrelbrain Thanks @susanita! I‘m intrigued now - I‘ll have a listen when we get home from our camping trip. 3d

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squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

#camplitsy25

What does the author mean by a family being a shared delusion or a mutual construction? Do you agree with this concept?

What did you think of the familial relationships in the two parts - did they differ?

What about the MC‘s husband - what is his role in all of this? And let‘s not forget about Hana - what impact did she have on the story, and on the other characters?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

RaeLovesToRead Through a shared desire (and a transition scene that takes place off stage) they agree to give it a go as a family through a mutual desire for it to be the truth. They decide to accept Xavier as their son and pretend that this is how it has always been. Obviously this turns out to be harder than expected and eventually the mask slips. 3w

TrishB I thought it was a different reality. As in- this is what it could have been like. 3w

BkClubCare @TrishB - me, too. Part 2 was just another what if strand of reality. Hana was almost a third act (part 3)! 3w

See All 51 Comments

BkClubCare SO MUCH was going on in this slim book. I loved the writing style, just throwing it out there - maybe I didn‘t “get” or enjoy the story, the craft of telling it is amazing. (edited) 3w

TheKidUpstairs I'm in the "alternate reality"/sliding doors camp with @TrishB and @BkClubCare - I also felt like these "alternate realities" were another metaphor for memory and aging, and that surreal feeling of knowing something's not quite right, but not knowing what. 3w

peaKnit @BkClubCare 100% I didn‘t really get what the author may have meant but the style was good and the story was intriguing despite my own misconceptions. I may need to see sliding doors… (edited) 3w

mcctrish @BkClubCare it is crazy how much is packed into this slim book - I know I missed half of it but I enjoyed it like you 3w

AmyG I, too, thought of it as an alterate reality. And I view this as showing that memory and perception can dictate how a story plays out. In a play, the audience individually percieves what they view and makes judgements based on that. Same with life. Everyone‘s memories and perceptions are different …so the “life play” plays out differently for everyone. 3w

squirrelbrain @mcctrish - I‘m seeing so many things that I missed just from these first few posts and ideas! 3w

Reggie I agree with you @TrishB. I think that‘s why she kept meeting with him. I think she uses her skills as an actress to extrapolate what being a mother could have been like. And she has props from her real life. Like the scarf, and then like Rae mentioned there‘s the scene in the play she struggles with. That‘s used in talking about Xavier. There‘s a rift between them from him growing up but we don‘t know anything about it. 3w

vonnie862 This was weird to me. I kept questioning if he really was her son and, if so, why deny it so much in the first half. 3w

JenReadsAlot @BkClubCare @peaKnit Same! 3w

Reggie And the husband thing I think she made him into this guy to relieve the guilt of her cheating all those times. I know, I know, throw the tomatoes at me. When she says that line about it would be him to be the one that always leave, I was like, the guy who has the this is your baby as a fruit app guy?!!!!!Hana was a cheap device because I think as an insecure woman this actress couldn‘t think of any other way to create drama than to have herself go 3w

Reggie against a younger woman. And that‘s why I felt a little let down in that last quarter. 3w

JamieArc At first I saw it as a Sliding Doors thing (and that‘s one of my fave films from the 90s!). And then I thought of it the other way around- they take him in as their “son,” as if this had been their family all along. And with that, she got to reconstruct her history to be what she wanted, including erasing the affairs. 3w

JamieArc But I kept thinking about “the grass actually isn‘t greener on the other side.” 3w

JamieArc I think this quote speaks really well to the unraveling. Their shared delusion falls apart after Hana arrives and the MC comes home to find them playing their “game,” of which she‘s not a part. 3w

squirrelbrain @reggie - the husband thing was a bit odd. Clearly we were only seeing him from her perspective but she didn‘t seem to like him in either of her ‘lives‘. I‘m also not sure how he advanced the story. And I agree with you about Hana too - rather a cop-out. 3w

The_Book_Ninja @RaeLovesToRead Agreed 3w

Susanita I think @RaeLovesToRead makes a good point. They‘re all pretending to live the life they might have lived if Xavier was really her son. That kinda worked…until it didn‘t. 3w

Meshell1313 I keep asking myself about the role of the husband. Does the story even need him? Why is he participating in her delusions? 3w

Deblovestoread At first it was alternate reality or parallel universe and reading the author‘s interview that @ChaoticMissAdventures posted helped with that a bit. Or maybe the whole second part was a set up and it became Xavier‘s play or maybe it was just weird, messy life. I am all over the place with this one. 3w

Butterfinger I'm thinking of the quote - life imitates art - or vice versa. Why was she so worried about perceptions of age gaps? I read it as the narrator wrote a play - in her reality, the son is leaving, bringing home a girl who might replace her as the son's number one woman, so she uses writing as therapy. The 2 acts are happening at the same time. She wants the admiration of her son back, so she made up a character based on him. 3w

Butterfinger Shared delusion or Mutual construction??? Most families don't want to admit the problems they have. They sweep it under the rug and become offended at the word "dysfunctional." So the narrator and her husband pretend everything is alright when they should all be in therapy. If the narrator is suffering from dementia, the husband and son may construct a reality to keep the narrator calm. Hana could have been a nurse. I don't know what I am saying. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @BkClubCare I took the book in 3 parts also. beginning where she meets X, middle different reality where she has always known X, and then the end where the girlfriend comes in and makes thing real weird (I enjoyed it so weird is not derogatory here) 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Deblovestoread I am glad the article was helpful to you too! I read a couple this week to really understand the book better. And I think most people are getting what she was trying to do, she was pretty clear she wanted both halves of the book to be mirrors (fun house maybe?) to each other, they were not supposed to flow together. Which I think is interesting and not something we see in traditional writing so can be jarring to many. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @JamieArc I really like this idea, of her reconstructing history, that is not a lens I have heard it viewed from. I think that is great way to look at it. She she at first fights to bring him home and then things still go awry. 3w

Ruthiella I am really enjoying the discussion and the different ways of perceiving the novel. It just occurred to me that I might have a completely different take on it if the two parts were reversed in order. 🤯 3w

squirrelbrain @JamieArc - one of my favourite films too! And I always love a ‘sliding doors‘ type narrative, but this one was *too* confusing. 3w

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures @Deblovestoread - I read a few interviews with the author too but I found her to be just as opaque in those as she was in the book. 🤷‍♀️ 3w

squirrelbrain @Butterfinger - I get what you‘re saying! 😊 I like the idea that she‘s craving the admiration of her son after he ‘replaced‘ her with someone else. 3w

Maggie4483 I didn't even consider the alternate reality/“Sliding Doors“ possibility. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read it from that viewpoint. 😆
I really thought she started pretending that X really was her son, and let the fantasy get away from her until it turned into delusion. X & T both knew she was delusional, and went along with it - T because he didn't want to upset her, and X because it served his needs. (1/2) 3w

Maggie4483 (2/2) I know a lot of you saw the introduction of Hana as a cop out, but I saw her as a necessary foil to break the delusion. Blinded by love, Xavier couldn't help but drop the act, which in turn made the MC realize that things weren't what they seemed.

(I may be completely wrong about all of this - I was pretty confused throughout the whole book). 3w

BookwormAHN I was so confused and thought at first it was an alternative reality thing but her weird idea to seemingly rewrite their lives was so confusing that I was glad Hana showed up. 3w

peaKnit I read it as though it were two separate stories, same characters with different roles like American Horror Story. (edited) 3w

squirrelbrain But then things with Hana got *really* weird 🤷‍♀️ @BookwormAHN 3w

BarbaraBB I didn‘t think of an alternate reality, but kept thinking of acting. She felt so unnatural in her role as a mother. Might have to do with the scene @RaeLovesToRead had been mentioning. 3w

BarbaraBB @Ruthiella That‘s so true and yet they could have been reversed just as easily I think. I‘d be just as confused! 3w

BarbaraBB @Meshell1313 I‘ve been wondering that too. He has no ‘role‘ whatsoever. It even crossed my mind she made him up. They don‘t even greet one another when meeting in the first half. Did he even come into the restaurant? 3w

Roary47 @TrishB @BkClubCare @AmyG I agree with it being an alternate reality. I mentioned a movie that explored having a baby and not having a baby. This felt like that, because Part 1 no way she never had a baby and part 2 she mentioned Xavier when he was younger involving his room. I also like what @Deblovestoread mentioned with it being the “son‘s” play. If she was experiencing mental health issues like dementia, and her husband clung to having a kid 3w

Roary47 @Butterfinger I like this thought with having a second chance even if it wasn‘t really her son. I like the idea of father and son making a story for her and Hana actually being her nurse. I did not like Hana, but if you are struggling with your brain functioning properly then yeah I guess they could turn into someone that is too in your business. 3w

Megabooks @RaeLovesToRead This is such a great reading of it! I didn't think of it this way at all, but it makes a lot of sense! 3w

Megabooks @TrishB And I feel that the Sliding Doors thing is how it has been handled in other books I've read where it seems that one is “real“ and the other is “speculative,“ but I feel like Kitamura takes it farther into the realm of questioning reality than other more surface books like The Other Side of Now, which I'm reading this weekend. @bkclubcare @thekidupstairs @peaknit @mcctrish @AmyG @reggie 3w

Megabooks @vonnie862 I found it weird, too. Almost like “the lady doth protest too much“. 3w

Megabooks @Butterfinger I just totally didn't see the dementia angle, but her reaction to Hana does seem to make sense in the realm of what I know about how older people with dementia react to new nursing staff in their lives. Sometimes it's a bit harder if you introduce home care later in the course of the illness. 3w

BkClubCare VERY interesting comment about Anna in part 1 contrasting with the Hana dynamic in part 2. Both took X‘s focus away from Mom. 3w

Well-ReadNeck I thought of the shared aspect as sort of an improve exercise: all the participants say yes! … and! The husband, I think played the role the best. He accepted his role and accepted all the new ideas thrown out by Xavier (even Hana). The MC was along for the ride but, eventually, I think it didn‘t serve her and she put and end to it (hence it‘s a failed audition). 3w

squirrelbrain @Well-ReadNeck - another great idea that I hadn‘t thought of - improv! 3w

GatheringBooks @BkClubCare i agree about the form of the story being challenging - but yes agree 100 percent that the literary craftsmanship is superb. I may not be fully invested in any of them but it was fully absorbing nonetheless. 2w

GatheringBooks @Reggie reggieeeeee!!! I miss you and love reading your thoughts here. I know what you mean about this wanton woman (lols) throwing the husband under the bus - but then again guys are just always so predictable, like seriously, and the author could have also been threading that needle, how men are so easy - and women are slightly more complicated - so much so that we have two versions: hana and MC who are both unfathomable. 2w

GatheringBooks Great question and such fascinating answers. Having lived with my mother who has dementia, this never occurred to me at all. MC was lucid throughout - the clarity in her mind is startling and piercing, even. I am more with the sliding doors thing of @JamieArc - an alternate reality where the author cleverly reached into the “stage” of the book, rearranged the roles, said “action!” I thought the experimental aspect was risky yet it worked for me (edited) 2w

35 likes51 comments

squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

#camplitsy25

And, for our final question for this book and, as many of you have put in your reviews, WTF is going on?!

I know many of you have questions, so here‘s your opportunity and, hopefully, *someone* will have answers!

Here‘s a couple of questions from me to get us started:

Is one half real, the other fiction?
Is this meta-fiction?

Thanks for all your input and comments on this challenging book! 🏕️

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Soubhiville From the reviews, I don‘t feel I‘ve missed much by having to skip this one. I am looking forward to reading everyone‘s responses later, to see if anyone thinks they‘ve figured this book out! 3w

Bookwormjillk I'm going to answer this one first. I liked this book even though I didn't understand it. I've been thinking about it all week.

One of the things I was really confused about was the ages of the MC and Xavier. At first I guessed she was maybe early/mid 50's and Xavier was around 23-25. But in the second half she read a lot older. I began to think that she had dementia, and that the first part of the book was before she was diagnosed. (1/2) 3w

Bookwormjillk (2/2) The second part I thought was after she was diagnosed and Xavier and husband were trying to take care of her but had been so used to living off her acting paychecks their whole lives they weren't doing a good job. So they had to bring in Hana.

The whole book was scary to me. Like at any moment something can happen to you and no matter how successful you are you'll have to depend on others.

Can't wait to hear how others interpreted it! (edited) 3w

See All 99 Comments

CarolynM My theory is Part 1 is basically true. The advent of Xavier makes the MC revisit her feelings about her pregnancies and Part 2 is her thinking about what life would have been like if she‘d had either child, which she is projecting over the reality of Xavier taking advantage of her by moving in. Or it‘s 2 versions of the same person one childless, one with a child. In Part 1 she‘s angsty about her age/appearance, sexual politics, work stuff ⬇️ (edited) 3w

RaeLovesToRead I've written a detailed rundown on Goodreads - I'll try and summarise... Part One is reality and Part Two is an agreement between the characters to live as if Xavier is really their son, motivated by mutual desire for it to be the truth. Initially it fulfils a deep need for all the characters and the arrangement seems to be working, but as it goes on the mask starts to slip and Xavier's presence in their life becomes less of a positive. 3w

RaeLovesToRead As @The_Book_Ninja phrased it on my Litsy review "Xavier failed his Audition" 3w

RaeLovesToRead I do feel like the book made sense to me. I didn't feel confused. Once it tilts and is revealed that Part Two is "acting" all the inconsistencies fell into place for me. 3w

CarolynM ⬆️ In part 2 the angst is about things like which parent does the child want approval from, is the child meeting expectations or slacking off, how does the child‘s partner fit into the family dynamic? 3w

CarolynM @RaeLovesToRead I like your idea too. 3w

mcctrish Ooo @Bookwormjillk @RaeLovesToRead both of these make sense of this book and I love the comment that Xavier failed his audition because he totally did - felt like he was a grifter 3w

TrishB When I started the second part I just thought- oh this is one of those clever books we‘re all supposed to be philosophical about now….I struggle enjoying books that have no likeable characters and no plot. 3w

Oryx My interpretation was the same as @RaeLovesToRead 's - it was an agreement to act like they had always been a family. And then it fell apart. 3w

Oryx I'm still so confused about what age they are meant to be though? They read 60s/70s to me. But that doesn't fit. 3w

Bookwormjillk @RaeLovesToRead good theory! Makes the title make sense. 3w

BkClubCare I, too, want to answer this question first. I can‘t find my original thoughts (WHERE OH WHERE did I write that?! Anyway, I now think it is alternate realities, those aligning threads but not, where part 1 she didn‘t have a child and how that affected her marriage and her career and the part 2 if she did have Xavier and how it affects her life. I know I am stating the obvious, but to me, it was her stories to herself and not being able 1/? (edited) 3w

BkClubCare To reconcile her feelings and hopes for self actualization and happiness. It is working through all her feelings about motherhood and being a wife while having a career. All delusions, all shifting with each time on stage even while playing the same part. I am liking the story (stories?) more with distance. 2/2 3w

BkClubCare @RaeLovesToRead - yes! Love this! “Xavier failed the audition.” 😂 as did the MC for role of “mother”. 3w

RaeLovesToRead @mcctrish @BkClubCare I can't take credit for the Xavier failed his audition wording - that was @The_Book_Ninja 😄 3w

RaeLovesToRead But yeah, I'm pretty cemented in my view of what I thought was meant to be going on. Love hearing the other interpretations though! 3w

squirrelbrain @Soubhiville - it was certainly a challenging book for sure, and I‘m not sure if anyone actually enjoyed it. 😬 3w

TheKidUpstairs Like @Bookwormjillk I saw a lot of themes and ideas of aging and dementia, and also the vulnerabilities and potential for abuse in these situations. But not in a straightforward narrative way, I read the two parts as alternate realities as an allegory for dementia, combined with a metaphor for the roles we play. I'm not sure if I'm explaining my thoughts well - this book definitely sent them into a spiral! 3w

squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - that‘s really interesting and something that hadn‘t even crossed my mind. 🤔 So, in her confused mind Hana is bossing Tomas around when, really, she feels bossed around by Hana, maybe? 3w

TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain @soubhiville I really enjoyed it! But I was definitely in the right place for a mind twisting, not really sure what's going on, read. I totally get how people didn't like it as much as I did! 3w

squirrelbrain I really like these theories / this theory @CarolynM @BkClubCare (I think you‘re both agreeing?!). In the second part her play is a success (because of her) and it almost feels like she‘s asking the question ‘Can women actually have it all?‘. With the answer being, yes, but you still have worries and are not necessarily happy with having it all. 3w

mcctrish @Bookwormjillk your dementia idea is making it make sense to me more when I think back to the first part when I kept thinking her husband was following her because of infidelity but maybe he was just checking on her - early stages dementia you are fine in familiar settings - and how I felt she wasn‘t using all her words ( explaining all her thoughts/moods/ideas/situations ) thereby creating unnecessary confusion/conflict (edited) 3w

squirrelbrain Hmm, I‘m not so sure @RaeLovesToRead @oryx 🤔 There‘s a line near the start of part 2 where the MC talks about the negotiations between Anne, X and her. She says ‘It was not possible to occlude the reality of my relationship with X, the affinities and understandings built over a lifetime.‘ If X isn‘t her son and they have an agreement to act as if he was, she wouldn‘t have said this. 3w

squirrelbrain @TheKidUpstairs - I definitely saw the aging allegories but didn‘t think to take it as far as dementia, as you and @bookwormjillk did. It‘s fascinating how we can all come up with different theories or, in some cases, the same theory! 3w

jenniferw88 I enjoyed it. However, I have a different interpretation. I think Xavier is her son, and the first part and most of part two is a dress rehearsal of the play he wrote (based on real people they know), up until the fictional play run's end. Then the rest of it is discussing the performances and him saying "Mum, look, this is basically you". 3w

jenniferw88 I also like @Bookwormjillk 's idea about dementia though! 3w

mcctrish @jenniferw88 I‘m starting to think, going with the dementia theory, that Xavier is her son and she‘s forgotten him and like you said he‘s come back and he and his dad are trying to provide some support so she can keep living her life a bit on her terms 3w

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain yes, and I think in that weird hide and seek scene they were actually looking for MC. 3w

Bookwormjillk Maybe this is one of those books that can be about whatever you‘re going through at the moment. We‘re dealing with dementia in our family right now and the dreamy everyone is out to get me feel really reminded me of our relative. 3w

RaeLovesToRead @squirrelbrain I don't necessarily agree because she is speaking through the lens of their shared deliberate "delusion". There was always going to be some baggage when it came to Xavier because he became known to Anne through his turning up and seeking out the MC. All of her internal narrative is obfuscating, jumbled and incorporating both versions of reality - their new arrangement overlaying the reality. So I think it still fits. 3w

RaeLovesToRead @Oryx Thoughts? 3w

AmyG I questioned whether part 2 is actually her (perhaps) fantasizing “finding” her son as an adult? At the end of part 2 she did ‘t seem as the wonderful Mom she thought herself to be. What if the entire past of raising him was skipped and he came into the story as her son? A rewrite of the play? I am thinking I liked this book way more than I thought I did because I have thought so much about the story. 3w

AmyG @Bookwormjillk I keep thinking this book has much to do with the audience perception or what you say….bringing into it each individual person‘s “stuff”. We all percieve things differently based on our life, emotions, beliefs etc. We can‘t control a situation, only ourselves. So….this story will be percieved differently by each person reading it. Same as a play. @jenniferw88 very interesting interpretation. (edited) 3w

vonnie862 I'm going to be honest, I have no idea. 3w

squirrelbrain @jenniferw88 - I really like that interpretation. Although it hurts my brain a bit to try to re-frame it in that way, and I‘m definitely not going for a re-read! 3w

JenReadsAlot @vonnie862 Same! Loving reading everyone's thoughts. 3w

squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - I‘d forgotten about that scene, as it didn‘t seem to fit with the rest of the book for me. I wonder if it was actually her playing hide and seek with her own memories, trying to find them? There was a sense of menace about it - it certainly wasn‘t a children‘s game they were playing. 3w

squirrelbrain I really like this idea of everyone bringing their own perceptions @AmyG - and we‘re certainly demonstrating that here! 😝 3w

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain yes very confusing and menacing at the same time 3w

JamieArc @AmyG I like that idea too, about the audience perception. I can picture the author excited to see what all the readers think it is about. 3w

JamieArc @Bookwormjillk I‘m glad you brought in that scene, and your interpretation is interesting. I could NOT figure it out. I was worried it was going to go into some weird sexual direction, especially with earlier subtle comments about the husband and Hana. 3w

Susanita @TrishB Yes! I just kept thinking I didn‘t get it. Even once I just accepted it was two different stories! Also, it‘s another book in which the characters don‘t talk to each other! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3w

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain right? I keep wondering if…. If I hadn‘t read the book, and then read all these comments, would I want to read the book?🤣 because it really is twisty. (Will not be rereading it.) 3w

Jas16 Like @CarolynM I thought the 2nd part was her imagining if Xavier was her child. At first it seems rosy in her mind thinking they would have a close relationship but then her vision keeps shifting as all of her doubts about herself as a mother creep in and the possible family dynamics that would no longer have her at the center. Her thoughts keep spiraling until they flare into the over the top ending. But now seeing everyone else‘s thoughts… 3w

Meshell1313 I love reading everyone‘s theories! It‘s fun trying to interpret this unreliable narrator to figure out what is true and untrue and I think that‘s the whole point. There‘s def a message here about a woman‘s internal monologue and fulfilling these roles society places on us. 3w

Deblovestoread I didn‘t get dementia at all but could see where it can be viewed that way. It is so ambiguous that each reader is going to come away with a different idea of wtf actually happened and I think that was the point. 3w

Butterfinger I wish we could ask the author. I had forgotten about the hide and seek between Hana and the husband. It does show the insecure feelings of the narrator. Someone is trying to replace her. I think Hana is the one auditioning, in the narrator's mind, at least. I wonder if we will see this on next year's ToB. I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts and theories. Where our minds go to make sense of what we don't understand. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Bookwormjillk just a question, do you think she read a lot older because she is shown as a more stable mother? I think often times we view women who do not have children a bit younger than those who do. I question this often in literature that compares mothers to child free women.. Just curious as I didnt' see her older in the second half, though there is a bit of time that goes by since we know that X has been working w/ Ann for a bit. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @RaeLovesToRead I really like this take of the parts, and how the mask slips as the actions become more and more fever dream. I like this take because then you can get the feeling at the end when she removes Hana from the home she is again taking control. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @mcctrish agree, through-out the book I felt Xavier was a grifter. Each reality he was scamming for something. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I am going to be the extreme outlier this month. I really enjoyed this one and I absolutely hated the next one we will talk about which everyone seems to adore so far 😂 I still am enjoying everyone's takes here though! 3w

Ruthiella My interpretation was the same as @Jas16 and @CarolynM . It‘s so interesting to think now about other interpretations. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain the “can we have it all“ question is a great one. Through that lens looking at Hana it could feel like she is saying even if you work to have it all there will be outside forces that come in that you cannot control. 3w

Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger I really do wish we could ask the author. I wonder if she‘s reading all the speculation. @ChaoticMissAdventures I‘m not sure but I think it was because in the second part she seemed somehow more fragile and at the very end of her career. I agree Xavier is a grifter no matter what this book meant. 3w

Lesliereadsalot Having read all the comments, here‘s my take on the narrator. In the first half we see her as she wants to be seen: a recognizable actress, a husband who loves her, no children. Then Xavier appears, giving her something to think about outside of herself, what might have been. Then we segue to the second half: who she really is. She can‘t control her son or her husband. They‘re going to be who they‘re going to be and she has no power. 3w

RaeLovesToRead @ChaoticMissAdventures Yeah, the scenes do get very fever dream and exaggerated at the end and that's when it all comes back to reality. The way I saw it was she comes back in and they're all a bit giddy - like a drunken party where everyone takes things a bit too far - and she thinks her husband is groping Hana and it breaks the spell and she's like "RIGHT THAT'S IT. Show's over, guys." 3w

squirrelbrain @Jas16 - I‘m definitely drawn most to @CarolynM ‘s interpretation, although all of the others are just as feasible. 3w

squirrelbrain @Meshell1313 - it‘s so good to see all the theories isn‘t it?! It‘s great that a book most of us disliked has engendered so much discussion and I‘m starting to like it more now I understand it a bit more. 3w

squirrelbrain Oh, great thought about Hana being the one doing the audition! @Butterfinger (edited) 3w

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - I didn‘t see her as older in the second part either, which is why the dementia angle hadn‘t crossed my mind. 3w

squirrelbrain @Lesliereadsalot - so you think Xavier is actually her son, but in the first half she prefers to be known as childless? I wonder if that‘s why Tomas is such an insignificant, almost ghostly figure in the first half too? She wants to be the most important person in the room. 3w

Oryx @RaeLovesToRead @squirrelbrain replying to the convo in the thread above, I don't think it matters so much what she says, it can all be part of her act. Although the other theories are interesting. I'm not sure I'm clever enough for this book (and so my reaction is to not like it 😁). 3w

Maggie4483 @mcctrish Whoa! That is interesting! And that might explain when Hana talks about their “reconciliation,“ and the MC says “there was never any reconciliation, because there was never any rupture.“ Maybe they WERE estranged, and that's why she thinks she never had a child, until he comes back. 3w

Lesliereadsalot Yes, I think she doesn‘t want to be known as “mother”. She wants the world to be about her and her alone. How dare Xavier think he can insert himself into her perfect world. In the second half, her son bugs her, her husband bugs her, her life in general bugs her. The first half is her dream life, no longer attainable. 3w

Maggie4483 I'm so thankful for this discussion - if I had just read it on my own, I would have convinced myself that I wasn't smart enough to understand it. I mean...I still may not be, but I feel a little better knowing that it was intentionally written to be open to interpretation. Several people have used the term “fever dream,“ and that's definitely what this felt like. In some cases, I like that style of writing, but here...not so much. 3w

BookwormAHN I agree with @Lesliereadsalot But I also wonder if their is some dementia or if Xavier is Tomas' since in some of the earlier scenes he was checking up on her and worried if she was having another affair. 3w

squirrelbrain @Oryx - I‘ve found all the theories really enlightening, and I‘m starting to like the book more as a result. 3w

squirrelbrain @Maggie4483 - I agree - I knew when I read the book and didn‘t understand it, that Littens always have great ideas and would help me out. 😜 3w

squirrelbrain @Lesliereadsalot - that makes a lot of sense! I wonder if the two parts could be reversed. The first part is *after* she kicks him out, he‘s returned but she doesn‘t ‘know‘ him any more. 3w

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare I felt that too, that she failed the audition for the role of mother! 3w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk I get your take on it and the dementia, now that you explain it. Hana might even have been a caregiver. I also think it‘s quite interesting what @jenniferw88 and @mcctrish add to your theory. I am so confused, especially when dealing irl with my mother‘s dementia and not recognizing aspects of it in the mc! (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB Mostly our discussions are so enlightening but this one makes me even more confused. So many wise things said above could have been true!! Based on the interview with the author that @ChaoticMissAdventures shared earlier, I think she would be proud of us and all our interpretations of the story! (edited) 3w

Roary47 @CarolynM I like that idea that she didn‘t have two kids, and there were two “kids” in the house the second time. I was on the same thought that it was two realities like @BkClubCare one with a child one without. I also like @RaeLovesToRead thoughts that X was acting as son. I also like the idea of women can have it all with reservations. @squirrelbrain I‘m so glad I was in this discussion it helped bring my thoughts to light and see others. 3w

Roary47 Another thought I had: Xavier and Hana were con artists who were using MC and T to gain the home. Like anyone who uses an elderly person to gain access to their money, bank account, or identity. Weaseling their way into the home and taking over. Even getting T to be their butler for a bit. The dementia thoughts would have helped them do it. After this discussion I also enjoyed this book more, but wouldn‘t read it again. 😅 3w

squirrelbrain I like that there are so many different options and ideas! @BarbaraBB 3w

squirrelbrain It‘s been such a good discussion, hasn‘t it?! @roary47 3w

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - excellent discussion!! 🌟 3w

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk Have you ever read We Spread by Iain Reid? The horror aspects of dealing with dementia were handled in an interesting way in that book. I think there is something truly unsettling about losing one's grip on reality that way. I wonder how the mind does reconcile it?? @bookwormjillK @thekidupstairs @mcctrish @JenniferW88 3w

Megabooks My initial thought, and I don't think I've seen anyone say this, was that she was using this imagination of life with Xavier as a way to break through the acting block she had in the first half. Maybe she had to see herself in a different situation to access those emotions. 3w

Megabooks @RaeLovesToRead That's really interesting and an interpretation that I didn't think of. But then I wonder why late middle age to older adults would agree to have a child at that point? It seems awfully late to try to take one on.

@oryx were they always a family and if so, why was he estranged in the first half?

Excellent quip @the_book_ninja!! 3w

mcctrish @Megabooks I‘m going to check that out - my mom had Lewy Body Dementia and it was awful 3w

MeganAnn @Lesliereadsalot I like your take! The first half seemed like she was playing the role of a recognizable actress when she wasn‘t on stage playing the role of the character. The second half felt like she was playing the role of mother & wife, but losing control of everything as her son and husband sort of take over. And every time she mentioned her work on the play I got the sense that she was playing a role as much in real life as she was at work. 3w

MeganAnn So many excellent thoughts and ideas here! I kept going back to the title of the book when trying to make sense of it. That along with the mentions of her work in the play and the way she speaks about it felt like she sees these parts of her life as roles to play just as much as the ones she is hired for. Each scene of her life is an audition and she is finding the character she wants to play in that scene. (1/2) 3w

Bookwormjillk @Megabooks I have not. Thanks for the rec! 3w

MeganAnn At the beginning she plays the role of a recognizable actress about town. In the second part the role of mother is a bit harder to nail down. She cannot control or completely predict what Tomas or Xavier are going to do and is trying to react to them as a mother should for the part, but it feels a bit unnatural. And then she completely loses control when Hana shows up and the whole things goes sideways. 3w

squirrelbrain I agree @MeganAnn - we had so many great ideas and theories - it‘s difficult to pick just one, but I think that‘s what the author intended. 3w

Kitta I thought that she had dementia and that the novel is actually Xavier‘s play, voicing what he thinks she‘s thinking and going through. The play she was acting in at the beginning was the inspiration for him to write this. I think there was a rupture in their relationship and he‘s trying to reconnect with her in a medium she understands. That he is her son and she‘s already forgotten him in part one, so he moves in and she regains some memories. 3w

Kitta But I‘m not sure 🤷🏻‍♀️ it‘s a confusing one. 3w

Well-ReadNeck I really liked this book and have recommended it to a few folks who I think would really roll with how completely banana pants it is 🍌👖 3w

Well-ReadNeck I got the creeps from Xavier at the beginning because I thought he was gaslighting her (I mean she knows if she had a kid or not and I presumed she was a reliable narrator). But, maybe he was just proposing a “mutually beneficial” scenario that they “auditioned” in the second half. The vibes reminded me a ton of an old Will Smith movie from the early 90‘s(I think) I believe it was called Six Degrees of Separation. 3w

squirrelbrain You‘re one of the few to like it! 😬 @Well-ReadNeck 3w

Christine Such a great conversation! I think @megabooks comes closest to my interpretation of what it was all about. At the same time, I didn‘t really think about what it was all about too much, I just enjoyed the ride! 🤣 3w

GatheringBooks Our college kid graduated over the weekend here in seattle so am late to this party. @RaeLovesToRead loved your use of the word “tilt” because it IS tilting the story on its axis where everything turned surreal, postmodern & choose-your-own-adventure-y vibe, where parallel realities converge & the reader gets to choose/decide which narrative we lean towards. As @TrishB said, it may be too clever for its own good & risks alienating the reader. 2w

GatheringBooks I think everything we just read is the story that Xavier wrote. Well done, Xavier. You have managed to flummox Litsy book-brethren. 2w

RaeLovesToRead @GatheringBooks Thanks 🥰 I loved the book in all it's surreal, postmodern weirdness! 2w

squirrelbrain Lol @GatheringBooks - it takes a lot to flummox *all* the Litsy folk! 2w

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squirrelbrain

The Benefactors: 'So fresh, so sharp, so wry, so alive' Lucy Caldwell | Wendy Erskine

pick

I wanted to love this a lot more than I did. A few too many issues make it a soft pick.

Misty is a cam-girl who is sexually assaulted at a house party by three of her supposed friends. The boys‘ mothers close ranks to protect their sons, while Misty has her sort-of stepfather to back her up.

The cam-girl thing could have been really powerful but it wasn‘t. The three mothers were all awful, without a redeeming feature between them. ⬇️

squirrelbrain My biggest issue though was all the POV changes and the sub-plots / vignettes of other local people / bit-part players. Too distracting and I hope it‘s just my digital ARC but there wasn‘t any indication of the change of POV - not even a paragraph break. One sentence ran into another and you had to figure it out for yourself. Sounds like I hated it 😬 but I didn‘t - just needed a bit of tightening up in places. And a better layout in print. 🤞 4w

BarbaraBB Great review though 4w

sarahbarnes Great review. And cover - I can see why you were drawn to read it. 3w

63 likes3 comments

squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

📣 Hooray! It‘s the start of summer and our first day of #camplitsy25! 🎉

This week we‘re discussing Part One of Audition. As ever, if you‘ve read ahead, please try not to include spoilers for those who haven‘t.

Also, just to let you all know, we‘ll only be tagging the first question each week (due to #glitchylitsy making it a long task).

Your first question is up above and, if you‘ve read ahead scroll down you‘ll find the other two. Enjoy!

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 1mo

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 1mo

squirrelbrain
@flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books 1mo

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squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 1mo

squirrelbrain
@karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx 1mo

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 1mo

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 1mo

Sapphire I thought the waiters reaction in NYC was imagined/projected from her own anxieties and presumption. However in Paris the overt assumption is Clear with the note. So that earlier experience would also influence why she thinks the wait staff take such notice of what is happening at tables beyond who needs ketchup , more wine, is rude, or likely to tip well or poorly. 1mo

mcctrish @Sapphire I agree. The Paris waiter was cringe but now the MC is 🤣 1mo

kspenmoll Agree with ypu both @Sapphire @mcctrish She was so jumpy /anxious in NYC- she did impose her assumptions on the wait staff‘s facial expressions, actions-she was so conscious of the age difference between Xavier & herself. 1mo

Zuhkeeyah Yes! The Paris waiter set a precedent for her brain that came into play once the old/young positions were flipped. Not sure if it says much about our society. I don‘t think many ppl jump to such conclusions just based on who is sitting at a table together. I will say we all certainly enjoy making up stories when ppl watching. 1mo

Bookwormjillk @Zuhkeeyah I agree- in general people just don‘t think about each other that much 1mo

TrishB I think because she judges people she assumed others were judging her. Unlike @Zuhkeeyah and @Bookwormjillk I think people do this all the time when they‘re people watching! 1mo

Chelsea.Poole Seems like everyone is so worried about how they are being perceived to do much thinking about anyone else lol @Bookwormjillk 1mo

JamieArc @TrishB Totally agree with you about the judging dynamic. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot So insecure to think other people were looking at her and judging her. Has anybody reading this ever once felt other people in a restaurant were looking at them? I personally have never felt that, unless I was with someone creating a scene. 1mo

mcctrish @Bookwormjillk I think you are totally right, most people are self involved and don‘t bother with other people but now I‘m wondering if her being famous plays into her feelings of being watched/judged 1mo

DGRachel I agree with @TrishB about people watching judgements. I also think she was extra sensitive because of the reason they were meeting. But I also think we have to consider that this is her perception of what is happening, and I think it‘s obvious even in part one that she is an unreliable narrator. 1mo

DGRachel @Lesliereadsalot I have definitely felt like strangers were looking at me and judging me, but as you noted, it‘s insecurity. When I feel uncomfortable in my own skin or with the social situation, I am constantly alert for stares/glares/whispers behind my back. 1mo

JenReadsAlot @Zuhkeeyah Totalky agree 1mo

RaeLovesToRead Oh man, I forgot about that Paris waiter! 😫 People make assumptions about the people around them all the time. I think it would usually take more than the relative ages of two people having dinner to decide their relationship to each other. Their appearance, body language, behaviour, all form part of the impression. And the MC is assuming what people are assuming so there's another level of projection there. 1mo

JenP I think past experiences shape how we interpret other events later on and in the first case it was clear that there were judgments being made. And while I do agree we think that others are thinking about us more than they really do (a concept proven in social psychology, I also think there is a reality to people making assumptions about certain scenarios and many of those scenarios are gendered. She was also famous so in that case, focus is there 1mo

Suet624 @DGRachel @Lesliereadsalot Yes! I often feel like people are looking at me and judging me. It‘s both insecurity and actual reality. 😊 1mo

vonnie862 @TrishB I agree. When one is insecure, they often feel like people are judging them. 1mo

Deblovestoread My dad and I often go out to dinner in his local area and believe me you can tell when the wait staff is thinking May/December rather than familial. I think in the US we tend to jump to the most negative conclusion first. 1mo

Deblovestoread I agree @TrishB 1mo

Jas16 Same @Suet624 . I also liked her feeling that the host is reassessing his snap judgments about Xavier and where he seated them based on her jewelry and expensive clothes. I have felt that way and didn‘t care much but I had a boss once who would get very angry about where his table was in restaurants because of how he felt he was being judged. 1mo

Ruthiella I enjoy people watching and sometimes I do make up narratives that in my head. But when I was waitressing, I had little time to do that, personally. Managing multiple tables did not allow for it! Only with repeat customers / regulars did I have the luxury of thinking beyond what they ordered and getting paid. The narrator is over sensitive here, IMO. She thinks people are paying attention to her and they are probably not. (edited) 1mo

AmyG The MC is an actress. I think because of that, she notices (or percieves) every emotion with every person she comes in contactwith. It‘s the constant reading and perceiving (judging, also) of others emotions. Does she do this for her profession, the studying of peope? I think so. And I think that we must take into account HER perception of these emotions. It‘s ALL how she perceives things. Another might perceive things differently. 1mo

jenniferw88 A common question when we're out as a family eating is 'what do you think the relationship between those people are', so I think the MC is right with fellow customers, but I agree with @Ruthiella that the servers probably don't have time to think about them. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Lesliereadsalot @dgrachel I rarely think people are, but occasionally, especially when I look up and see the same people staring at me over and over. But I do wonder if it is racialized? All of the diners are Asian in white spaces. I often notice that when I am out with my partner (who is Black, I am white) we get a lot more stares and the waiters judgments are insanely obvious. I agree with @JenP past experiences shape how we see a situation 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella totally agree, I go to the same cafe every sunday to read, and have a friend who does the same, and we eavesdrop on everyone and we judge... but working mostly people never have the time, but I also agree with @Deblovestoread you can for sure tell if the waiter is judging you. Both can be true I think. And I think women are more aware of negative attention like this. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I found it interesting the second time I think they meet after Xavier has told her why he was seeking her out, she thinks the waiters see them as mother /son. Which made me believe that the first restaurant experience with them was her imagination of being judges. I do think that her sex and race have a lot to do with why she believes people are looking and judging her. She talks a lot about how being Asian in her job and life has people judging 1mo

BkClubCare Uh, I don‘t remember these scenes. Paris? Oh dear, do I have to go reread this book? All of my thoughts and now recollections were about her marriage. 🤔 1mo

Deblovestoread @ChaoticMissAdventures Agree that women are much more aware of negative attention for all kinds of reasons. And with @AmyG her being an actress it would be her job to notice. 1mo

squirrelbrain @Sapphire @mcctrish @kspenmoll - I think she was also *wanting* to be looked at - the actor in her wants attention. 1mo

squirrelbrain I agree @TrishB - I‘m sure most people are judge-y when we‘re people watching. If someone typed out our internal monologues on what we think about people when we‘re observing them I‘m sure we‘d all be cringing! @Zuhkeeyah @Bookwormjillk @Chelsea.Poole @JamieArc 1mo

squirrelbrain @Lesliereadsalot @dgrachel @suet624 - I definitely feel like people are judging me, and not in a good way - says something about my insecurities! 😬 Having said that, it doesn‘t stop me from eating out alone, as long as I have something to read. 😝 (edited) 1mo

squirrelbrain @Deblovestoread - I can imagine we‘re probably worse in the UK at jumping to the most negative conclusion- we do like to put people down. 😬 1mo

squirrelbrain @JenP @ChaoticMissAdventures - I agree that many (negative) opinions can be gendered or racialised so her allusions to her age and race probably make her more acutely aware of being judged, or a perception of being judged. 1mo

squirrelbrain @amyg - great point about her being an actress and how that impacts on her perceptions - I think we‘ll be able to explore this more next week as well. 1mo

squirrelbrain @BkClubCare - no, don‘t panic! It was only a couple of short scenes at the start, but they raise interesting questions about perceptions and bias. 1mo

Megabooks Sorry I am so late to the party @squirrelbrain !! I‘m going to look through the comments now. Crazy Saturday here! 1mo

Megabooks @Zuhkeeyah agree that the Paris experience affected her feelings about the NYC waiter. That‘s a good point, too, @TrishB ! 1mo

Megabooks @Deblovestoread I have a funny picture of my dad and I under my hinge profile, but I wonder whether people think he‘s an ex or current. I‘m his mini-me though, so I hope not!! 1mo

Megabooks @AmyG that is a good point that her profession influences her perception. I was having a conversation with a friend and she said it sounded like I was working through a diagnostic algorithm, and after being in vet med, I kind of think that way. 1mo

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - okay 😝 and, yes, Kitamura rarely but quite interestingly mentions race and then… let‘s us think about it. She is very much an author who does not TELL. I just don‘t quite know what she SHOWs! 🤓🤪 1mo

Kitta @RaeLovesToRead I totally had no idea who the Paris waiter was despite just reading this half a few days ago! I saw the question posted this morning and was like “the what?? Who??” 😂 1mo

Kitta @BkClubCare same thoughts here! 😂 what scene in Paris?? 1mo

julieclair You can take me off the tag list for this one if that‘s easier for you…. my hold is still at least 2 weeks away from coming in. 😢 1mo

willaful You can take me off too, just really wasn't in the mod for experimental fiction. 1mo

BkClubCare @Kitta - whew 😅 I had a Percival Everett Telephone flashback about different versions! (edited) 1mo

Christine @JenP Good points! And are you thinking about the looking-glass self concept from social psych? I was too! 1mo

Reggie Ummm I totally don‘t remember Paris. 1mo

TheBookHippie @julieclair so is mine 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1mo

MeganAnn Some excellent points so far! I agree that the earlier experience in Paris played into how she may be feeling judged now in NYC. I also think as women we sometimes tend to feel others are judging us more than they actually are which seems like a sort of direct response to the way society sees us. We feel like we have to look or act a certain way to be liked or admired, therefore people must be judging how we look/act… especially for an actress. 1mo

Meshell1313 Love hearing what everyone thinks! I agree it‘s about perception vs. reality. 1mo

CarolynM Like @TrishB I think she feels judged because she judges others. She is definitely judging Xavier. As for the waiters, I think it might be about the kind of restaurants they work in. If they get a lot of self important types who treat them rudely I'm sure they become judgemental very quickly! 1mo

BarbaraBB Great start of the discussion. I agree with @TrishB that people are quick to judge and I think as an actress the narrator is used to that - being looked at and being judged. Like @AmyG says it‘s all about how she perceives things. 1mo

BarbaraBB So happy we started Camp! Thank you @squirrelbrain and @Megabooks 💝 1mo

Butterfinger Through the entire book, I was thinking that as an actress, she has to study facial expressions and figure out what emotions are being felt. As @AmyG says. I get paranoid when I enter a restaurant or theater and make eye contact with another patron. I instantly think, I am already being judged - not dressed correctly, too abrasive, etc. 4w

AmyG Hahahahahaha…@Reggie….me neither. 4w

squirrelbrain @julieclair @willaful - I‘ll try to remember to take you off the master list for next week. 4w

squirrelbrain @meganann - I‘d love to know for sure that I wasn‘t being as judged as I feel I am! 😬 4w

squirrelbrain @CarolynM - great point about the waiters. Although I don‘t think anything excuses the Paris one, I‘m sure the MC was probably acting in a certain way in NYC to attract that (perceived) judgement. 4w

squirrelbrain @Butterfinger - totally agree! I never feel quite right, wherever I go. 😞 4w

JenP @Christine yes! I teach it as spotlight bias but same concept. Spotlight bias as a name is particularly relevant for this book! 4w

Roary47 @BkClubCare I thought the same thing! I agree with many of you that the Waitress(er) had work on the mind. I worked fast food so I don‘t have that experience, but if a customer‘s small talk turned into a long talk we had a high sign to get called out so we could get our busy tasks completed. I liked what a lot of people mentioned about being an actor and thinking about these dramas. I can see that for her character. 4w

Well-ReadNeck Interesting discussion. Love the observation that it‘s her perception of the judgment but also, when u know you know. And, foreshadowing for later, I think. A bit: people see what they want to see. And in their first meeting, the feeling of awkwardness and something is not quite right here could probably be picked up on. 4w

Well-ReadNeck … I think the author used the waiter to show the reader vibe 4w

squirrelbrain Yes @Roary47 - she seems a really actory-actor, very over the top in a way. 4w

squirrelbrain There‘s definitely some foreshadowing there. @Well-ReadNeck 4w

BookwormAHN I agree. I think the waiter in Paris made her paranoid, although as someone who hangs out with her father a lot, it can feel weird on occasions, and I have been asked if I was his wife. And even worse, the one time I was asked if my younger brother was our son 🤦🏼‍♀️ 4w

Kitta Are there other questions posted for discussion? I‘m only seeing this one @squirrelbrain 4w

Kitta Oh wait I found them, I wasn‘t tagged I think? 4w

squirrelbrain @kitta - we‘re only tagging the first post each week this time around. Litsy is slowly getting glitchier and it can take 10/15 minutes to add the tags to each post. 4w

squirrelbrain @BookwormAHN - oh no Ashley! 🤦‍♀️ 4w

Kitta @squirrelbrain makes sense! I just was expecting the posts as 1, 2, 3 on your profile not 3, 2, 1! 4w

GatheringBooks I am super late to this party - it was our 27th year wedding anniversary (34 years in total) weekend - and had very little time to check the goings-on here. I love the question - love how it surfaces the typically unnoticed but also goes to the heart of things we do: oftentimes not for our own benefit (arguably) but for others‘ - with the paranoia, defensiveness, and rationalizations that entails - plus all the neurotic self-presentation. 4w

squirrelbrain Congratulations! 🥂@GatheringBooks It‘s my 27th wedding anniversary soon too! Glad you liked the question - great response! 4w

66 likes80 comments

squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

#camplitsy25

There are two contrasting narratives going on in this first part of the book. Is one true and one not, or are they both in question?

What about the pregnancy - who was correct, the journalist or the MC?

What do you think are Xavier's intentions? Is he her son or does he have another reason for getting in touch with the MC?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

mcctrish I found this confusing - is the MC trying to be obtuse with everyone? The way the article was worded and Xavier‘s back story = a possibilty of parentage but also a long shot and a pretty bold way to lead into meeting up. But why does she talk in riddles ?! 1mo

kspenmoll I was not sure who to believe - initially I was thinking it was a way for him to get to meet her again- also creepy if he did adopt her mannerisms but again, that is through her eyes. As she is an actress, when is she blurting the lines of her real life & her art? 1mo

TrishB I think at this point he may feel he‘s her son. But it seems very weird the way he goes about it. 1mo

See All 50 Comments

Bookwormjillk I‘m not sure I can answer this one! I‘m just buckled in waiting to see what happens 😂 1mo

Zuhkeeyah I believe the MC‘s narrative. She made a clear statement in an interview that was obfuscated by the reporter because of the tension surrounding such a decision. I think Xavier took the job to get close to the MC despite the lunch conversation. The waters start to muddy when she begins to imagine what it would be like if he was her son. She‘s projecting her perceptions/wishes onto the relationship between him and the director. 1mo

JamieArc I do believe the MC. It feels bold of Xavier to have believed so strongly from little evidence that he was her son. Regarding the journalist, it makes me wonder that while the MC was obviously comfortable sharing about her abortion, I wonder if it was still taboo to share openly about, which could have influenced the journalist. This is probably not true, but just a wondering. 1mo

DGRachel I believed her version of events and was concerned about his mental state and her safety. But the whole thing feels weird. I can see a reporter skewing quotes to fit the narrative they want to sell more easily than the MC making up a story about an abortion. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I believe the MC and I think Xavier is just trying to get ahead and make connections wherever he can. He reads a narrative that he likes, and slides into it. An opportunist! 1mo

sarahbarnes I‘m with @Lesliereadsalot - it feels like Xavier is trying to get his foot in the door in the industry, and the MC is a well-known actor. To me it seems he saw the article and made a decision to use it to his advantage, not knowing the whole story. 1mo

RaeLovesToRead I read it as wishful thinking on Xavier's part. He made assumptions which the MC then corrected. I didn't really feel any conflict between those narratives in Part One. But there is tension. And you get the impression there's more bubbling under the surface than what you'd get with a simple misunderstanding. The whole vibe was off. And it was this unsettling feel that made this book so irresistibly compelling to me. 1mo

vonnie862 I am not sure about either of them. I can see how Xavier may be trying to use the MC but I can also see the MC denying her past so she could continue acting. 1mo

Suet624 I agree with @Lesliereadsalot -this guy feels like a chameleon who figures out ways to slide into a relationship/situation for his own benefit. 1mo

Deblovestoread I believe the MC more than Xavier. His getting a job where her play is makes him suspicious. 1mo

Jas16 I was with @vonnie862 and didn‘t especially believe either of them. Just wanted to see what was going to come next. 1mo

Ruthiella I agree with everyone who feels we are getting the MCs best estimation of the truth. She is also perplexed by Xaviers‘s motives. 1mo

AmyG I believed the MC as…she is the main character and I had no reason not to believe her. I did find it suspicious that he was working on the play and believed her to be his mother. BELIEVED. Is his belief truth? I keep thinking….per Seinfeld‘s George Costanza…..it‘s not a lie if you believe it. I kept reading to find out what was true but then part 2. I found the first part‘s story very odd. 1mo

DGRachel @RaeLovesToRead That‘s the perfect way to explain how I felt through the whole thing - “the vibes were off” and that weirdness is what made me keep turning pages. 1mo

jenniferw88 I agree with @DGRachel about the reporter. I don't know what to make of Xavier... he does seem to be an opportunist, but I'm reading the MC as a POC and him possibly mixed-race? And most of the theatre crew as white, so I don't know 🤷🏻‍♀️ ! 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures At this point I believe MC. even if we are just getting her POV it is creepy for X to tell her what he believes and then take a job with Anne. There is blatant motive there even if we are not sure what the end game is. IT is bizarre to me as someone who is adopted that someone would approach another person like this. With just a we look alike and I read an article - most people have unrelated doppelgangers. (1/2) 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures Even if the article made it sound like she had the kid, it wasn't like a date was given of the birth. X needs to take a DNA test or something to help with that curiosity! I cannot imagine just going up to a stranger like that. If nothing else he has gumption! (2/2) 1mo

squirrelbrain @mcctrish - I thought she was talking in riddles too! She did seem to wonder if he *could* be her son, which I found a bit odd when she was also categorically certain she‘d never given birth. And, yes, @vonnie862 I thought it might be something to do with her hanging on to her acting career. 1mo

squirrelbrain Certainly, the fact that he adopted some of the MC‘s mannerisms made him seem creepy / an opportunist, and more so that he then got a job and seemed to ingratiate himself with the rest of the team very quickly. @kspenmoll @TrishB @Lesliereadsalot @sarahbarnes @Suet624 @RaeLovesToRead @DGRachel @ChaoticMissAdventures 1mo

squirrelbrain @Zuhkeeyah - it‘s interesting, isn‘t it, that the MC claims she was quite clear about the abortion? She also says the journalist agreed with her that even the word itself should be used more frequently but then went on to obfuscate and use different terminology. I wonder if, again, this is the MC obfuscating rather than the journalist? @JamieArc @jenniferw88 @DGRachel 1mo

squirrelbrain @AmyG - what I struggled with is that the MC seemed to believe in Xavier‘s belief at times. Why didn‘t she tell him straight out, or tell anyone else including her husband what was going on, if indeed she knew him to be a fraudster. 1mo

Megabooks @JamieArc or I wonder if her management team could have interfered with her sharing openly about abortion. It seems so many people have a vested stake in successful actresses staying successful that I think they have some sway over media, too. 1mo

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot @sarahbarnes he‘s definitely working every angle!!! 1mo

Megabooks @vonnie862 they are both unreliable narrators to a degree. I think that‘s part of what makes this book interesting. I‘m a fan of unreliable narrators! @jas16 (edited) 1mo

JamieArc @Megabooks Good point 1mo

peaKnit I agree with many that the MC was more believable, she‘d know if she had a child…and in this day of DNA, seems easy to debunk. X‘s motives were suspicious to me. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain @megabooks @JamieArc I follow a lot of abortion rights activists and I fully think this situation is not only plausible but expected. Journalist and more so their editors use such coded and fake language around abortion (in the US). Rarely is the word allowed to just be printed especially if it is a happily successful situation. 1mo

jenniferw88 I think the journalist probably did agree with the MC about abortion and used the word in her first copy, but received pressure from the editors to change it and so it didn't make the final cut. 1mo

Meshell1313 @squirrelbrain exactly! No one was calling anyone out- there was a lot of pretending going on. 1mo

CarolynM I don't see any reason to disbelieve the MC about the abortion. I think her feelings about her subsequent pregnancy and miscarriage are why she reacted to Xavier as she did. 1mo

BarbaraBB Like most of you I have no reason not to believe the MC but I am surprised that she continues having contact with Xavier. If she had an abortion she obviously knows he‘s lying. Why continue that conversation and have lunch together? I especially wondered what‘s in it for her. 1mo

MeganAnn @RaeLovesToRead yes, the bubbling under the surface, unsettling feeling is making this compulsively readable to me. 1mo

MeganAnn I think the MC is definitely an unreliable narrator. I keep finding tiny moments where she will say/think something that doesn‘t align with what she said before. And Xavier does seem like a chameleon from one scene to the next, but since we aren‘t getting his inner thoughts it‘s hard to know if that is truth or how she is perceiving him. She seems to be pretending very hard & I don‘t know yet if that is on purpose or because she‘s lying to herself 1mo

MeganAnn @BarbaraBB yes I was also wondering at the beginning why she would continue to have contact with him if he‘s clearly not her son. While I think we are supposed to believe her for now I keep getting these hints of “all is not as it seems” 1mo

Butterfinger Each time I returned to the book, the history seemed altered. I have no idea whom to believe. I'm going to say the narrator since that's who is telling the story. By the end of Part 1, I was beginning to question my own sanity. 4w

Butterfinger Totally agree @MeganAnn 4w

squirrelbrain That‘s interesting @ChaoticMissAdventures that even the word, or discussion around it, can be so taboo. 4w

squirrelbrain @barbarabb @MeganAnn @Butterfinger - yes, she didn‘t seem to want to talk to him but also couldn‘t stay away from him. 🤷‍♀️ 4w

Roary47 Im thinking that there is blissful ignorance here. Could it be she had a late abortion that ended up child birth, and the baby started breathing in another room? She mentioned with her husband‘s desire to have children crushed with the miscarriage she didn‘t know what to do. I‘m just trying to think outside the box and maybe naivety. 4w

BookwormAHN @Roary47 I was wondering something similar or if she lied about the abortion because she never wanted to meet the kid. Mostly I don't trust either of them and I think it was weird he got the assistant job. 4w

Kitta I believe the MC but I don‘t like her. I don‘t understand her motivations and why she keeps lying to everyone about Xavier. She lied to the director about him being distant family, she lied by omission to her husband about meeting X and their relationship. These things will definitely come back to bite her in the ass. Why not be honest about their relationship or lack thereof? I‘m reminded a bit of All Fours in that I don‘t understand her at all. 4w

Kitta @ChaoticMissAdventures I agree it‘s very taboo, even now, and it‘s likely the journalist/editor didn‘t feel they could print it using abortion specifically. I got the feeling (and maybe I‘m wrong) that the article was somewhat old as well so it‘s likely even more unlikely they would have written specifically about abortion then. Not sure when then is though. 4w

squirrelbrain Yes, I don‘t like either of them 🤷‍♀️@Kitta @BookwormAHN 4w

GatheringBooks I enjoyed how surreal and unlikely everything is - plus the shifts in perspectives. There was something about the MC though that captivated me - maybe bec we are roughly same age? Or the fact that she‘s Asian? And who doesn‘t get intrigued by a may-december love affair. Xavier seemed more like a placeholder to the internal journey of the mc. He could be anyone - but has to be good looking and charming of course - and smart. Ticks off all boxes. 4w

Well-ReadNeck I believed MC 💯 I thought that there might be some attempt at massive gaslighting here, but …. Not quite where it goes 😉 4w

squirrelbrain That‘s a great thought @GatheringBooks - I love the phrase ‘placeholder to the internal journey of the MC‘. It‘s made me wonder if it‘s more external than internal though - is he holding a mirror up to her? 4w

squirrelbrain Are we even sure where it goes?! @Well-ReadNeck 4w

46 likes50 comments

squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

#camplitsy25

I hope I‘m not speaking out of turn, but a fair few of us Littens (me included!) would class ourselves as being in ‘middle age‘. 🤪 (never too old for summer camp though! 🤣)

Does the MC act like she is ‘middle-aged‘ ? Is there even a way we *should* be acting? Do you recognise yourself in the above quote?

Join us next week for the remainder of the book, where things get a lot more bizarre!

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

mcctrish I remember reading a book, it will come to me 👵🏻 where they went on and on about being middle aged at 40 all I could think of was ‘how rude‘ and now I‘m 60 and feel like it‘s more true despite being past the halfway mark, closer to just old. I think it‘s just misogyny speaking 1mo

kspenmoll I don‘t think there is a prescribed way someone “middle age” should act. I had my son at 40 & any young mothers I met were going thru similar things as I was . Granted, I did connect with a 39 yr old first time mother & we spent time together with our kids. As a teacher in a HS I interact with staff of all ages, but I don‘t see age as a differential but experience, years of teaching. My English co-teacher could be my daughter but we have a ⬇️ 1mo

kspenmoll ⬆️ relationship as equals both professionally & personally. The MC acts “ middle age” again I think due to her acting experiences & in her marriage if she is a reliable narrator…. (edited) 1mo

See All 45 Comments

TrishB I don‘t think there is a prescribed way- but there‘s definitely unwritten expectations- I try not to listen to those too much as it‘s just more judgement 🤷‍♀️ she‘s not very reliable in the book though is she!! (edited) 1mo

Zuhkeeyah I think this is more about the MC‘s expectation of middle age rather than what is actually happening. It‘s sounds like her star started rising in middle age instead of failing, but she‘s so focused on the idea of being older that she‘s not acknowledging how it doesn‘t fit her. 1mo

JamieArc I don‘t think there is a prescribed way either (though I just entered my 40s and wonder if I am perceived as middle aged and what that even means 😂), but for the MC, I see it more as her long experience acting and being married. Doing something so long, you start to feel “old” in it perhaps. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I‘m firmly in the camp of age being a state of mind, but actresses seem to always be jealous of the younger women nipping at their heels. I agree with @Zuhkeeyah 1mo

JenReadsAlot I don't think there is but my dermatologist called me middle aged at 44 and I was not happy 🤣 1mo

DGRachel @JenReadsAlot My neurologist said something about me being “of a certain age” around my 40th birthday and I was like “excuse you, sir”. 😂 I definitely feel more middle age now at 50. 1mo

sarahbarnes The MC seems focused on her age, which doesn‘t feel surprising in her profession (despite her current success to @Zukeeyah ‘s point). It feels like her career as an actor makes her overly focused on what it looks like to “be” anything, like it is hard for her to avoid scrutinizing her roles in real life just like she would a role on stage. That she feels change is harder at this age seems to be a source of anxiety ⬇️ 1mo

sarahbarnes (cont) for her because to be successful as an actor, you have to be able to change to fit your current role. She feels consumed by whether she is still able to do this effectively. 1mo

DGRachel I feel like the MC is constantly speaking as if she‘s performing, which is probably because she‘s a theatre actress. There‘s no right or wrong way to age, but as @TrishB said, there are certain societal expectations - thank you patriarchy. 🤬 1mo

vonnie862 I don't think there's a specific way to act but there are similarities between people as they get older. The MC is an actress and probably feels that she has to act a certain way in order to maintain her life. 1mo

Deblovestoread At 40 I would have told you 65 is leaning towards old, at 65 I do not think of myself as old. Although the world might want to label me as leaning towards geriatric I have found age is a number and the rest is attitude. 1mo

Jas16 While I agree that there is no set way that every middle aged person acts I do understand the quote as I feel less inclined to change now that I am ostensibly middle aged. I know who I am and what I like, and don‘t feel the need to compromise on all of that the way I would have when I was younger. I have also, for better or worse, grown comfortable with my faults so change is more difficult and not something I am reaching for. 1mo

Ruthiella @Zuhkeeyah I agree with your take here. The MC is dealing with two different trajectories and her extreme focus on her self makes it hard for her to balance these. 1mo

AmyG I agree with @sarahbarnes about her thoughts about her age and changed. Yes, she is an actress and I got the feeling she feels the need to remain “young”….or even that she notices the youth in others and feels, very much, the difference between her and “them”. Yet she feels the need to keep up. Her experience in life, acting and age seem to make her resistant to change. There is great comfort in the status quo the older you get. 1mo

jenniferw88 The MC feels much older than her age to me (thinking mid-50s) , but this may be because my parents had me in their late 30s and so would be considered middle-aged to her. I'm now approaching the ages that they had me, and I still consider myself young, not middle-aged! 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I had to look up middle aged. “the period of life between young adulthood and old age, typically considered to be the ages between 40 and 60“ I also see maybe 45-65 I think this is seen much differently as an actress then it is seen by the general public. And even if we are spry for our age, I do think that we are treated differently in work and by society at large. It is interesting she says attrition, she seems to be getting more work? 1mo

squirrelbrain I wonder if the fact that she got more work in her ‘middle age‘ has led her to be more worried about her age than not? @Zuhkeeyah 1mo

squirrelbrain Great points @sarahbarnes @Lesliereadsalot @vonnie862 @AmyG , about her being an actress and that leading to more pressure to act in a ‘certain‘ way. 1mo

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - I‘m right in middle-middle- age then! 🤣 1mo

Megabooks @kspenmoll and Hollywood has a way of pushing many women out after 30-35, so her profession may make her more acutely aware of her age. 1mo

Megabooks @DGRachel I do think she seems to live in a bubble where she seems to perform life rather than live it. Almost some kind of unreality. 1mo

Megabooks @ChaoticMissAdventures I just turned 45 and I‘m starting to feel middle aged. I think the heavily into perimenopause also makes me feel that way, too. 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks @squirrelbrain I turn 45 in August. Everyone around me is obsessed with (peri)menopause. I am not feeling it yet but a couple of years ago my hair went from so straight a curling iron did nothing to completely curly! So things are a changing 😂. I am so glad there is more information out here for our generation then older ladies got. 1mo

peaKnit @ChaoticMissAdventures I think “ obsessed” is a great way to describe the focus on menopause as we age…in some ways I think I personally was looking for the why to some changes after 50. I think it is common to feel invisible at this age and I can‘t even imagine how actresses endure. Men can be so out of shape and frumpy while women continue to have such different standards to meet. Sigh lol (edited) 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @peaKnit how can we not be obsessed?? Men control the research so there is basically zero studies, and when you are having hot flashes and cannot sleep and your body is doing so many weird things it is impossible not to focus on it. I think it is even harder for non-A list actresses. Our MC says she is comfortable financially but that doesn't give her access to the care (medical/surgical/etc) a famous rich actress would have. 1mo

peaKnit @ChaoticMissAdventures I could not agree more. Menopause is such a mystery in many ways and is poorly researched and few doctors seem to have a good handle on it/ specialize from my own experience looking for some expert advice. It‘s hard to know what is accurate information. Definitely harder for those further from privilege or the a-list. You‘re so right. 1mo

Megabooks @ChaoticMissAdventures I am the first of my same-age friends. I‘ve been having symptoms for several years, but in 2024 they just went wild!! 1mo

Meshell1313 @Megabooks yes- I think it‘s absolutely a commentary on Hollywood and how it‘s harder to get better roles the older you get. 1mo

BarbaraBB I very much agree with what you say @Zuhkeeyah! 1mo

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures @peaKnit @Megabooks menopause is such a hot issue in literature as well. I‘ve read so many books recently touching upon the subject. I was thinking this one would turn out that way too in the end I don‘t think it‘s about being middle-aged 1mo

CarolynM This book is giving me All About Eve vibes. Margot was 40 rather than 49. A small improvement in 75 years? 1mo

Zuhkeeyah @squirrelbrain oh that‘s a good thought. Maybe part of the projection is realizing it took her longer to get where they are so she sees the end of her career coming that much sooner. 4w

Butterfinger The question makes me think of the part when the narrator calls her life "comfortable," because they didn't have children to feed, clothe, or send to college. Just turning 50, I think I should be feeling this, but nooooo. I definitely might be a tad more bossy than I was in my 20s and 30s toward my colleagues. I certainly don't want to make them feel weaker, but I do wish they could see and accept my wisdom. 4w

squirrelbrain Interesting thought! @CarolynM I hadn‘t thought of that, probably because I‘ve not seen the film 😬, although I know the plot. I wonder if it‘s different with Xavier being male, possibly not? And maybe that‘s why she can‘t stay away from him - she feels he‘s taking over her life and friends. 4w

BookwormAHN I don't doubt because of her acting she is even more sensitive about aging than a lot of us however I get the feeling that she was like this all her life. 4w

Kitta While I agree with everyone that age is just a number and there isn‘t a prescribed way to act if you‘re « middle aged », I think there‘s certain things society expects middle aged women not to do, that young people are permitted to do. Going out clubbing is definitely frowned upon and makes you seem like you don‘t have your life together if you‘re doing it at 40+. You‘re expected to be at home or at the pub if you want a drink, for example. ⬇️ 4w

Kitta Maybe she‘s feeling this pressure more as an actrice? She seems a combination of in her own world and also concerned with what others think of her - often projecting thoughts onto them based on her own insecurities. 4w

squirrelbrain Yes, definitely there are things we‘re not supposed to do and ways of behaviour that are frowned upon! @Kitta 4w

GatheringBooks Not sure about the “immutability” bit especially since I feel myself forever evolving - i suppose it helps that we have now lived in 3 countries, and where we live now is worlds different from where I was born - that infuses a sense of dynamism and mutability if you will in everything - always at the cusp of changing, in the process of becoming. I like being in a liminal stage more than being in a rigid unchanging state marked by attrition.🤷🏽‍♀️ 4w

GatheringBooks @Deblovestoread i love “the rest is attitude” - preach!!! Love it!! 4w

Well-ReadNeck Just turned 55 and I‘m experiencing middle age as the opposite. Much is/has been changing and it‘s a lot like adolescence in many ways, trying to figure out what‘s next in a twisty time. 4w

squirrelbrain So true @Well-ReadNeck - so many changes! And a lot of them like being a teenager, what with the hormones, the mood swings and the spots! 🤣 4w

48 likes45 comments

squirrelbrain

Molly's Circus | Esther Kent

Look at this beautiful bookmark - isn‘t it just perfect for me?! ?️ I bid for it in a charity auction to raise money for a primary school in Zimbabwe.

The bookmarks are all original ‘doodles‘ and their creators are mainly children‘s book authors and illustrators- my bookmark was drawn by the tagged author.

This year‘s event raised over (cak!

Thanks for highlighting this event @charl08 - did you win anything?

#bookmarkproject

Cathythoughts Well done Helen … 👍🏻❤️ and yes that bookmark was made for you. 1mo

Jas16 Gorgeous! 1mo

sarahbarnes ♥️🐿️♥️ 1mo

See All 10 Comments

charl08 Ooh! Beautiful! And yes! 1mo

TrishB That‘s lovely ❤️ 1mo

Tamra Love it! 1mo

Gissy 😍 1mo

CarolynM Fabulous! You were meant to have it, obviously 🙂 1mo

youneverarrived Wow that‘s fab! And the bookmark is perfect for you 💛 1mo

Oryx I'd frame it. Very lovely 1mo

68 likes10 comments

squirrelbrain

Audition | Katie Kitamura

I hope everyone has their bag packed ready for #camplitsy25?!

Camp starts next Saturday and our first exciting group activity is a discussion of the first part of Audition.

Rather handily, Part One of this book takes us to just less than 50% so that‘s what next week‘s questions will be based on.

We think we‘ve come up with some great questions and we‘re hoping you‘ll have all the answers 🤪 so please join Barbara, Meg and me next Saturday!

Megabooks, Barbara

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM @Cbee 1mo

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose 1mo

squirrelbrain @Gatheringbooks @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa 1mo

See All 50 Comments

squirrelbrain @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx 1mo

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 1mo

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah @Reggie 1mo

AmyG Yay! Thr official start of “book” summer. Like Brat summer but books! Yet not! 1mo

DGRachel My library hold just came in and I‘ll pick it up tomorrow! 1mo

monalyisha I won‘t be in on this book but if it‘s easier to tag me, feel free. 😉 Have fun! 1mo

TheBookHippie 🤞🏻I‘m next on list at library the person was supposed to bring the book back May 8 ! 😵‍💫🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🫣 1mo

RaeLovesToRead @AmyG Yes! 😎💚💯 1mo

peaKnit Just got my hold! 1mo

TrishB Ready and waiting 👍🏻 1mo

BarbaraBB So ready for it 💃💃 1mo

Deblovestoread I'll be ready. ⛺️ 1mo

Jas16 Very excited for this discussion! 1mo

julieclair Looking forward to it! 1mo

Megabooks Helen‘s questions are so awesome!! Can‘t wait to see everyone there!! 1mo

kspenmoll I am excited! 1mo

Meshell1313 Cannot wait to hear everyone‘s theories and ideas! This is going to be great! I love camp! 🏕️ 1mo

JamieArc I‘m flying to a conference next week and was thinking about what book to pick for airport time. Looks like this is the one 😊 1mo

GatheringBooks Yay! Done with Audition. 🤓📚📚🤓 Reading wild dark shore now. Excited for the discussion, and will be careful not to share spoilers. 😍 1mo

Ruthiella Looking forward to the discussion! 👍 1mo

squirrelbrain Great timing! @DGRachel @peaKnit 1mo

squirrelbrain LOL! @AmyG I‘m definitely not cool enough to be a Brat girl…. 🤪 1mo

squirrelbrain @monalyisha - it is easier to leave you on the list, if you don‘t mind? We‘re not tagging all the questions this time though, only the first one each week so you won‘t get inundated. 1mo

squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie - it‘s a *really* quick read and hopefully it will arrive soon…. 1mo

squirrelbrain We certainly need theories and ideas for this one! @Meshell1313 1mo

squirrelbrain Don‘t forget to pack some marshmallows! @TrishB @BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread @julieclair @kspenmoll 1mo

squirrelbrain We certainly need a LOT of discussion for this one! @Jas16 @Megabooks @GatheringBooks @Ruthiella 1mo

squirrelbrain @JamieArc - and it‘s really slim as well - perfect for travelling! 1mo

Well-ReadNeck 👏🏻😊🥾🥾🎒⛺️📖 1mo

willaful @TheBookHippie noooooo! Fingers crossed. 1mo

Kitta Just downloaded from Libby!! 1mo

AmyG @squirrelbrain I have many theories! Never fear. 1mo

monalyisha @squirrelbrain That‘s fine! 💓 1mo

BkClubCare Ack!! Let‘s see if I can get this read in the next 8 hours!!!!!! 🥰😁😂 1mo

CBee @squirrelbrain mine is on hold at the library, just gotta go grab it! 😁 1mo

squirrelbrain Hooray! 🎉 @Kitta @CBee 1mo

squirrelbrain Looking forward to hearing them! @AmyG 1mo

squirrelbrain @Well-ReadNeck 🔥 📖 ⛺️ 1mo

squirrelbrain Nooo! @BkClubCare - not until next weekend, not so much of a rush! 1mo

CarolynM Looking forward to getting started🙂 1mo

rockpools How exciting! Right, I have half an hour. I‘m going in!! 1mo

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain WHEW! 😅 (I am really liking the style so far.) (edited) 1mo

squirrelbrain Phew! @BkClubCare - panic over! 1mo

squirrelbrain Looking forward to discussing it soon! @CarolynM @rockpools 1mo

Butterfinger I'm excited! I'll start it tonight. Thanks to all. 1mo

squirrelbrain Yay! 🎉 @Butterfinger 1mo

sarahbarnes Looking forward to it!! 1mo

86 likes50 comments

squirrelbrain

A Family Matter | Claire Lynch

pick

A short but powerful book, covering a lesser-known aspect of British societal history. Set in 1982 and 2023.

In the more recent storyline, Heron is trying to figure out how to tell his daughter Maggie about the bad news the doctor has just delivered.

In 1982, Heron, Dawn and Maggie are a family, until Dawn meets someone new….

Once I started I couldn‘t put it down. 💛

Published on Thursday in the UK.

Book 2 of #14books14weeks @Liz_M

Deblovestoread Stacked! 1mo

Megabooks Okay you‘ve sold me on getting this from BOTM. 💜💜 1mo

squirrelbrain I think you‘ll like it @Megabooks 1mo

71 likes9 stack adds3 comments

squirrelbrain

Overland | Yasmin Cordery Khan

so-so

In 1970 Joyce answers an ad to drive to Kathmandu with Freddie (posh bloke) and Anton (his not-posh friend). This is her looking back from her old age.

There‘s supposed to be drama as Freddie‘s past comes back to haunt him but most of the journey was like a very boring travelogue with the only drama right at the end. I‘m a bit fed up with books with unlikeable characters doing drugs and this was just that.

Cathythoughts I don‘t think this one would be for me either 👍🏻❤️ 1mo

sarahbarnes “Unlikeable characters doing drugs” 😆 - doesn‘t sound like my thing either. 1mo

squirrelbrain There just seems to be so many books like that at the moment - bad decisions and drugs, or usually bad decisions (and bad men!) due to drugs! 🤨 @Cathythoughts @sarahbarnes 1mo

65 likes3 comments

squirrelbrain

Universality: A Novel | Natasha Brown

so-so

I completely agree with Shawna‘s review on this book. @ChaoticMissAdventures

It was completely Birnam Wood-esque at the start, which was promising, but then became very disjointed and confusing. Or maybe I‘m just not clever enough for this book.

It only took about an hour to read and, ultimately, it felt like a collection of notes and thoughts for an unfinished book.

Book 1 of #14books14weeks @Liz_M

ChaoticMissAdventures Oh. This one . It looks like the early hype has died down and the GR rating has dropped a lot from when I read it and was utterly confused. I am glad to see I am not alone! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot More likely the book isn‘t clever enough for you. 1mo

squirrelbrain There‘s confusing and there‘s confusing…. I mean, Audition was confusing but I can come up with theories and ideas (and questions for #camplitsy25! 🤪) but this one was more just a confusing mess. @ChaoticMissAdventures @Lesliereadsalot 1mo

sarahbarnes Agree with you on Audition! 😀 1mo

squirrelbrain I hope you‘ve got lots of theories and answers re Audition! 😝 @sarahbarnes 1mo

64 likes5 comments

squirrelbrain

Sunstruck | William Rayfet Hunter

pick

Lots of reviewers have absolutely loved this book, and I can see why, but it had a couple of issues that, for me, dropped it to a like rather than love.

Our un-named mixed-race MC joins his posh university friend at her family house on the French Riviera and is attracted to her brother Felix. So far, so sexy.

However, I found the study of racism and classism, to be rather obvious and hyperbolic.

And the ending, annoying for 2 reasons 🤦‍♀️⬇️

squirrelbrain 1. From a story perspective it seemed to say ‘stay in your lane‘ and don‘t dare to have ideas above your station, colour or class. 2. From a style perspective, another of those books that just ends suddenly. So much so in this case, that I might pick up the physical book next time I‘m in a bookshop to see if there was a bit missing from my ARC. 2mo

TrishB I won‘t rush to get! 2mo

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squirrelbrain

Let's Go Camping! | Jan Mader

Your resident camp nerd here with some facts and figures! We now have our 6 #camplitsy25 books, so Barbara, Meg and I thought you‘d like to see those that *nearly* made it.

Our top 6 received between 13 and 20 votes, with the books above getting between 6 and 12 votes. What do you think?

Also, congrats to @ChaoticMissAdventures who voted for 4 of our top 6 - the most Littenish Litten at camp! 🤪 6 Littens voted for 3 of the top 6 books. ⬇️

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain Those who chose 3 of our top 6 books… @AmyG @CBee @ImperfectCJ @Jas16 @KarenUK @TrishB 2mo

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM @Cbee 2mo

See All 65 Comments

squirrelbrain @Gatheringbooks @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa 2mo

squirrelbrain @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @peanutnine 2mo

squirrelbrain @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita 2mo

squirrelbrain @texreader @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived 2mo

Kitta I love extra stats and data about books! Very interesting. Thanks for posting. 2mo

CBee Thanks for this! Once again, me and Amy are book twinning 👯 ♥️ @AmyG (edited) 2mo

Deblovestoread I love the additional stats! Thanks ❤️ 2mo

TheBookHippie I like those choices better 🤣🤣🫣😬😅 thanks for the extra stats! 2mo

TrishB Thank you! Very interesting 😁 just brought one of these yesterday. (edited) 2mo

TrishB Thank you! Very interesting 😁 just brought one of these yesterday. 2mo

BarbaraBB Great stats Helen, I‘ll probably read these too 😇 2mo

sarahbarnes Fun! 🤩 2mo

JamieArc Love this! Thanks for posting it! 2mo

Bookwormjillk I think I will be under my covers with my flashlight reading sky daddy this summer at camp. Thanks for the stats! 2mo

GatheringBooks Thank you for sharing all these additional info re camp - makes everything sound super official. So much fun! I appreciate all your generous efforts in setting up everything and making everyone feel so welcome and so much like a part of a very bookish family - exactly what I need! 💕💕💕 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I know how to pick 'em 😉 Thanks for the tag, I voted then promptly forgot what I voted for 😂 2mo

GatheringBooks @ChaoticMissAdventures same! I couldn‘t for the life of me remember what i voted for! Lolololols 2mo

Leniverse Nice to see that a couple of my choices nearly made it 😂 2mo

Larkken @Leniverse me too! Lol. I'll read them all anyway 2mo

Ruthiella Love seems the almost rans! So little time, so many books! 😊 2mo

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk it is gloriously weird! 2mo

Megabooks Helen - my favorite camp statistician!! Always keeping us organized!! 💜💜 2mo

Megabooks I recommend all three on this graphic that I‘ve read - Tuberculosis, Sky Daddy, and Run for the Hills! All had great audio, too. 👍🏻💯 2mo

JenReadsAlot Oh 3 of the ones I picked made that list. Thanks for sharing! 2mo

Megabooks And I‘ve read Bat Eater! It was great, too! 2mo

squirrelbrain You‘re welcome - glad you like them! @Kitta @CBee @JamieArc @Ruthiella @Deblovestoread @sarahbarnes 2mo

squirrelbrain I‘ll be reading most of the longlist, I think! 🤪 @BarbaraBB @Leniverse @Larkken @JenReadsAlot 2mo

squirrelbrain Oooh @TrishB - which one did you buy? 2mo

squirrelbrain That‘s so nice of you to say! @GatheringBooks 😍 2mo

squirrelbrain We going to need to keep an eye on you aren‘t we?! 👀 @Bookwormjillk 🤣 2mo

squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - LOL, there were *so* many to choose from though! 2mo

squirrelbrain @Megabooks -you know me and my spreadsheets! 😜 2mo

squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie - here‘s (some of!) your non-fiction….nearly but not quite! 2mo

CSeydel Thank you! I love seeing the stats, and it‘s super interesting to see the runners-up! 2mo

TheBookHippie @squirrelbrain 🤣 2mo

Hooked_on_books I‘m surprised to not see the Ocean Vuong book. I expected it to be one of our picks and his first novel didn‘t work for me, so I wasn‘t happy about it. And clearly I was way off base! I am a little surprised to see Everything is Tuberculosis here. I know many find John Green appealing, but to me he‘s not the one I would want to read about TB from. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2mo

Suet624 Thank you! I took a screenshot so I can check these out too. 2mo

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain anyone want to sneak out? 2mo

squirrelbrain Only if it involves a trip to a library or bookshop @Bookwormjillk 🤣 Or maybe if cake is involved…. 🍰 2mo

squirrelbrain There‘s always some surprises each year @Hooked_on_books - either doing much better or worse than expected. Last year, *everyone* said they wanted to read Real Americans but no-one voted for it. 🤔 2mo

squirrelbrain You‘re welcome! @CSeydel 2mo

squirrelbrain Great idea to take a screenshot! @Suet624 2mo

BarbaraBB @Megabooks Thanks for the recommendations! If you liked them, I will probably too! 2mo

TrishB Heartwood 👍🏻 2mo

Megabooks @squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books yes! It was so funny last year. I think RA got like 15 noms and only 1 vote! 🤣🤣 edit: I do like that though because it means people are thinking outside of just their noms into what they think would be good camp books. We see this year after year, which is really cool! (edited) 2mo

Kitta @Hooked_on_books I voted for the Ocean Vuong, I adore his poetry but haven‘t read his first novel yet - what didn‘t you like about it? 2mo

Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain @Megabooks That‘s so interesting about RA! I do think it would have been a good book to discuss and I frankly assumed people voted for their own noms, but clearly it‘s not that simple! 2mo

Hooked_on_books @Kitta I felt like it held me at arm‘s length and each time I felt I was finally connecting with it, the story would go in another direction. After it happened several times, I just bailed. 2mo

ImperfectCJ I totally forgot what I voted for as soon as I voted, but I was happy with the final 6, so I'm not surprised to learn that I voted for 3 of them. :-) There are definitely a few on this longlist that I'll be reading, too. 2mo

fredthemoose I‘ve been buried at work and didn‘t nominate or vote since I didn‘t have time to do research, but wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who did and to @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB and @Megabooks for hosting. I have time to read/listen and am looking forward to my first summer at Camp! 🏕️ 2mo

Soubhiville Thanks for posting this @squirrelbrain ! I also love seeing these extra tidbits, and I‘ll save this list as well. The conversation it‘s started makes me feel like we‘re already camping! ⛺️❤️ 2mo

GatheringBooks @Hooked_on_books i am surprised not to find eowyn ivey actually since so many people nominated that title too. Love the surprise twists in camp. 2mo

Megabooks @fredthemoose looking forward to seeing you at camp this summer!! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books @Megabooks I love that people get inspired by other people‘s nominations. And of course you vote for six books while you nominated just four. I also expected Ocean Vuong and Eowyn Ivey to end up higher than they did @GatheringBooks 2mo

BarbaraBB @fredthemoose I‘m glad you‘ll be joining us and that work will give you some time off to do so! 2mo

Hooked_on_books @GatheringBooks @BarbaraBB Excellent point about Ivey. I remember during nominations expecting her to show up as one of the picks. 2mo

squirrelbrain Yes, I think the Ivey was this year‘s Real Americans - everyone talked about it, but only 4 votes! I think the Vuong was less of a dead cert because his first book was slightly challenging to read. @Hooked_on_books @GatheringBooks @BarbaraBB 2mo

squirrelbrain Everyone seems to have forgotten what they voted for! @ImperfectCJ but at least everyone is pretty happy with the outcome. 2mo

squirrelbrain @fredthemoose - you‘ll have to watch out for the initiation ceremony, it being your first camp! Only kidding! 🤣 Glad you‘ll have the time to join in. 2mo

squirrelbrain You‘re welcome! @Soubhiville - not long now until camp *actually* starts! 😊 2mo

Zuhkeeyah Can you please add me to the tag list? I just finished Audition and cannot wait to discuss (edited) 1mo

squirrelbrain Yes, of course! @Zuhkeeyah 🏕️ Looking forward to your contributions! 1mo

82 likes65 comments

squirrelbrain

14 Weeks | Jessica Gadziala

#14books14weeks

Inspired by everyone‘s posts (and encouraged by @Ruthiella 🤪) I‘m giving this a go!

I‘m away at the moment so can‘t pull books off my shelves to take a photo. 8 of these are physical books (3 of which I may just have bought on holiday! 😜) and the rest are digital ARCs due for publication in June / July. And, of course, #camplitsy25 plays a big part too!

Looking forward to it! ❤️

Liz_M

Liz_M Virtual stacks work! Lots of intriguing titles here, too. 2mo

BarbaraBB Yay, there you are already! 2mo

squirrelbrain You know me @BarbaraBB - I can‘t stay away from a list or a challenge! 🤣 2mo

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB Love it 🥰 2mo

Cathythoughts These all look great. I look forward to your reviews ❤️ 2mo

sarahbarnes Great stack! Love all those Camp Litsy choices in there! 😍 2mo

56 likes6 comments

squirrelbrain

Didcot Library | Didcot, Oxon, United Kingdom (Library)

Visited Didcot Railway Centre today, primarily for hubby to see The Flying Scotsman.

Found this old telephone box full of books.

Unfortunately (for me anyway! 🤪) they were all railway-related NF.

julesG Did you find a good book for the boys? 2mo

squirrelbrain @julesG - Jeremy has probably read them all already! 🤣 2mo

Cathythoughts Sounds fun 😁 2mo

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LeahBergen Darn “location appropriate literature”!! 😆 2mo

TrishB Oh no! Next stop yours. 2mo

BarbaraBB Is that the hubby? 2mo

squirrelbrain I know! @LeahBergen - how dare they have train books at a train museum?! 2mo

squirrelbrain Yes it is! @BarbaraBB 2mo

squirrelbrain I thought about going to Oxford @TrishB but I‘m feeling very lazy so might just lounge around here, reading! 🤪 2mo

BarbaraBB So nice to see him! 2mo

LeeRHarry Love how the old telephone boxes are being repurposed this way - saw a couple on my travels today. 😊 (edited) 2mo

Oryx Mr Squirrelbrain and Henry - lovely pic 2mo

sarahbarnes Great photo! 😊 2mo

58 likes13 comments

squirrelbrain

Gunk | Saba Sams

pick

I liked the author‘s previous book enough to request this on NG, even though Send Nudes was short stories, not a genre I usually like.

This is Sams‘ debut novel (another great debut!) and I really liked it.

Jules runs a nightclub alongside her useless ex Leon, where he sleeps with students young enough to be his kids. Leon employs shaven-headed enigmatic Nim. Jules agrees to help when Nim becomes pregnant and their relationship grows.

Cathythoughts Sounds crazy. Stacked. 😁 2mo

TrishB Just about to start this one 👍🏻 2mo

52 likes2 comments

squirrelbrain

RIPENESS. | SARAH. MOSS

pick

#netgalley Out 22nd May.

Not as dark or despairing as other Moss books, this follows Edith in present day Ireland as she looks back to 1960s Italy. Back then, as a 17 year old on an enforced ‘gap year‘ before Oxford, she was sent to look after her sister who was due to give birth.

Ripeness is certainly an apt description of this book - gorgeous writing and descriptions - I loved it!

BarbaraBB Great review! 2mo

CarolynM Sounds great. Stacked🙂 2mo

Cathythoughts This sounds great ! Stacked ❤️ 2mo

sarahbarnes Stacking! 2mo

TrishB I‘ve just finished ♥️ loved it. 1mo

70 likes5 stack adds5 comments

squirrelbrain

Wallingford Bookshop | Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom (Bookstore)

Of course, one has to support independent bookshops when one is on holiday, doesn‘t one?!

I loved Chidgey‘s previous books and this sounds interesting, if maybe a little out of my wheelhouse.

I have the ARC of The Homemade God but didn‘t get round to reading it before publication. 🤦‍♀️ It gets rave reviews though so, when I saw this signed special indie edition with sprayed edges I just *had* to have it!

TheBookHippie It‘s in the rule book… 2mo

TrishB Perfectly acceptable 😁 holiday purchases! 2mo

BarbaraBB Is it a new Chidgey? 2mo

See All 9 Comments

Tamra Beautiful 😍 2mo

Cathythoughts Very nice. I loved Pet, so I‘ve stacked the Catherine Chidgey 👍🏻❤️ 2mo

squirrelbrain Yes it is! @BarbaraBB I just checked the release date and it‘s not supposed to be out until Thursday! 🤷‍♀️ 2mo

BarbaraBB Wow! Very interested in your thoughts on it! 2mo

youneverarrived Of course! Hope you‘re having a nice holiday 🩷 2mo

squirrelbrain We‘re having a lovely time, thanks @youneverarrived - couldn‘t have picked a better week for the weather! 2mo

65 likes9 comments

squirrelbrain

The Damages | Genevieve Scott

pick

I love a campus novel so wanted to read this - in fact, the later story was the better half, I thought.

In 1998 Ros‘s Regis uni roommate Megan goes missing in a terrible snowstorm and Ros is blamed for not looking after her.

Over 20 years later Ros‘s former partner is accused during the #metoo movement, leading Ros to look back on her life as a teenager, the mistakes she made and the lies we tell ourselves.

TheKidUpstairs Interesting, because I liked the first half of this one better than the second. I remember finding the pacing, especially to be a bit of a pretty down. but "Regis University" is so very clearly based on the university I attended, so I think that recognition factor was a big part of what drew me in to that first part 2mo

Cathythoughts Sounds good. I‘m going to try it ❤️ 2mo

squirrelbrain I wondered if it was a ‘real‘ university @TheKidUpstairs but hadn‘t got round to looking it up! 😊 2mo

youneverarrived I do, too! Stacking. 2mo

60 likes1 stack add4 comments

squirrelbrain

All Things Cease to Appear: A novel | Elizabeth Brundage

pick

I absolutely loved this! Such a detailed study, not only of the two main characters but also of the peripheral players and the town itself.

Catherine and George Clare have moved from the city to a farmhouse haunted by a previous tragedy, when Catherine is also found murdered.

Thanks for sending this to me some time ago @BarbaraBB - it‘s one that I‘m going to be thinking about for quite some time!

BarbaraBB Glad you loved it! I hope you‘re having a great time! 2mo

CBee I loved this one!! 2mo

TrishB I enjoyed this one 👍🏻 2mo

Hooked_on_books Oh good, I have this one! Sounds like I purchased wisely! 😉 2mo

Cathythoughts I loved it too. I hope she has a new book out soon 🤞🏻 2mo

72 likes4 stack adds5 comments

squirrelbrain

Sleep | Honor Jones

pick

Thanks to @TrishB for putting this on my radar by nominating it for #camplitsy25. Pub date 22nd May in the UK.

Margaret is 10 years old when her safe family life is fractured. Now, 25 years later, she tries to reconcile her childhood with that of her two young daughters.

There are so many great debut novels out at the moment, and this is one of them.

BarbaraBB I‘ve been interested in this one. Stacking now! 2mo

TrishB Looking forward to it 👍🏻 2mo

Cathythoughts I‘m going to get it 👍🏻❤️ 2mo

65 likes8 stack adds3 comments

squirrelbrain

Let's Go Camping! | Jan Mader

Summer is here, campers! 🏕️ Thanks to all 71 of you who voted - we have our top 6 books for #camplitsy25!

In June, we‘ll start with Audition, followed by Wild Dark Shore.

I‘ll be back in a week or so with the page breaks for Audition, which we‘ll discuss over the weekends of 7th/8th and 14th/15th June.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for bears, but also for Meg and Barbara who pop up over the weekend with the remaining 4 books!

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain
@Addison_Reads @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM @Cbee 2mo

squirrelbrain @Gatheringbooks @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa 2mo

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squirrelbrain @kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell 1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit 2mo

squirrelbrain @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita 2mo

squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @Meshell1313 @Addison_Reads 2mo

BarbaraBB Yay, that‘s quite the kick-off! I think the Littens chose very wisely 😀 I am looking forward to a new Kitamura and as I‘ve been shouting out everywhere I LOVED Wild Dark Shore so can‘t wait to discuss it around the campfire 🔥 2mo

Bookwormjillk Yay!!! Camp!!! 🏕️🐻❤️ 2mo

Lesliereadsalot Very excited! ⛺️🪵🩷 2mo

sarahbarnes Yay, so excited for these picks to kick us off! I‘m reading Audition right now and have WDS waiting! 2mo

Bookwormjillk PS anyone listened to these on audio? 2mo

CBee So glad that I waited to read Wild Dark Shore! Very excited! 2mo

TheKidUpstairs Yay! I'm excited to discuss Audition, from reviews it looks like a great one to talk through with you all! And I'm also excited to give McConaghy another chance! 2mo

Read4life Looks like a good start to camp!! 🏕️ 2mo

Ruthiella Nice! I ha Audition out now from the library-great timing. 👍 2mo

JenP 🥳 very excited! 2mo

Susanita I‘ve put holds on them! 2mo

Megabooks Yay!!! So glad camp starts soon!! 🏕️ 2mo

Caroline2 Ohhhh exciting!! 👏 2mo

mcctrish Omg I saw this post and squealed 🎉🎉camping time is here 2mo

AmyG OH BOY!!!! Thank you. 2mo

Deblovestoread Fantastic! Excited for both books and camp! 2mo

TrishB Ready on the pile! Can‘t wait 😁. Great choices. 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures OMG OMG I am so excited!!!!! 2mo

BarbaraJean 🎉🎉Now to hope and pray the library holds come in on time!! 2mo

JenReadsAlot Yay!!! 2mo

GatheringBooks Woohoo! Bought my copies! 🤞🏽📚📚📚 2mo

Hooked_on_books I predicted these two would get picked. I loved WDS and look forward to discussing it but won‘t be reading Audition. I read her last 2 and she doesn‘t work for me. 2mo

JamieArc Woohoo! Excited to see which books we are reading this summer! 2mo

ImperfectCJ I love both authors and am very excited for these! I'll be traveling in June and library holds are iffy, so I just bought the ebooks for on my Kobo (and I almost never buy ebooks, so that shows how excited I am!) 2mo

cariashley Rats, I didn‘t manage to get to vote, but I know I‘m in good hands here! Already excited about the first two picks! 2mo

Jess Nice! I already read WDS but look forward to chatting with everyone about it. I just found Audition in Spotify so will probably use my June hours to listen to that one. Can‘t wait to see what else was chosen! 2mo

MeganAnn Yay! 🎉 Looking forward to both and WDS especially since everyone seems to be raving about it. 🤞🏻My library holds will come through in time. Looks like WDS has been so popular they have added extra copies so that might help. 2mo

squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot @Read4life @JenP @Caroline2 @Deblovestoread @TrishB @ChaoticMissAdventures @JenReadsAlot @GatheringBooks @JamieArc - glad you‘re all so excited. The other 4 books are just as fabulous! 2mo

squirrelbrain That‘s excellent timing! @sarahbarnes 2mo

squirrelbrain @CBee - I‘ve been hanging back on reading a lot of books from the longlist, just in case! 🤪 2mo

squirrelbrain @TheKidUpstairs - I get the feeling Audition might be a Marmite book, but certainly lots to discuss, if Chelsea.poole ‘s review is anything to go by! 😊 2mo

squirrelbrain @mcctrish @AmyG - both your posts made me 🤭 and cheered up a grumpy work afternoon! ❤️ 2mo

squirrelbrain I hope they do come in on time 🤞 @BarbaraJean 2mo

squirrelbrain Yay! @GatheringBooks - and maybe some more to buy soon too…. 2mo

squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - no worries, not every book will work for everyone. 🫤 2mo

squirrelbrain We are truly honoured @ImperfectCJ 🤪 that camp is so exciting you bought e-books! 2mo

mcctrish I have ordered both books. I am not playing this year. I wasted time I will never get back waiting for library holds to never come in 🤣🤣 2mo

squirrelbrain @cariashley - I‘m sure you‘ve got more important things to be thinking about than voting for camp! 😊 I hope you get to join in at some point over the summer! 2mo

squirrelbrain @jess - Audition is quite short so will hopefully fit within your hours! 🤞 2mo

squirrelbrain Yes @meganann - I‘m looking forward to WDS so much as well. @BarbaraBB loved it and we have very similar taste in books. 2mo

KarenUK I just bought Audition and I LOVED the other! Great choices so far! 2mo

ErikasMindfulShelf Two great books! 2mo

squirrelbrain @KarenUK @ErikasMindfulShelf - the other 4 are just as good! 😊 2mo

kspenmoll Can‘t wait for both books. I own WDS but not the other.. 2mo

BarbaraBB @mcctrish a wise decision 😃😃 2mo

CBee @squirrelbrain must know what a Marmite book means now - I feel like I should know this already 🤔 2mo

Chelsea.Poole So exciting! I‘ve been waiting to read Wild Dark Shore because I adore her other two, and I‘d like to really savor this one. Looks like I‘ll get to really dive in deep with it. And I can see Audition leading to some really interesting discussions. Let‘s goooo 🏕️ 2mo

squirrelbrain @ruthiella - perfect timing! ❤️ 2mo

squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole your review of Audition really intrigued me! 2mo

squirrelbrain @cbee - sorry! 🤪 Marmite is a yeast extract that we either spread on toast or make into a drink. In the UK, people either love it or hate it, hence things are ‘Marmite‘ if they are polarising. 2mo

peaKnit Held audition! I have read the other, it will be an excellent conversation! 2mo

CBee @squirrelbrain I knew what Marmite was and had a feeling that‘s what it meant 😂😂 Perfect description!! 2mo

Christine Thrilled about these! Recently read Audition and liked it a lot but have been eager to hear others‘ takes/interpretations. And I‘ve been sad about not yet getting to WDS but now I‘m glad! 2mo

kspenmoll Thanks for hosting this again! 2mo

Meshell1313 Perfect! Can‘t wait! 2mo

monalyisha If I can find the time, I‘ll dive into Wild Dark Shore with you all! 2mo

TheBookHippie I‘m in for Audition! 2mo

squirrelbrain @peaknit I‘m really looking forward to WDS - I loved the author‘s other books. 2mo

squirrelbrain @christine - yes, it sounds like there‘s a lot to talk about with Audition. 🤔 2mo

squirrelbrain You‘re welcome @kspenmoll - we can‘t wait! 2mo

squirrelbrain We can‘t wait either! @meshell1313 2mo

squirrelbrain Hooray @monalyisha - hopefully you can squeeze it in! 2mo

squirrelbrain Yay! 🎉@TheBookHippie - looking forward to it! 2mo

squirrelbrain You‘re welcome ☺️ @cbee 2mo

peaKnit @squirrelbrain I need to get her other books, I don‘t think I‘ve read anything of her before. What a treat to know there is more! 2mo

CBee @peaKnit I recommend starting with

Migrations: A Novel

2mo

Zuhkeeyah I just borrowed Audition through Libby and placed a hold on WDS. Excited for the discussion 2mo

peaKnit @CBee would you believe I own that, haven‘t read it and didn‘t connect it to this author? I‘m ready to go☺️ 2mo

CBee @peaKnit happens to me all the time 😂 I hope you enjoy it when you get to it! 2mo

Addison_Reads Great choices! 2mo

Well-ReadNeck 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2mo

squirrelbrain Yes @peaKnit I preferred Migrations to Wolves, but loved both! @CBee 2mo

squirrelbrain @Zuhkeeyah - glad you could get Audition, and hopefully WDS will come through in time. 🤞 2mo

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @Well-ReadNeck - Littens always choose great books for camp! (Well, most of the time!) 🤣 2mo

julieclair Excited! Let‘s go camping! 2mo

youneverarrived Definitely want to read Audition so will try and join in with that! 2mo

squirrelbrain Great! @youneverarrived - looking forward to it! 2mo

95 likes83 comments

squirrelbrain

Air | John Boyne

pick

A fabulous final book in the Elements series. Not covering as distressing / upsetting scenarios as in the other three books, but wrapping up and linking the other stories together. Another propulsive read - inhaled it in about an hour.

Thanks to @TrishB for letting me know that this had been published and, if hubby said yesterday ‘I‘m ordering something from Amazon, do you need anything?‘ , then it‘s not me spending money on books, is it?! 🤣

quietlycuriouskate Infallible logic, Helen! 😆 2mo

TrishB Definitely not you 👍🏻 it wrapped it up well didn‘t it. 2mo

AmyG Oooo I can‘t wait to read this one. 2mo

sarahbarnes So looking forward to these. 2mo

BarbaraBB You read it so fast! I‘m waiting eagerly for my copy! 2mo

81 likes1 stack add5 comments

squirrelbrain

Open, Heaven | Sean Hewitt

pick

Recently, I seem to be reading, and falling for, a few of these quiet books about first love, and this one is no exception.

Set in the early 2000s, James is a solitary boy who has recently come out as gay and feels trapped by his family and small village. He meets Luke, who has a troubled past, and has been sent to stay with his aunt and uncle.

This is a beautiful story about first love and how it can impact our lives forever.

Hooked_on_books Gorgeous cover 🤩 2mo

BarbaraBB What Holly says! 2mo

squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB - it really fits with the story as well. I don‘t like the alternative (US?) cover at all. 🤷‍♀️ 2mo

See All 8 Comments

Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB Oh yuck! I just looked at the other cover and it‘s awful! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books it‘s completely different and hard to imagine that both would fit the story! 2mo

squirrelbrain It‘s not good is it?! @Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB 2mo

merelybookish Great review! I just finished and it broke my heart a bit. 1mo

squirrelbrain @merelybookish - you should try this one too, if you‘re ready for even more 💔

Room Above a Shop

1mo

64 likes3 stack adds8 comments

squirrelbrain

Let's Go Camping! | Jan Mader

Thanks to all those who have voted already for our #camplitsy25 books! We love seeing all the votes coming in. If you still wish to vote you have until next Friday 9th May to do so.

We have a possible / probable top 3 currently, although even that could change! We then have TWENTY books vying for those other 3 places, with only 4 votes separating them all!

Here‘s the longlist: http://bit.ly/42N5OCt

Here you can vote: https://bit.ly/3ENlNbz

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 2mo

squirrelbrain @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM @Cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel 2mo

squirrelbrain @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod 2mo

See All 50 Comments

squirrelbrain @JoyBlue @JulesG @KarenUK @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell 1313 2mo

squirrelbrain @Meshell1313 @BookNAround @julieclair 2mo

squirrelbrain @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes 2mo

squirrelbrain @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived 2mo

mcctrish I just want to know so badly 🤣🤣 2mo

Kitta Ooo! I‘m so excited to find out. 2mo

JenReadsAlot @mcctrish Me too! 😂 2mo

TrishB Can‘t wait 😁 2mo

Laughterhp Thanks for the reminder! Just voted. 2mo

Meshell1313 Oooh a close one. Can‘t wait to see the winners! 2mo

Bookwormjillk I want to know! 😂😂😂 2mo

BkClubCare So exciting 🤩 2mo

Leniverse What do you do if there's a multi-way draw? 😱 Draw lots, or release them back to us for a second round of votes? 2mo

sarahbarnes An impossible task! Just voted. So many on here I want to read regardless - an embarrassment of riches. 😍 2mo

RaeLovesToRead *dons fake mustache to vote again* hahahaha 2mo

Lesliereadsalot Super excited about this! 2mo

squirrelbrain @mcctrish @Kitta @JenReadsAlot @TrishB @Bookwormjillk @BkClubCare @Lesliereadsalot - we‘re lucky as we get to see the votes as they come in, which is just as exciting. Not long now until we find out who‘s coming to camp this year! 😜 2mo

squirrelbrain @meshell1313 - yes, much closer than last year when James was way ahead of anything else. 2mo

Kitta @RaeLovesToRead 😂 2mo

squirrelbrain Thanks for voting @laughterhp @sarahbarnes - yes, I‘ve been ordering a fair few books over the last couple of weeks, whether they‘re going to make the final 6 or not! 2mo

squirrelbrain @raelovestoread - nah, not happening, we can spot you a mile off! 🤣 Dressed in that bear costume from last year. 2mo

Ruthiella This is as much fun as actually reading the books! I love the process and the possibilities. 😃 2mo

Prairiegirl_reading @squirrelbrain @RaeLovesToRead 🤣🤣🐻🐻 2mo

Prairiegirl_reading I‘ve been putting off book shopping until we find out the winners. It‘s been difficult!! I‘m not really surprised it‘s close. The long list had so many interesting titles. 2mo

CSeydel Maybe we could have a second round of voting? I‘m betting a lot of books got only one vote 😅 2mo

BkClubCare @CSeydel - I would vote for a round 2 vote if we need to narrow down - but I also don‘t want to make more work for our camp leaders. ❤️ 2mo

JenReadsAlot Can we add another book and camp in September too?! 2mo

squirrelbrain @Leniverse @CSeydel @BkClubCare - it‘s never been a problem before, somehow! There have been plenty of draws, of course, certainly lower down but even within the top 6. Just not where it mattered - places 5 / 6 / 7. We‘ll cross that bridge if / when we come to it this year. 2mo

squirrelbrain We should camp all year round! @JenReadsAlot - the sun is always shining *somewhere* in the world! 😜 2mo

BkClubCare @squirrelbrain - “We should camp all year round!” 🤣🏕️☀️ 2mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @JenReadsAlot We should camp year round indeed!! ❤️ 2mo

Hooked_on_books You‘re so cruel! Dangling tidbits but not telling us the identity of the books. Awful! 😉 2mo

Sapphire Thank you! 2mo

Sapphire @Hooked_on_books IKR 2mo

squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books @Sapphire - I‘m the mean girl in camp who no-one likes! 😈 2mo

Sapphire @squirrelbrain lol! 2mo

Hooked_on_books 😂 2mo

CBee @RaeLovesToRead 😂😂😂 2mo

Chelsea.Poole I have a few guesses for the top picks I‘m TILTing towards… 2mo

Kitta @squirrelbrain how do you determine the order of the books once you have the top 6? I always feel there‘s a flow or connections between them and am impressed. Is this intentional? (edited) 2mo

squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole LOL! 🤐 2mo

squirrelbrain @Kitta - that‘s very kind of you to say! We do try to link the books together somehow. It depends on who is hosting which month, and we try to host at least one book each that we haven‘t read before so it can take a bit of working out! @Megabooks @BarbaraBB 2mo

Daisey Thanks for the reminder! Last year was the first time I participated, and I wasn‘t sure I would vote this year. There were enough books I had seen mentioned that I voted for those without more research. So curious to see the choices! 2mo

squirrelbrain @Daisey - thanks for voting! Not long until we find out! 2mo

Prairiegirl_reading So voting ends tomorrow and then how long until we find out? Is everything still super close? 2mo

squirrelbrain @Prairiegirl_reading - we closed the voting overnight and, keep a look out, we *might* be starting to reveal the results today! 2mo

Prairiegirl_reading @squirrelbrain YAY!!! Thank you!! 😊 2mo

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Joined June 2017