Welcome to Litsy!

Fear Stalks the Village (British Mystery Classic) | Ethel Lina White

An idyllic village full of Tudor cottages and cobblestone streets is turned upside down when its residents are hit with a series of poison pen letters. I‘m a mere 50 pages in but it‘s thoroughly compelling!

rabbitprincess And a great cover on that one! I love the British Library Crime Classics reprints. 3d

LeahBergen @rabbitprincess This really is one of their great covers! 3d

Cathythoughts Sounds great. Stacked ❤️ 3d

See All 7 Comments

Tamra Oooooh I like the premise! 3d

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Tamra So far, so good! 🤞 3d

CarolynM This kind of sounds like the film Wicked Little Letters, although that wasn‘t a crime story. 1d

LeahBergen @CarolynM I thought so, too, when I started it. I enjoyed that film! 18h

52 likes3 stack adds7 comments

Illyrian Spring | Ann Bridge

A springtime read from 1935 and I‘m really enjoying it!

Lady Kilmichael, a renowned artist, leaves her remote husband and adult children to go on a painting trip to the Dalmatian coast without telling any of them her whereabouts. While there she ends up taking under her wing an unhappy young man whose family has forbidden him to pursue his art. Methinks love is in the air!

(I‘m also intrigued by this peek at what would later become Croatia).

Leftcoastzen Yay green Virago! 1w

Tamra 💚 1w

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Tamra You usually can‘t go wrong with a green Virago and it‘s been a while since I‘ve read one! 1w

See All 11 Comments

Cathythoughts Beautiful cover 💚 1w

CarolynM That sounds very good 🙂 1w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts The old Viragos always have such pretty covers! 1w

LeahBergen @CarolynM It is! I haven‘t read this author before. 1w

MemoirsForMe This story reminds me of Anne Tyler‘s Ladder of Years. Enjoy! 📖 4d

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I just read the plot summary and it does seem similar! I‘ll keep an eye out for that one at the bookstore (or big used book sale we have coming up in my city 😆). 4d

MemoirsForMe It‘s a great book, though your protagonist may be luckier in love.🤭Those big used book sales are so much fun. Our annual one here is in Sept. Even if they are detrimental to my shelf space. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 3d

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I try to have a bit of a shelf “clear out” before the big sales come up as I usually come home with a box full! 😆 3d

64 likes1 stack add11 comments

A Good House for Children | Kate Collins

How I spent this grey and snowy Sunday afternoon: book, fuzzy blanket and hot chocolate.

This book is getting spooky! 😆

Bklover Sounds cozy! 2w

Ruthiella Perfect afternoon! 📚☕️😊 2w

CarolynM That mug of chocolate looks so good 😋 2w

See All 15 Comments

TrishB Perfect ❤️ 2w

ShelleyBooksie Gorgeous mug 2w

Tamra Nothing better! 😊 2w

AmyG Sounds like the perfect day. 2w

Suet624 I‘m ready for the snow to stop. However, we‘re getting a bunch on Wednesday. 2w

LeahBergen @Bklover @Ruthiella @TrishB @CarolynM @Tamra @AmyG It was pretty great! 😊 2w

LeahBergen @ShelleyBooksie Thanks! It‘s from a local potter. 2w

LeahBergen @Suet624 It‘s warming up today but winter isn‘t over by a long shot here, either! 😆 2w

Cathythoughts Looking very cosy 🥰 I love the mug too. 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! It‘s an old fave. 😊 2w

Cathythoughts Leah I received a package from you. Thank you 🙏 I‘ll wait till the birthday to open it. 🥰😘😘 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, good! I was worried that it wouldn‘t make it on time for your birthday! 2w

75 likes2 stack adds15 comments

Birnam Wood | Eleanor Catton

My “currently reading” stack.

I was initially a bit underwhelmed by Birnam Wood (for my IRL book club) but then the plot kicked in and I‘m hooked!

Cathythoughts That‘s great you‘re enjoying Birnam Wood. I have to say I loved it ❤️ 3w

charl08 I have shelf envy: all those lovely spines. 3w

Ruthiella Yes, Birnim Wood is sneaky like that! 😆 3w

See All 8 Comments

Tamra I‘ve wondered about Birnam Wood - seems I‘d best stack! (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB I ended up loving it 3w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @Tamra @BarbaraBB I‘m about 2/3rds through and really enjoying it! Yes, @Tamra , give it a chance! 3w

LeahBergen @charl08 Haha, thank you! I have my reading chair and little table set up in front of these shelves as I like them, too. 🥰 3w

BarbaraBB @Tamra I think you‘ll love it too! 3w

60 likes8 comments

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

pick

Middle-aged spinster, Miss MacFarren, is reduced to taking in a lodger at the end of WWII. Mrs. Bankes comes highly recommended and seems perfect but problems arise on the very first day. To save her beautiful house filled with antiques, Miss MacFarren must find a way to somehow rid herself of this horrible tenant and a course of “domestic warfare” begins. I loved it and think it‘s now my favourite book by this author!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

TheBookHippie Oh I love the Stafford dogs! 3w

ShelleyBooksie Love those bookends!! 3w

Tamra Cute! 😍 3w

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Ruthiella I found the start unbearably tense… the damage 😱the poor birds 😱 Mrs. Manders 😱! But, at the 30% mark, relief (and romance) is in the air. I hope (suspect) the comeuppance will be satisfying! 😆 3w

rubyslippersreads Gog and Magog! 3w

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie @ShelleyBooksie @Tamra Thanks! 😄 3w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was so anxious at the start! 😬😆 3w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Pretty close! 😆 3w

CarolynM Lovely review and fantastic photo😍 I‘m about 50 pages in and I agree it feels a bit tense so far @Ruthiella 3w

MemoirsForMe Stunning bookends! 😍 3w

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! I can‘t wait to hear if it gives you “tchotchke anxiety”, too. 😂 3w

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Thanks!😊 3w

74 likes1 stack add12 comments

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

As someone who collects (odd) antiques myself … this book is giving me anxiety.

Miss MacFarren, please get rid of the “bull in a china shop” lodger. I fear for the safety of your Gallé cats! ??

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Leftcoastzen What quirky cats ! 1mo

Ruthiella Those are quite quirky!😹Thanks for the research. I‘m also quite worried about the lodger… It doesn‘t bode well. 🙀 1mo

quietjenn I think the cats are a little worried too 😹 1mo

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Cathythoughts A bull in a china shop lodger …. Oh no 😳😂 1mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella They are quirky! I had to look them up and couldn‘t believe how “modern” they looked for the era. They are circa 1900 but look almost 1980s. 😆😆 1mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella And yes, the lodger has me biting my fingernails! 1mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn 😂😂 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s seriously making me anxious! She‘s broken all sorts of things, got cigarette burns on others, and now she‘s using the expensive cats as doorstops! 😂😂 (edited) 1mo

CarolynM Those cats give me the creeps🥺 Looking forward to starting the book, though🙂 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I had to look them up after the description of them in the book! 😆 4w

elkeOriginal Lodger 😬 but cats🥰 4d

70 likes11 comments

Thursday's Child | Noel Streatfeild

Book mail of the day!

willaful An old fav of mine... 1mo

kspenmoll I just got Jane recently! 1mo

LeahBergen @willaful I have a lot of Streatfeilds but somehow have never read this one. I‘m looking forward to it! 1mo

See All 10 Comments

LeahBergen @kspenmoll It looks fascinating! 1mo

Centique Look at that cover - so so sweet 😍 1mo

LeahBergen @Centique It really is! 1mo

Cathythoughts They look lovely Leah 🥰 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 1mo

tpixie Great cover on the left! The Jane book looks interesting! 4w

LeahBergen I love that cover, too! @tpixie 3w

71 likes10 comments

Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata

I thought I‘d read just a few pages of this book (from my niece) tonight before bed and I‘m finding it totally hard to put down!

Reggie Awwww I loved this book. 1mo

BarbaraBB Such a lovely and sad read. 1mo

LeahBergen @Reggie @BarbaraBB It‘s so good! 1mo

See All 8 Comments

Cathythoughts Oh great ! I loved this and it has stayed with me. ❤️ 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I really enjoyed it! 1mo

sarahbarnes This is on my list! 1mo

MemoirsForMe I‘ve had this on my shelf forever. Must get to it! 1mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe @sarahbarnes It was a good, quick read! 1mo

66 likes1 stack add8 comments

Seven Lean Years | Celia Fremlin

It feels like time for a Fremlin! 👏👏

andrew61 Love that shelf. 1mo

Leftcoastzen Carefully curated shelves! 👏😁 1mo

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 1mo

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Cathythoughts Enjoy ! I really enjoyed this one. ❤️ I really enjoyed everything of hers I‘ve read. 1mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 @Leftcoastzen Thanks, you two! 😘 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts Good old Fremlin! 1mo

63 likes1 stack add6 comments

Absolutely and Forever: An electrifying new novel for fans of Maggie O�Farrell | Rose Tremain

Look what arrived today, @Cathythoughts ! I‘m absolutely thrilled as I‘ve been wanted to read this since reading your wonderful review.

Thank you so much, my friend! 😘😘

Cathythoughts You are so welcome Leah. I hope you will enjoy it. What a lark 😂 the Christmas tree !!! My granddaughter designed the card. 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I was wondering if it was your granddaughter, Sophy, when I read the back but I wasn‘t sure about the surname! 😆 I love it even more now!! 😘😘 2mo

70 likes1 stack add2 comments

Godmersham Park | Gill Hornby

I‘m just starting Godmersham Park after recently watching (and thoroughly enjoying) the new BBC series based on her previous novel, Miss Austen.

I always find myself hauling out, and flipping through, a bunch of my Austen biographies whenever I‘m reading anything about Jane!

rubyslippersreads That cover! 😍 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads They‘re so good. I‘m glad that there‘s a third one coming out with this cover style, too! 2mo

Rissreadswithcats That cover is divine! 💚 2mo

See All 6 Comments

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats It really is! 2mo

Bookwomble My eye was drawn to your bookmark 💚 Excellent play! 👨🏻‍🍳👌🏻 1mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble That‘s high praise coming from the master matcher! 😆😆 1mo

79 likes2 stack adds6 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

Happy Birthday, @rubyslippersreads !

I hope you have a ‘royally‘ bookish day (yes, I went there 😆). All the best to you, my friend!

🎂 📚 🎂 📚 🎂 📚

HardcoverHearts Happy birthday, @rubyslippersreads ! I hope it‘s a great one. 2mo

Cathythoughts A very Happy Birthday @rubyslippersreads I hope you have a wonderful day 🥰🎂🎁 2mo

dabbe HB, @rubyslipperreads! 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

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rubyslippersreads What a lovely picture! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. 😘 2mo

rubyslippersreads @HardcoverHearts @Cathythoughts @dabbe Thanks! 2mo

Ruthiella Happy Birthday @rubyslippersreads ! 🥳🥳🥳 2mo

JessClark78 Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎉 2mo

quietjenn Happiest of birthdays to you, @rubyslippersreads 🎉 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads There‘s a little gift coming for you in the next couple of days. Tracking shows it to be in your general vicinity. 😆 2mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen How exciting! I‘ll be watching for it. 😃 2mo

rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @JessClark78 @quietjenn Thank you! 2mo

53 likes11 comments

Odd Girl Out | Elizabeth Jane Howard

It‘s time for another Elizabeth Jane Howard (the sixth that @shawnmooney and I have buddy-read together)!

sarahbarnes Fun! I want to read more of her. 😍 🍷 2mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous golden picture. Sounds good , stacking. 💛 2mo

BarbaraBB Gorgeous photo! 2mo

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LeahBergen @sarahbarnes I‘ve loved everything of hers that I‘ve read! 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB Thanks! 😘😘 2mo

Bookbuyingaddict I love ❤️ ejh and really enjoyed this one ☝️ she‘s up there in my favs now along with Mary Wesley , what a lovely edition mine was a battered old 60s paperback from a charity shop 🤣 1mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Thanks! She‘s definitely one of my faves, too! 1mo

69 likes3 stack adds7 comments

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

It‘s now February so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@CarolynM ‘s pick for us this month is Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Teresereading Still waiting for my copy to arrive 📚 2mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading I hope it arrives soon. 😀 2mo

daena Can‘t wait to get started. Waiting on my copy too! 2mo

See All 14 Comments

Tamra Off the shelf! Thank for your the reminder. 😊 2mo

julieclair Looking forward to it! 2mo

CarolynM Hope it‘s a good one🤞 2mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, my copy was meant to arrive a couple of days ago. So I should have it Monday Looking forward to it ❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @daena @Tamra @julieclair @CarolynM @Cathythoughts This is one I‘ve already read and really enjoyed. I hope you all like it, too! 2mo

Caryl I started it last night and I'm quite invested in the characters already! Great pick @CarolynM! (edited) 2mo

LeahBergen @Caryl I found that I was, too! 2mo

Teresereading My copy‘s arrived! 2mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Yay! 👏 2mo

elkeOriginal Real life has really messed up my reading but I am still here and hope to catch up on our group reads (furrowed too) at some point📚 2mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal No worries! My life is a bit that way, too, at the moment. As long as we check in with each other every so often … right? 😄 2mo

54 likes14 comments

Darling | India Knight

Look what I‘ve started reading, @CarolynM ! And I‘ve already had a good laugh over the list of things that Uncle Matthew hates.

😆😆

CarolynM Oh, so did I, especially at the things I hate too😆 2mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic ❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 2mo

See All 15 Comments

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh, God … the dinner party with “Twats” parents! 🤣 2mo

CarolynM The Kroesigs didn‘t need a lot of updating😆 2mo

kwmg40 I love the Penguin Books mug! 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Nope 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 Thanks! I have a few of them and they‘re always a favourite. 2mo

kwmg40 @LeahBergen I have a couple too and I'd love to collect more, though there's no more room in our kitchen for additional mugs. 😄 2mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 That‘s my problem, too. 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Just finished and loved it! I did approach the ending with increasing dread though because… you know. 😭 2mo

CarolynM Yes, I do know, and I was a bit apprehensive too. I thought the whole Fabrice episode didn‘t work so well without the war, but the very end she pulled off quite well. I was also a bit disappointed she didn‘t tackle Jassy running away. As a whole, though, it was great fun. I‘ve just started watching the recent TV version - it‘s good, but Linda and Fanny are both miscast. Andrew Scott as Merlin is fab. 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Yes, a hotelier doesn‘t seem quite in the war hero category, does it? 😆 And Fanny‘s character (like Jassy‘s) is given a bit of short shrift. I was just looking up that recent TV version last night and adding it to my list. 2mo

CarolynM Let me know what you think of the TV version if you watch it. Some of it I thought was very good (Dominic West is a wonderful Uncle Matthew, for example) but I was a bit annoyed by it too. I don‘t want to say more in case you watch it. 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I‘ll definitely let you know when I watch it! 2mo

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The Ministry of Time: A Novel | Kaliane Bradley

I‘m halfway through this for my IRL bookclub and still not sure if I‘m liking it. 😆

Suet624 Uh oh. 2mo

Leftcoastzen I have it and have seen mixed reviews 2mo

ferskner This is my favorite book of last year but I know a lot of people who didn't like it! The last paragraph wrecked me. 2mo

See All 13 Comments

Hooked_on_books I had mixed feelings about it. I really liked the idea and thought some bits were done well, but it didn‘t really work on the whole for me. 2mo

mcctrish I have this to read soon 2mo

Cathythoughts Bookclub books can be challenging 😘 2mo

Centique I had mixed feelings too. I love a time travel book so its in my wheelhouse definitely and some parts were really good but something about the pacing and the plot made it feel higgledy piggledy 2mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Indeed. 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen I‘ve finished now and I was underwhelmed. 😬 2mo

LeahBergen @ferskner For some reason it didn‘t really work for me. I will always find it fascinating how books “click” differently with different readers! 2mo

LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books @Centique I‘ve just finished and my feelings are mixed, too! I always enjoy a good time travel story but found this to be a bit all over the place. I kept thinking I should be loving the two main characters more. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo

LeahBergen @mcctrish I hope it works for you! 🤞 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yep! 😆 2mo

75 likes1 stack add13 comments

The Snowstorm | Beryl Netherclift

Three children visiting a kooky old aunt at their ancestral Tudor manor discover a snow globe that connects them with the children who used to live at the house in the past.

I‘m LOVING it. 🧡🩵

(US title: The Snow Ghosts).

Ruthiella Nice coordination of the teapot to the cover! 😍 3mo

TheBookHippie Love the teapot!! 3mo

curiouserandcurioser Your teapot is beautiful:) this book sounds good! 3mo

See All 26 Comments

thegirlwiththelibrarybag This sounds amazing! Love the cover too. 3mo

rubyslippersreads This is the second book by this author I covet. (The other one is Greensleeves.) 3mo

wordslinger42 That sounds like such a good story! I‘ll have to try and find a copy. 3mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🫖 🧡 3mo

Tamra What an entertaining premise! 3mo

Cathythoughts Sounds like a lovely story 🥰 🥰❄️ 3mo

Cathythoughts Loving the teapot/orange colours. 3mo

DimeryRene How did you even find this book? It looks so old! 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Thank you for noticing. 😉😆 3mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie Thank you! It‘s one of those little “tea for one” sets. 3mo

LeahBergen @curiouserandcurioser Thanks! And I‘m thoroughly enjoying the book. 3mo

LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag It‘s really good! 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I want that one, too! It‘s stories, I believe? 3mo

LeahBergen @wordslinger42 I think it‘s easier to find under the US title. 🤞 3mo

LeahBergen @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I can‘t resist vintage children‘s time slip novels. 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! The teapot was a gift from my brother and sis-in-law quite a few Christmases ago. 😄 3mo

LeahBergen @DimeryRene 😆 I had heard about it for years and eventually found an edition online that I liked enough to buy! 3mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen I think so. Alas, at the prices I see, I don‘t think I‘ll be adding it to my shelves anytime soon. ☹️ 3mo

sarahbarnes This sounds just lovely. 3mo

DimeryRene @LeahBergen I love it! Now I want to look for one. 3mo

kspenmoll This sounds wonderful! 2mo

Centique That looks like a beauty! 2mo

90 likes8 stack adds26 comments

The Serpent King | Jeff Zentner

Look what arrived today, @TheLudicReader ! I always look forward to reading your list of yearly favourites. Thank you for the cute card and stickers, too. 😘😘

The tagged book (from your list) is one that‘s definitely piqued my interest now!

TheLudicReader I made one stupid error, misnaming Midnight is the Darkest Hour. 😬 Glad it finally arrived! 3mo

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader Only one error is pretty impressive in my books! 😄 3mo

ShelleyBooksie Agree @LeahBergen - I always look forward to the list as well ♡ 3mo

Cathythoughts ❤️ 3mo

70 likes4 comments

Women's Weird 2: More Strange Stories by Women, 1891-1937 | Melissa Edmundson

Happy Birthday, Lynn! I hope your day is filled with all your very favourite things! 📚🎂📚🎂📚

#49bdaygiveaway

wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for entering! 🥳 3mo

48 likes1 comment

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

pick

It might just be my mood right now but I found this to be an absolutely charming and touching read. I even enjoyed the silliness of the novel-within-a-novel written by 16-year-old (recently thwarted in love) Miss Granby although, as others mentioned, it does perhaps go on a bit too long. A frothy confection as sweet and old-fashioned as a china patchbox full of lilac cachoux. 😉

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

Ruthiella I‘m glad you liked it! It was touching, but somehow I also felt a little sad about the unrequited love aspect of it. 3mo

Tamra Terrific review! Of course as a 16 year old nothing resembling love is silly! I couldn‘t be paid any amount of money to go back. 😅 (edited) 3mo

willaful @Tamra You remind me of this scene from Gaudy Night:

“Would you have your youth back if you could, Harriet?”

“Not for the world.”

“Nor I. Not for anything you could give me.

Gaudy Night

3mo

See All 21 Comments

Tamra @willaful 😂 I just stacked it - perfect! 👍🏾 3mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous review Leah ❤️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It seemed unrequited but then it also seemed like they carried on this idealized version of youthful love purely for the nostalgia of it (and carried on with their best lives). Alicia was the one most invested in their love affair (sending S the poems to send to A each year) and I think that‘s why Adeline sent the Venus and Adonis statue to her at the old age home. You think? 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @willaful Oh, how DEEPLY I felt my love as a 16 year old. 😆😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 3mo

Ruthiella Interesting perspective! Yes, I can see that and it makes me feel better. Thanks! 😊 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 💔💔 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen yes, nice description! Preserving that pure adoration & devotion of a first love. Adeline cashed in on it in fact with her writing career. Yay Adeline! 😆 3mo

elkeOriginal THOSE BOOKSHELVES OF YOURS ARE RIDICULOUS. le sigh 📚💕😻 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It still makes me feel a little wistful, though 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I love that she cashed in on it so well! 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Haha! Thank you! 😘 3mo

rubyslippersreads A charming and touching read is exactly what I need right now. 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Are you affected by the fires at all?? Are they close to where you live?? 😬 3mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen My area is okay, but I have a friend staying with me because she had to evacuate. But we‘re safe, so that‘s the main thing. 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads How awfully stressful! Sending you love! ❤️ 3mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen 😘 3mo

julieclair Can‘t wait to start this! 2mo

81 likes2 stack adds21 comments

The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou | Eleni Kyriacou

Thank you so much, @TheKidUpstairs , for these wonderful #LittleChristmasSwap gifts! I‘m so glad you picked this book for me as I‘ve been dying to read it after seeing all the rave Litsy reviews. And Dairy Milk is THE BEST. ❤️❤️

And a big ‘thank you‘ to our host, @bookish_wookish ! ❤️❤️

#LCS

bookish_wookish 🎄🎄 3mo

squirrelbrain It‘s such a good book! I have the ARC of her new one to read - it doesn‘t come out until early May. 3mo

Cathythoughts I really enjoyed that book ! My favorite chocolate too 🥰 3mo

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Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain A new one ! Yay ! 3mo

TheKidUpstairs I was so excited to see it on your TBR, I read it last year (probably because of @squirrelbrain review!) and really liked it. I hope you do too! 3mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain Ooo, I‘ll have to check that one out! 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts You just can‘t beat a good old Dairy Milk! 3mo

LeahBergen @TheKidUpstairs I saw that you had reviewed it, too, and I‘m so happy you chose it! Thanks again! 😘 3mo

squirrelbrain I know @Cathythoughts - I‘m excited to read it. Although I have many more ARCs to get to before that one. 3mo

squirrelbrain It was a real surprise to me when I loved it so much @TheKidUpstairs - it was quite ‘under the radar‘ - I hope you love it just as much Leah! 3mo

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Anne of the Library on the Hill | Catherine Little

@rubyslippersreads , we certainly DID have a common theme this Christmas, didn‘t we? 😂

Thank you so much for these lovely books and chocs. The tagged picture book is gorgeous and the Anne stories look like they might be a bit wacky but fun. We‘ll definitely have to compare notes!

Merry Christmas to you and the kitties, my friend! 😘😘

rubyslippersreads I think some of the stories will be quirky. It will be fun to compare notes. Merry Christmas to you, and I hope Johnny Bergen found his stocking full of doggie treats! 🐶 3mo

rubyslippersreads Your Elf on the (Book)Shelf has his eyes on your candy. 🤣 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads He‘s a greedy little thing. 😆 3mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous and delicious gifts ❤️ 3mo

Cathythoughts Yes 😂 beware of that Elf 3mo

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Tatting | Faith Compton Mackenzie

@ReadingRachael , thank you so much for my wonderful #JolabokaflodSwap gifts!

I‘m so happy that you chose this book for me as the publisher (Handheld Press) is shutting down and it will soon be out of print again. I love the pretty bookmark and the chocolates are perfect! Merry Christmas to you! 😘

And a big thank you to @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting, as always! 😘

#JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024

Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰 3mo

Tamra I love the sound of the novel! Merry Christmas Leah! 🎄 (edited) 3mo

ReadingRachael I am so glad you like it! The book sounded so interesting and unique. I am curious to hear what you think of it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday ❤️ (edited) 3mo

See All 12 Comments

sisilia This is awesome! Merry Christmas! 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It is! 🥰 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra And Merry Christmas to you, too, my friend! 😘😘 3mo

LeahBergen @ReadingRachael I absolutely love it! Thank you so much! 3mo

LeahBergen @sisilia Merry Christmas to you, too! 😘😘 (edited) 3mo

Centique 😍 Ghiardelli is the BEST chocolate IMO. We dont have it here so it is always something we buy a big bag of in the US. Enjoy! 3mo

erzascarletbookgasm I really like the book cover. Merry Christmas Leah! 🌟❤️ 3mo

tpixie Sad about the publisher… the book looks great! Merry Christmas 🎁📘🎄 3mo

MaleficentBookDragon Happy Jólabókaflóð! That is a very pretty bookmark. 3mo

75 likes12 comments

The Christmas Book | Enid Blyton

And look at those endpapers!

The children learn about the lore and traditions of Christmas, from the pre-Christian era (top left) to the “modern day” (lower right). Well, sort of modern day … the book was published in 1944. Look at the plane overhead. 😬

kspenmoll The illustrations are wonderful! 3mo

elkeOriginal Delightful! 3mo

Tamra Gorgeous! 3mo

Cathythoughts So lovely 🥰 3mo

MemoirsForMe 😍😍😍 3mo

56 likes5 comments

The Christmas Book | Enid Blyton

This is such a sweet book!

Two children return from boarding school and excitedly join their family in celebrating a traditional Christmas. In the process (and after all their questioning) they learn the history of how this season came to be celebrated.

DebinHawaii Beautiful! ❄️💙❄️ 3mo

Leftcoastzen Wonderful cover ! 3mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous ❤️ 3mo

Centique What a treasure! 3mo

63 likes4 comments

Sylvia Plath's Tomato Soup Cake: A Compendium of Classic Authors' Favourite Recipes - 'I couldn't possibly love this book more!' (Nigella Lawson) | Various

Today‘s read is this pretty little book (although some of the recipes are making me feel a tad bilious after one too many rum punches at last night‘s Christmas party 😆).

TheBookHippie Omg NEED!!! 3mo

Tamra How fun - love it! And I am with you on the tad bit too much on the Xmas cheer last night. 😂 (edited) 3mo

sarahbarnes That rum punch really sneaks up on you! 3mo

See All 11 Comments

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie It‘s a fun one! 👍 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @sarahbarnes And I was warned about that punch, too, but it was very tasty 😆 3mo

CarolynM Sounds like a quiet day‘s reading is in order😆 3mo

tpixie @LeahBergen too tempting!! 🍹 Fun book 📕 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Indeed. 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @tpixie It was such a pretty punch 😆 3mo

tpixie @LeahBergen 😝 3mo

Centique Rum punch! I feel like ive missed a trick by not having rum punch at Christmas. (Im not sure ive ever had it, though ive had fruit punch with vodka 👍) 3mo

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Christmas Crimes at The Mysterious Bookshop | Otto Penzler

Here are a couple of more, recently purchased, Christmassy books.

(And now I just need to find the time to read them!)

BookishMadHatter I really wanted The Dead of Winter too, but with the Canada Post strike didn't bother to order anything at all lately. I hope you find/steal some reading time 3mo

rubyslippersreads Great covers! 🎄 3mo

sarahbarnes 🌲🌲🌲 3mo

See All 6 Comments

mabell Those look fun! 3mo

LeahBergen @BookishMadHatter I know! That strike really cut into my book buying. 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @sarahbarnes @mabell 😘😘😘 3mo

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A Book for Christmas | Selma Lagerlof

“But what shall I do on Christmas night if nobody has given me a book?…”

What, indeed?? That quote is from the title story of this little collection I just bought. Selma Lagerlöf was the (first female) winner of the Nobel Prize in 1909.

Ruthiella Sounds perfect!!🤩 3mo

Tamra That does sound perfect! 👌🏾 3mo

merelybookish Sweet cover! 3mo

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB Lovely! And I loved her

G�sta Berling's Saga

3mo

Cathythoughts What lovely book 🥰 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @Tamra @merelybookish @Cathythoughts It‘s a pretty little thing! 3mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I‘ll look that one up! 3mo

59 likes7 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

@TheKidUpstairs , my #LittleChristmasSwap arrived safely! Thank you so much. 😘😘

@bookish_wookish
#LCS

bookish_wookish 🎄🎄 3mo

TheKidUpstairs Yay! So glad it came 3mo

47 likes2 comments

The Godwits Fly | Robin Hyde

Amazingly enough, my IRL bookclub has picked a Persephone book for our current read (after 27 years together). And no, it WASN‘T my pick. 😆

I was going to ask you, @Centique , if you‘d read this classic New Zealand coming-of-age novel but I see you are the only other person to post about it on here! I‘m really enjoying it.

Ruthiella You have strong Persephone vibes! Your IRL book club has sensed them. Use your powers for good, Leah! 😜 4mo

Tamra You lucky book clubber! 😃 4mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella 😆😆 4mo

See All 11 Comments

LeahBergen @Tamra I am! But I hope the rest of the club actually likes it or it may be our last. 😆 4mo

Tamra @LeahBergen bahahaha Why do I doubt that? 🤔 4mo

Cathythoughts 27 years! That‘s one strong bookclub ❤️ book sounds good ! 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s a great bookclub with a mix of women and men! 3mo

Centique Im so glad youre enjoying it. She was an incredible woman. I recall it being quite a long read and - being so close to her real life - a bit messy and complicated - but so beautifully written 😍 3mo

LeahBergen @Centique It really rambles along quite beautifully, if that makes sense! 3mo

CarolynM Ooh, interesting, she says, immediately adding it to her pending #PersephoneClub order 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM 😆😆 I‘m working on my order, too! 3mo

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Blue Sapphire | D E Stevenson

Look at my wonderful #StuffedStockingSwap from @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego !

Two ‘much-wanted‘ books from my Litsy TBR, those cute bookish socks, the pretty tin of chocolates, cookies I‘ve never seen before (!), and that Olaf bookmark. The Christmassy book sleeve is SO sweet. Thank you so much; I love it all! ❤️

And a big thank you to our organizer, @Avanders ! 😘
#SSS

Amiable Those socks! 😍 4mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego H💚 H❤️ H💚 4mo

Avanders Ooh love those socks! ♥️🎄 4mo

See All 11 Comments

Tamra Those socks! 😍 4mo

TrishB Very cool ♥️ 4mo

elkeOriginal Blue Sapphire looks good! 4mo

LeahBergen @Amiable @Avanders @Tamra They‘re awesome! (edited) 4mo

LeahBergen @TrishB Yes! ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal It sounds good from the back blurb, too 👍 4mo

Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰🎁 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It is! 😘 4mo

71 likes11 comments

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

Our voting has trickled off so it‘s time to announce what we‘re reading next year … TA-DAH! 🎉

Anyone is welcome to read along with us at any time, of course.

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Cathythoughts Good job Leah ! Thankyou and I‘m loving the choices ❤️ 4mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah. Some good books to look forward to🙂 4mo

Bookbuyingaddict All books 📚 mentioned were worthy I think so hard to whittle it down , thank you 🙏 so much Leah look forward to reading along with you and a merry happy 😃 Christmas to you all 🥰🥰😘x x. X x x x 4mo

See All 23 Comments

Teresereading I‘d like to join you 4mo

BarbaraBB I have only read the tagged one and am looking forward to be inspired by all of your reviews. Just ordered Emmeline by the way - thanks to you 😀

4mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 4mo

Tamra Thank you, Leah! 😘 4mo

quietjenn Woohoo! Here's to another great year of reading together! 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @Bookbuyingaddict @Tamra @quietjenn We‘re going to have fun!! 👏👏 4mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Please do! Would you like me to add you to the tag list? 4mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I can‘t wait to hear what you think of it! 4mo

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 4mo

julieclair Yay! Lots of fun reading ahead. Thanks so much for organizing us, Leah. 💙 4mo

elkeOriginal Excited! Love this list 📚 4mo

elkeOriginal (and orders have been placed in midst of excitement🤦🏼‍♀️) 4mo

LeahBergen @julieclair It‘s going to be great! 👏 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 😆😆 Of course they have! 4mo

Caryl What a wonderful list of titles. Thank you for organizing! I'm hoping to participate more. 4mo

LeahBergen @Caryl That would be wonderful! 😊 4mo

daena These look great, fabulous assortment! 4mo

LeahBergen @daena I think so, too! 😊 4mo

JenlovesJT47 I‘d like to join! 🙋🏻‍♀️ 3mo

LeahBergen You‘re more than welcome!! I‘ll try to remember to tag you when we start reading in February 😆 3mo

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The Secret of Helmersbruck Manor | Eva Frantz

Twelve-year-old Flora and her mother go to the seaside village of Helmersbruk to spend their Christmas holiday in a cottage on the grounds of a beautiful, but rundown, old mansion. Well, that‘s about all I needed to know to buy it. 😆

I may wait until next year to read it as it‘s formatted with an illustrated chapter for each day of Advent.

(Translated from Swedish).

thegirlwiththelibrarybag How gorgeous! 4mo

CarolynM Love the idea of a book as an advent calendar! Maybe I should get one for next year too🤔 4mo

Tamra How fun!! 4mo

See All 15 Comments

Cathythoughts Sounds great! I love the cover ❤️ 4mo

MaureenMc Awesome! The cover is 🤩 4mo

LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Tamra @Cathythoughts @MaureenMc Pushkin publishes some very nice children‘s books! 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I think you should 😆 4mo

Centique That is beautiful 😍 4mo

LeahBergen @Centique Isn‘t it? 😄 4mo

tpixie Oh! An advent read! Fun!! I put it in my calendar for next year. Thanks ☺️ (edited) 4mo

LeahBergen @tpixie Chapter one is December 1st! 😄 4mo

tpixie Ok!!! Thx 😊 4mo

elkeOriginal This looks & sounds amazing! 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I was definitely intrigued! 4mo

kspenmoll Sounds lovely! 4mo

65 likes4 stack adds15 comments

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

pick

Oh, Emmeline. 😬

I can‘t say much else right now but I can hardly wait to discuss this with you all!

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra I have to get started! I‘ve been preoccupied by Belle Greene. 😬 It‘s up next! 4mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Oh, good. I need to discuss it with someone! 😂😂 4mo

elkeOriginal Your shelves kill me every time 😵😉 4mo

See All 42 Comments

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I may have a problem 😆 4mo

Suet624 This photo is so abundant. 4mo

elkeOriginal A beautiful problem 💕 4mo

Cathythoughts I need to get going with Emmeline, I should have time this weekend ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 I like that word choice! 😊 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yay! 👏 4mo

CarolynM Hoping to get started soon. 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Good. I really need some input. 😂 4mo

andrew61 Exactly half way through Leah after a very disturbing chapter. All I can say, head in hands, is dear oh dear oh dear. 4mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 Right?? 4mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Just finished it Leah , I did see that ending coming 😳.. It was that first moment of meeting when she looked into his eyes, I thought she recognised something. Then his age , his boyishness, , I got suspicious… great book 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I suspected, too, and thought, “Noooo, it is NOT going there…” Haha!! 4mo

Tamra I did not see the end coming! 🥹 I went down the rabbit hole and found the circa 1970s documentary. Based on the maker‘s description, it appears he brought the story & Nettie Mitchell to Rossner‘s attention. Applause to Nettie for illuminating the shame of shunning. @Cathythoughts 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts I read another article by someone who did a deep dive into the genealogy and the dates and ages of her husbands don‘t match up. It seems like the whole story has had a bit of “local folklore” added to it over the years. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen I got the same impression from the film, i.e. folklore. (edited) 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Interesting! I‘m definitely going to watch it (you know… after my wrapping, baking, etc 😂). 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 😅 Indeed! We could always use an extra week. 3mo

Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeahBergen I read it as fiction , only after finding out it was true. It seemed a little far fetched , but truth is stranger than fiction. I took from it the danger and sadness of secrets , so many secrets ( shame ) buried over time wounded and festering. I wondered about the mother too , what happened to her and her relationship with Emmeline over the years. I liked the first half where Em‘s character had time to be explored. 3mo

Cathythoughts I must look up the film 👍🏻 @LeahBergen @Tamra 3mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Tamra Stop ! There‘s some work in Christmas 😂 I‘m feeling like super woman 😂 so much to get done. 3mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts I suspect it has essences of truth in it. I agree with you, the point is secrecy, shaming, social norms, poverty, patriarchy, etc. So interesting Mrs. Bass had her own similar secret, who better to be suspicious & judgmental, even though she did give warning? But how could it not be lost on a barely teen? 3mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts🦸‍♀️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts I definitely think there must be a bit of truth to it somewhere, just as you say. And I was wondering about the apathy of the mother, too. A fascinating read! 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen @cathythoughts the documentary highlights how desperate impoverished families were. I‘m thinking some of the apathy would stem from that; a woman/mother in those circumstances had to be dog tired and perhaps felt hopeless & helpless. However later in the story I got the impression the mother suffered from mental illness or dementia? (edited) 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra That‘s true. It‘s like she gave up and just couldn‘t handle or face anything more in her life. And yes, I think she definitely had some sort of mental illness/dementia going on at the end. And wasn‘t that sister a nasty piece of work? 😆 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen good lord yes! I wanted to slap her. 😜 3mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Tamra Yes , I agree that the mother had some form of mental illness, she seemed to shut down. 3mo

CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Tamra I‘ve just finished & I‘m so glad I can talk to you about it, now that I‘ve recovered the power of speech. There is so much to be outraged about, not least the “morality” that kept poor Emmeline so ignorant she was completely vulnerable to a predator & had no hope of understanding the “warnings”. And the victim blaming from start to finish! It is horrible to think that any of it could be true, but we know that it could. 😭😤🤬 (edited) 3mo

Tamra @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen agreed - so much fault to go around! I find the shunning without regard to the truths of the matter particularly disturbing (to the degree it occurred to the real Em). Reminds me of The Scarlet Letter as well. Humanity seems to have a penchant for shunning/ghosting/shaming/canceling, which is so effective in coercing conformity to norms since we‘re a social co-dependent species. 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra @Cathythoughts Right?? I was waiting impatiently for others to finish it!! 😆 It was just infuriating. All of her “sins” were completely unintentional and yet her family treated her as if she was evil to the core and out to specifically humiliate them. Gah!! 3mo

rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen The description of Matthew as “tall and broad-shouldered” without her being able to see his face, somehow made me think of Mr. Maguire. 3mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra @Cathythoughts it seemed as though anyone who should have protected her preyed on her instead. 3mo

Tamra @rubyslippersreads so true. There were no safeguards. 😞 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Oh, my God. Right??? And did you figure out if you‘d read this one before? 😆 3mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen If I did, I don‘t remember anything about it. (It‘s hard to imagine I‘d forget the “twist.”) 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I know! But I also know I read this book in the ‘80s. How did I forget that, too?? 3mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen It was so horrific , we blocked it out. 😏 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I think so! 😆 3mo

54 likes42 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

@ReadingRachael , all three #JolabokaflodSwap packages have arrived safely! Thanks so much! ❤️

#JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024

MaleficentBookDragon

ReadingRachael Yay!!! 4mo

49 likes1 comment

Saplings | Noel Streatfeild

Okay, #PersephoneClub … I‘ve adjusted our order a bit so here are my two (randomly grabbed from my shelves) suggestions for August. Vote away!

@quietjenn will now choose our October suggestions and @rubyslippersreads will choose for December. You two can post as soon as you‘re ready!

Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

4mo

Tamra Hooked me with “enigmatic idol is also a treacherous opponent.” 👀

4mo

CarolynM I‘m going with

4mo

See All 21 Comments

elkeOriginal Tough one as Saplings is on my tbr but Hetty Dorval sounds like a gal I want to meet!

4mo

elkeOriginal p.s. I love your non-grey Saplings cover 😉 4mo

julieclair I, too, vote for

4mo

quietjenn Since I already own it, I'm going with

Saplings

4mo

elkeOriginal @quietjenn fights the tide 🙌🏻 4mo

andrew61 Thanks Leah, I'll try and work out some options this week. 4mo

Cathythoughts I want both ! But I‘ll go for

4mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 Oops, you won‘t be nominating books this upcoming year (as per our rotation) but rather at the beginning of the next year. But please do vote on each of the options (like this one)! We have voting posts open for February, April, June, and August so far. 😊 4mo

andrew61 Gives me time to ponder the catalogue over a mince pie . 4mo

rubyslippersreads I‘m really torn, but since I own it,

Saplings

4mo

Cathythoughts Do we get to vote on our own choices? I will if I can X 4mo

Cathythoughts @andrew61 Just had a mince pie with cream… one of my favourite things about Christmas 👍🏻 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts We usually don‘t vote on our own choices because we save your vote to be a tiebreaker in the event of a tie. Aren‘t we scientific? 😆 4mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Well that‘s good to know. Very scientific 😂 4mo

quietjenn @elkeOriginal probably I'll be making another purchase 😂 4mo

elkeOriginal @quietjenn This group is sneaky that way! Causing purchases 🤦🏼‍♀️😆📚 4mo

Tamra @elkeOriginal 😂 truth! 4mo

LeahBergen And the winner is Hetty Dorval! 4mo

45 likes21 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

And they‘re all sent!

#StuffedStockingSwap #SSS @Avanders
#JolabokaflodSwap #JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024 @MaleficentBookDragon
#LittleChristmasSwap #LCS @bookish_wookish

bookish_wookish Yay! 🎄 4mo

Avanders 👏🏼👏🏼🎄☃️❤️ 4mo

51 likes2 comments

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

I‘m really enjoying the beginning of this book, #PersephoneClub people!

I Googled some images to see what Lowell looked like as a mill town and look … a little doffer. So young! 💔

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra She is cute, but the pic makes me thankful for child labor laws, in as much as they are passed and enforced. 🫤 4mo

Leftcoastzen Oh my gosh , what a photo. 😳 4mo

elkeOriginal 🥺 4mo

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LeahBergen @Tamra Exactly. 😞 4mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @elkeOriginal Right? 😢 4mo

Cathythoughts Yes, so young, the poor girl. My copy arrived from Persephone yesterday, I‘ve just read the first few pages , very engaging. 4mo

LeahBergen It is engaging, isn‘t it? I must‘ve been in the mood for some historical fiction as I liked it right away. @Cathythoughts 4mo

rubyslippersreads I may have read this before (in which case I look forward to a reread), but I could also be confusing it with another novel about the Lowell Mills,

Call the Darkness Light

4mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I KNOW I‘ve read it before (in the 1980s) as I recognize the cover on the mass market paperback. I don‘t remember a thing, of course 😆😆 4mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I also recognize the cover of Call the Darkness Light but I don‘t THINK I‘ve read that one 4mo

Cathythoughts Hi Leah , I just went to post you something for Christmas and the lady said , no post to Canada as there is a strike. I‘ll keep an eye on the situation and send it when the strike is over. ❤️🌲 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, how thoughtful you are! Thank you, Cathy. 😘 Yes, this stupid strike has been going on too long! 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, and I sent you a little book directly from Blackwell‘s. 😘 4mo

Cathythoughts Thankyou Leah ❤️ that‘s very kind. As soon as the strike is over, I‘ll send on my gift… 👍🏻😁 4mo

58 likes14 comments

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

It‘s now December so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@andrew61 ‘s pick for us this month is Emmeline by Judith Rossner. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

AND… are we ready to choose our 2025 reads? See below: 👇

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

LeahBergen Our next book “suggesters” are: February: @CarolynM , April: @Cathythoughts , June: @elkeOriginal , August: @Gissy , October: @LeahBergen , December: @quietjenn (edited) 4mo

LeahBergen Let‘s start with @CarolynM and @Cathythoughts … please make a post with two suggestions for us all to vote on. 👏👏 (edited) 4mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah. Emmeline is in the post for me from Persephone 🥰 I‘ll have a look now and get a post up in the next 24 hours. ❤️❤️❤️ 4mo

See All 24 Comments

Tamra Thanks for the reminder Leah! 😄 4mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 4mo

elkeOriginal Oo! Checking the shelf for ideas! 4mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah. I'm looking forward to Emmeline. I'll try to post my suggestions later today. 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I read the first chapter and I‘m really liking the feel of it! 4mo

LeahBergen @Tamra No prob!😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Isn‘t it exciting? 👏 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks, Caroline! And I‘m liking the first chapter of Emmeline. 👍 4mo

daena I‘ve gotten behind this past year, but looking forward to getting back in the swing this coming year. 4mo

LeahBergen @daena Good to hear! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen Okay, @elkeOriginal, you can post your picks for June! @Gissy , you can post your picks for us for August now. 😄 4mo

Bookbuyingaddict Hello 👋 everyone hope your well Iv just ordered mine today 😀il keep you posted , it won‘t arrive until 12th December - happy 😃 reading and happy 😃 pre Christmas 🎄 madness x x x x x 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Happy reading to you, too! It‘s starting out well, so far! 4mo

elkeOriginal How are we doing on our choices? I keep obsessively checking in hoping to vote on things 🤦🏼‍♀️😆 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Haha! I‘m just holding off until @Gissy comes back on and reads my message. She is the next one up to suggest two books for us. If she doesn‘t answer (or doesn‘t want to do it), I‘ll adjust our list! I think I‘ll give her the rest of the weekend to respond? 4mo

elkeOriginal 👍🏻 Just excited to see more choices! 4mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Me, too. I love the voting. 😆 4mo

LeahBergen Okay, I‘ll adjust our list of people suggesting books to vote on as we haven‘t heard from @Gissy yet … I‘ll move up into the August spot and @quietjenn can suggest our October reads. @rubyslippersreads , you now have December. Is that okay? 4mo

quietjenn Sounds like a plan! I'll try to post mine in the next day or so. 4mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn Great! Thank you. 😘 4mo

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Silent Nights: A British Library Crime Classic | Martin Edwards

Friday night at my house!

willaful Oh my goodness, I am so jealous of that Kitty Barne book! 4mo

dabbe #silentnightperfectnight 🧡🤎💛 4mo

CarolynM @willaful Me too, it looks fab! 4mo

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BarbaraBB Perfection 🥰 4mo

LeahBergen @willaful @CarolynM It‘s my first by this author and so good! A group of pre WW2 children are sent to a rented holiday house over Christmas with their “young and happening” aunt and decide to put on a play. 4mo

LeahBergen @dabbe @BarbaraBB I‘m enjoying myself immensely 😆 4mo

Cathythoughts Looks nice there Leah ! 🥂 4mo

TrishB Lovely ❤️ 4mo

Tamra Beautiful seasonal reading! 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @TrishB @Tamra 😘😘😘 4mo

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Untitled | Anonymous

@StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego dropped off my #StuffedStockingSwap today (we live in the same city and Canada Post is on strike) and included the SWEETEST care package!

I‘ve had some sort of stomach virus and warned her (via @Avanders ) that she might not want to be in close proximity to me for the next few days. I hope you didn‘t see my goblin-like form when I opened the front door (I thought it was a parcel I was expecting from The Bay). 😂 ⬇️

LeahBergen Thank you SO MUCH for your thoughtfulness, @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego ! I haven‘t been dressed in days. 😂 4mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Hope you feel better soon. 4mo

LeahBergen @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego The ginger ale and chicken noodle soup will definitely help! 😘 4mo

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Avanders Awwww 😍🤗 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Hope you feel better soon, Leah! ❤️ (edited) 4mo

rabbitprincess Get well soon! ❤️ 4mo

Bookwormjillk That‘s so sweet! Litsy friends are the best. 4mo

CarolynM Hope you‘re feeling better soon, Leah💐💕 4mo

Suet624 I hope you feel better soon. 💕 4mo

Tamra 😔 Feel better! 4mo

quietjenn Hope you're on the mend. 💜 4mo

bthegood Get well soon 💗 4mo

Bookwomble I hope you're soon feeling more comfortable, Leah ❤️‍🩹 4mo

Cathythoughts I hope you feel better soon Leah ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Avanders @rabbitprincess @CarolynM @Suet624 @Tamra @quietjenn @bthegood @Bookwomble @Cathythoughts Thanks, everyone! I‘m almost back to normal! 😘😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Bookwormjillk so true! 🥰 4mo

TheLudicReader Hope you‘re feeling better. 4mo

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader I am! Thank you! 😘 4mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego So apparently I forgot to include one of your gifts. Oopsy. I have an Amazon package arriving at your place tomorrow. 4mo

LeahBergen @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego It looks like there is already plenty in there, but thank you! Yes, I peeked before hiding it away. 😄 4mo

Jess861 That's so awesome!! Fellow Canadina here and I was looking at Purolator costs to send mine out but they are kind of outrageous (in my opinion)....I'm at a bit of a loss lol 4mo

LeahBergen @Jess861 I was so excited! I‘m thinking of trying UPS to send mine out but I haven‘t checking the price yet. 😬 4mo

Jess861 @LeahBergen I just went and checked UPS for myself - still pretty pricey, lol....I guess I might not have a choice though. 4mo

LeahBergen @Jess861 I know! I had already purchased everything! 4mo

LeahBergen @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Oops! I forgot to let you know that the Amazon package arrived. Thank you! 😘 4mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego ❤️💚 4mo

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LeahBergen @Aimeesue @batsy @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @julieclair @Kimzey @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @MrsK @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @Tamra @Teresereading @willaful @kwmg40 4mo

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

Here it is: our 2025 #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reading schedule!

Thanks for all the nominations and speedy votes. It looks like we‘ll be having another enjoyable year together! 👏

And, as always, anyone is welcome to join in at any time to read along with us and discuss, of course.

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 4mo

Ruthiella Awesome. Thank you @LeahBergen for organizing us. Looking forward to another fun year of reading together! 4mo

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kwmg40 Thank you! The list looks great. 4mo

Tamra Thank you! 😍😘 4mo

quietjenn Thanks for keeping us in order! Should be fun. 4mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah 😘 Looks like we‘re set for another great year of FMB reading😍 4mo

Kimzey Thank you! Can‘t wait! 4mo

Cathythoughts Lovely Leah ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @kwmg40 @Tamra @quietjenn @CarolynM @Kimzey We‘re gonna have fun! 😄 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I hope you can pop in for a couple, Cathy! 😘 4mo

julieclair What a great list! Looking forward to another fun year. 😀 4mo

LeahBergen @julieclair Me, too! 😘 4mo

Ruthiella @bookandbedandtea This is the 2025 schedule. Only one book every other month to keep it manageable. 😃 3mo

bookandbedandtea Sounds fun! Thanks for adding me! 3mo

LeahBergen @bookandbedandtea Welcome aboard! 😁 3mo

bookandbedandtea @LeahBergen Thank you! 💜 3mo

LeahBergen Here‘s our schedule for this year, @JenlovesJT47 ! 3mo

JenlovesJT47 Thanks!! 🤗🧡 3mo

51 likes19 comments

The Librarian | Salley Vickers

My current reads.

I‘m not sure why the tagged book has such a low rating on here as I‘m really enjoying it. I haven‘t allowed myself to read the reviews yet though so we shall see as I get closer to the end, I guess! 😬

Suet624 Yeah, I‘m finding reviews often mess up the whole thing. If you‘re enjoying it that‘s great. (edited) 4mo

rubyslippersreads I have this book; I‘ll have to read and see. 😏 4mo

Cathythoughts That‘s a crazy low score 😳. Lovely inviting covers on both 🥰 4mo

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Vansa I absolutely loved this book till the end! 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 That‘s all that matters! 4mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads You will! 😄 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Vansa Oh oh! 😬 4mo

Centique Theyre both so beautiful! 4mo

LeahBergen @Centique Pretty little things, aren‘t they? 😄 4mo

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LeahBergen @Aimeesue @batsy @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @julieclair @Kimzey @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @MrsK @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @Tamra @Teresereading @willaful @kwmg40 5mo

Sally-Ann | SUSAN. SCARLETT

Okay, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub … here are my picks for May 2025.

Vote away!

Ruthiella Another tough choice! Another coin toss and it lands on

5mo

Teresereading Cute covers-Sally Ann 5mo

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willaful I've already read Sally-Ann so I'l vote for

Dear Hugo

5mo

Cathythoughts I‘m voting

5mo

CarolynM I love Molly Clavering, but I can‘t go past another Susan Scarlett🥰

(edited) 5mo

Sace I must vote for Sally-Ann 5mo

kwmg40 I‘ll go with Sally-Ann! 5mo

AlaMich I love Sally-Ann‘s green coat! 5mo

quietjenn For me, it's

5mo

Tamra Super covers, as always!

5mo

rubyslippersreads I can‘t resist the cover of

5mo

Kimzey Okay, Sally-Ann for me too! 5mo

julieclair Tough choice. But I suppose I‘ll jump on the Sally-Ann bandwagon. 😄 5mo

elkeOriginal Dear Hugo sounds so charming! 5mo

LeahBergen And the winner is Sally-Ann! 4mo

53 likes16 comments

Harlequin House | MARGERY. SHARP

Okay, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub , with our November book we come to the end of our year of reading!

Are we in for another round? Here‘s our next group of selectors (according to our records):

January: @rubyslippersreads
March: @quietjenn
May: @LeahBergen
July: @CarolynM
September: @Cathythoughts
November: @Ruthiella

If we‘re all in, let‘s start with our January and March “pickers” posting their two choices for us to vote on. 😃

kwmg40 I‘d love to do another round! 5mo

Ruthiella Oooh! I get to vote next year! I‘ll put my thinking cap on. 5mo

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jlhammar It‘s been wonderful reading with you all, but I‘m going to sit this next year out (trying for less screen time in 2025, but may check-in now and again). Have fun voting! 5mo

rubyslippersreads I‘m in! I‘ll have to come up with my two choices. 🤔 5mo

CarolynM Yes please! I love our FMB reads and chats. I‘m going to go choose my suggestions right away😊 5mo

Kimzey Yay! I‘m up for another round, in spite of being behind on this year‘s reading. 📖 ⌛️ 5mo

quietjenn I'm game! I ❤️FMB Club! I'll work on my suggestions and try to post them soon. 5mo

julieclair Yes, I‘d love to do another round. 😃 5mo

Tamra @Kimzey me too! 😅 I am up for it nonetheless. 😁 5mo

Kimzey @Tamra I‘m glad I‘m not the only one! 😊📚 5mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 Yay! 👏👏 5mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It‘s fun to pick, isn‘t it? 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @jlhammar No worries! I hope you pop in and out when you feel like reading along with us! 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Yay! 👏👏 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I can hardly wait! 👏 5mo

LeahBergen @Kimzey Oh, behind doesn‘t matter at all! 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn Yay! I‘m excited for your picks! 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @julieclair Awesome! 👏 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Kimzey Oh, behind or not … it doesn‘t matter at all! Just pop in when you have the time. 😘 5mo

Cathythoughts Hi Leah , I wonder if someone would like to pick the September book. I havnt been great for participating this past year. I‘d still like to pop in and out … but I‘d love someone else to pick September… is that ok ? 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Sure, Cathy. No problem! I‘ll bump @Ruthiella up the list to do the September pick (is that okay with you, @Ruthiella ?) 5mo

LeahBergen Hi, @batsy ! I know you‘ve been taking some time off from Litsy and I hope you‘re doing well. You will have our November 2025 pick (if you like). No worries if you don‘t, of course! If you get back to me too late (and I get the next person on the list to take your place) we‘ll just slot you in somewhere when you‘re back. Miss you, my friend! 😘 5mo

Ruthiella Fine with me. 😃 @batsy I miss you too. Hope all is well. ❤️ (edited) 5mo

Cathythoughts Thanks for that Leah, I‘d love to stay on the Persephone list please. But I know I can‘t commit to both. 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s great, Cathy! I was hoping you‘d still be in for #PersephoneClub! I‘ll probably wait until next month (when we‘re reading our final pick of the year) to start the voting choices. 5mo

elkeOriginal Looking forward to y‘all helping me work through the FMB books on my shelf! 5mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Me, too! I have sooo many waiting. 😆 5mo

Cathythoughts Oh yes , of course, Thanks Leah , next month 👍🏻😘 5mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella You can post your September picks now … or whenever you‘re ready! 😘 5mo

LeahBergen Hi, @Kimzey ! We‘ve had a bit of a shuffle in our picking order (see the chatter above ☝️) and you‘re now in charge of our November selection. You can post your two books for us to vote on now (or whenever you‘re ready). 😀 5mo

LeahBergen Hi, @Kimzey ! Just tagging you again here in case you missed my message (above). 4mo

Kimzey @LeahBergen Oh, sorry! I did miss the post. I‘ll give it some thought and make suggestions. I have my IRL book club tonight, so it might be tomorrow. Thanks for asking! 4mo

LeahBergen @Kimzey Oh, good! Tomorrow is fine. Have fun at book club tonight! 4mo

Jess_Read_This So dreadfully late to this. I kind of took a longer hiatus from social media than I intended to. Please count me in for the next round to join in on reading! 3mo

LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This I‘m so glad you‘ll be back reading with us again! 😘 3mo

52 likes37 comments

Harlequin House | MARGERY. SHARP

pick

Well, this was a charming little romp! It somehow reminded me of Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day but, in this case, it‘s more of a “Mr Partridge Lives For Six Months”. 😆 Look at him on the cover and spine of my edition!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella I‘m only about 25% done, but I‘m also getting Miss Pettigrew vibes! 5mo

Tamra 🤣 Fabulous cover art! 5mo

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kwmg40 I agree with @Tamra. That cover! 😍 5mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Glamorous young lady, down-at-the-heels middle agester, cocaine… 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @kwmg40 It‘s quite something, isn‘t it? 😆 5mo

elkeOriginal As always you have an amazing edition! 5mo

CarolynM A perfect retitling! And I love that dust jacket😍 5mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @CarolynM I wonder if the flat was painted in these “harlequin” colours? 😆 5mo

quietjenn Love the illustrations, especially on the spine! Thanks for sharing. 4mo

64 likes10 comments

The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading | Sam Leith

I‘ve been dipping in and out of this book lately and it‘s marvellous!

LeeRHarry Sounds fab - have requested it from my library - thanks for the rec! 😊 5mo

BarbaraBB Gorgeous edition! 5mo

AnishaInkspill this sounds interesting, thanks 🙂 5mo

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rubyslippersreads This looks wonderful! 5mo

Cathythoughts Beautiful.. the cover ❤️ 5mo

kspenmoll This sounds wonderful! 5mo

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