Domestic Pleasures is an absolute pleasure to read. Set in 1980‘s New York , with a wonderful cast of characters. It‘s about relationships and life, falling in and out of love , about bringing up teenagers in this NY setting.
I couldn‘t stop turning the pages. Such an enjoyable book. I‘m not a big romance reader , but I had tears for some of the touching moments in this story♥️♥️♥️

I‘m reading one of the Beth Gutcheon books I bought after reading Still Missing ( which I loved ) with #PersephoneClub. This one doesn‘t have that terrible dark theme, ( not yet , I don‘t think it will ) a softer story of people‘s lives , marriage, divorce, all the complications of love and loss. The writing I do remember ! She‘s a lovely graceful writer.

Just starting this one and I love the whole idea of it, if not a bit worried about the page count. It‘s so long 🤞🏻🙈

Well that was wild. I think I preferred the first half .. and I think I‘m ready for a change of genre. But I‘ll be back to John Marrs again , he‘s tried and trusted now.

One newly washed dog and me ready for an early night … This book is a real page turner. I‘m halfway, not too happy with some of the plot developments… but loving the pure escapism of it all. John Marrs is such a good thriller writer. So glad to have discovered him here on Litsy @BarbaraBB 🙏♥️

Oh dear ! #Unpopularopinion This is a bail for me. I just couldn‘t get into it, and the writing wasn‘t for me. There are some great reviews here on Litsy , but I had to bail out.

An excellent crime book and so much more , great storytelling and substance. This is my favourite book so far this year. @batsy

“Old people say pightle, instead of yard. Isak has recently noticed this, how old people sometimes talk a little different, using words he‘s not used to. He likes the way they sound. Edvard often says that words are one of the links we have to those who are no longer with us. “

I see this as I get older. Words my mother and father used to use , I find myself using them now too.
❤️

On to my next Christoffer Carlsson for a Saturday afternoon relaxing read.

Crime , serial killer , set in Sweden. Good writing and a steady pace all the way through. I guessed the ending , which is most unusual for me 🤣. There‘s a fair bit of philosophising too and nature, which I enjoyed. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Thanks @batsy for recommending this writer. I‘m off to start another by him now .. Under The Storm. 👍🏻❤️

A reread for me. I did start reading , then watched the movie on YouTube which was brilliant. I‘ve dipped in and out sinse… I don‘t think Dorothy Whipple could ever disappoint. I loved the characters , the villain and all ! Loved it ♥️ #PersephoneClub

Two new books bought on trip to Dublin today. Both Litsy inspired. I‘m excited about the tagged book @Tamra 👍🏻❤️ It‘s very long. I can do it 😁

Thankyou @Balibee146 for the tag 😘

1. Play with grandchildren, walk , Bookclub Friday night.
2. The river.
3. Cork , Ireland. Weather not too bad… partly cloudy, windy, coolish. Meant to get better soon 🤞🏻
4. Tagged 👍🏻

#Cupcake12 @Cupcake12 #motivationalmonday
Tagging all who want to join in. X

Thanks so much Helen. ❤️ I‘m excited for this one. You are very good X XX I see you say in your review, the writer is a poet and the writing beautiful. ❤️

“They were married on his embarkation leave. Louise made her daughters wedding dress, sitting up all night to finish it. It was of the palest pink china silk; an audacious choice destined to set off her daughter‘s delicate white skin. Instead of a veil , there was a little pill-box hat. It was the most beautiful wedding dress Louise had ever made. “

Very happy to be reading Anita Brookner again ♥️

This was such a good psychological thriller. Thankyou @BarbaraBB for the recommendation. It was just what the doctor ordered. A good easy read with just enough edge to it. I‘ve ordered more John Marrs already .. great stuff. 👍🏻♥️

Boston 1970‘s. Tough times. I can‘t go on with this one. It‘s too hard core. I understand Mary Pat and where‘s she‘s coming from. Her life is tragic. But where‘s she going to ? I won‘t find out as I bailed before half way. I started off engaging with the story. But I found it relentless. I wanted to stage an intervention. Get Mary Pat out of there. Maybe it‘s because of the terrible violence right now in the world, this hit me all the harder.

Starting now #Persephoneclub 🤍🤍🤍🍷

Thankyou @emmasm08 for saying I‘d like this one. I really did like it. Great storytelling and characters and mostly I loved that it was so human. ❤️

Thankyou Trish. ♥️ I‘m very excited for these books. I‘ve seen the reviews on Litsy that had me stacking them… and now I have them 😁. Thankyou my old Litsy friend @TrishB

Thankyou so much Leah. For the lovely card and bookmark, a book to read to my little grandchildren, Grandmothers ! And Harriet Said …. Thrilled to pieces. That Beryl Bainbridge cover is amazing, everything is.Thankyou my lovely friend 😘 @LeahBergen

This was a reread for me, and I loved it even more this time round. Classic suspense , Alfred Hitchcock style. Recommended by @EverydayImReading for our Bookclub this month , we met last night and had a cracker of a discussion. A compelling irresistible read. 👍🏻♥️

Maisie and Josh have a spare room in their house. They have taken in an older lady, as a paying guest…. Let‘s just say the way they make their way in the world is quite disturbing.
I really enjoyed this one and want to read more by Celia Dale. Thanks @LeahBergen for your posting this. It caught my interest and it was so good 👍🏻♥️

Book haul today…. And this isn‘t all of them. 🥰 went a bit mad. This copy of Crimson Petal is so nice.

I finally received my copy. Looking forward to starting this one.

I wasn‘t sure what this was all about, a guest house in the ‘town ‘ called Subdivision. Run by Clara and the Judge , our MC checks in and there is a jigsaw on the table to finish, and a crow that‘s watching. So begins a heady journey. I found it often hard to connect with, but I did develop a compassion for the MC, and I never wanted to bail, and at times I felt moved to tears. A haunting book when you really think about it.

This is the story of a house in the woods where a murder happens. The house remains empty for many years, until a new family move in hoping to repair their relationships and their lives.
At times I wanted to bail because it was really very scary, and because of my intense dislike for a certain character. But I was too caught up in the story, so well written and unputdownable. The house is a character too and also the snow.

A short , quirky book that I couldn‘t put down once I started it. A real snapshot of a real life .. I loved our mc .. It‘s one I‘ll be thinking about.

Books I read recently.
My favorite was Strangers. Set in Tokyo , a recently divorced screenwriter has moved into his studio workplace to live. Immediately atmospheric. Suggestive , thoughtful, a short book and every word is numbered 👌🏻. I loved this one.

North Woods was a beautiful book to read.

Christ on a Bike I enjoyed, but didn‘t love it.

Writing Retreat , ok till 2d half. Then quickly a bail.

Great storytelling about a young girl and her relationship with her father , her friends. Navigating those pre-teen years in New Zealand. Then, a beautiful teacher that everyone falls in love with. Suspenseful, a page turner for me with quality writing.
I‘m looking up more by Catherine Chidgey now. Lovely writer to discover here on Litsy. 🙏

#Persephoneclub I hunted her down on the internet, and these ones came pretty quickly too. Exciting!! All second hand and very reasonable, and in good shape. 👍🏻♥️

I enjoyed this one , a woman obsessed with her husband. Well written in a suspenseful way. But , the ending was terrible! It kind of ruined the book for me. Still, I look forward to more by Maud Ventura.

Now , it‘s a dark and difficult book to read. The disappearance of a young child. It reads like a true crime book, suspenseful and brilliantly written. Character development is excellent. The far reaching effects of the missing boy and the psychological trauma is so well done. I loved this book. I‘d love to read more by Beth Gutcheon. Look forward to discussing it all , and the ending. Great book ! #PersephoneClub

I finally got around to reading this one , Leah. I loved the beginning and the wild drama of the ending. What a tale! Poor Janet. A rich and dense book that I will read again. Set in Edinburgh, bringing up memories of older times. Thank you @LeahBergen ♥️

Morgan , a gorgeous young man of 22, is the MC in this story of the Titanic‘s maiden journey. I loved him ! Beautiful, rich writing, Beryl Bainbrdge created distinctive and memorable characters in this short novel, and some funny scenes. But Morgan won my heart, and his mother too. I must read more of her books !

I thought the mc and her best friend were well drawn characters. I enjoyed the epilogue, it‘s interesting how we look back on friendships in our lives and often see them differently and more clearly. I think of Bob Dylan‘s line
‘Ain‘t it hard when you discover that he really wasn‘t where it‘s at .. ‘
The good writing kept me going until the end , but I felt disconnected from the book. A pick/so-so.

The fire is lit; sherry poured; claws are being sharpened. In a seaside cottage perched on a cliff, one family reunites for Christmas.

I received this lovely book today! Thankyou Leah, you are such a kind person.
I‘m thrilled with the book. Christmas can be a loaded time ( especially perched on a cliff 😳) I think this book will address that.
Thankyou my lovely friend 🩷
Im looking forward to reading this one 🥰😘
Thankyou XXX

First book finished this New Year. We only know Alex in her present life … She loves the water and swimming. She is in summer , on Long Island. Her past life can only have been madness, as is her present. She tested my patience and my understanding. But , it wasn‘t so much the mc or the story , it was the writing , how she told it , suspenseful insightful writing , I will read Emma Cline‘s The Girls now, and I will look out for her future books.

Wonderful book. Set in 1700‘s , one can identify with this girls struggle through her life , she is fleeing oppression, she has her hopes and dreams. There is immersion in the world at ground level, sensing it , finding home, finding meaning in the soil the stones. Everything is alive…the girl, the trees, the birds, the pulsing earth. I love Lauren Geoff‘s writing.

I‘m going to take a break from Litsy for awhile.

Another beaut from Celia Fremlin , complete with creepy dolls. Clare Erskines daughter Sarah is engaged to an accountant, Mother is very pleased, at last a solid , respectable lad, or is he ? And is his possessive mother pleased?! Taking an interesting look at mothers influences over their children. Couldn‘t put this down.

Loving Kala , the characters growing up..grown up. We move back and forth through their lives. This thriller , this crime book, I could quote so much of it. I‘ll quote one character whose life is kind of ‘ perfect ‘ now , and yet he is lonely

‘ Lonely for the warmth of human imperfection‘

The humanity , characters voices intermingle , fused , their desire to be one , the gang, at times I have to backtrack unsure who is speaking
Excellent book

I enjoyed Miracle Creek by Angie Kim.. and I really enjoyed this new book of hers too. Set during covid ( something that didn‘t appeal to me before reading ) But done in a natural , intelligent way. It worked very well with images and layers of meaning around the idea of masks and isolation. An absolute page turner for me, I sank into the lives of this amazing family, whose son Eugene has autism and angel syndrome. A great mystery story.

Set in 1950‘s Minnesota , in the small town of Jewel. A wealthy citizen is murdered… what follows is some great story telling that takes us into the lives of these town people. Historical fiction and murder mystery rolled into a heartfelt story. I really enjoyed reading this one.

I‘m agreeing with all the other #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reviews. I enjoyed it ! Yes , the whole Scooby-Doo adventure @batsy 😂. I agree with some it was a bit slow to start , but the start was my favourite part. For a scooby- do , it caused a bit of uneasiness. I love the title of this book , it feels like the cosy blanket covering this cosy mystery with warmth and kindness.

#Top10Summer2023 @Cinfhen Thanks for the tag Suba ♥️ @batsy

I don‘t have 10 favourites. But I have these 6 favourites from the summer.
I tag all who‘d like to share theirs ! , @EverydayImReading would you like to share your summer favourites?! ♥️

I couldn‘t get a copy of the book. So , kindle it is.
I was very excited as I started this book .. ‘ Thriller of the Year‘ and so it began. I thought it was good , just not what I expected. It turned out differently, more of a thoughtful book. I loved the Scottish island, the weather, the people. A deep reflection on Tommys tragic life. I did enjoy it. I just wanted ( expected ) to be more scared 🙈. A pick 👍🏻 #EuropaCollective

I‘ve done a bit of bailing this week. So frustrating 🙄 So, back to the tried and trusted Celia Fremlin , always good. 👍🏻♥️

After loving Sarah Schmidt‘s See What I Have Done , I‘m looking forward to trying this one 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

‘What scars of the heart, what hidden wounds of the mind, do not the dreams of even those who feel that their lives have run to a placid and conventional measure, reveal ! ‘

What a beautiful wild story of old age. I feel the years catching up with me, so I was a little afraid of this book at first… but I loved it. I loved the dynamic of the women in the house , fascinating and heart wrenching. #PersephoneClub I think we have another winner here !

Just started. #PersephoneClub
I can‘t believe the cats name is Lisa. There‘s our Lisa ! Our dog , still , I see it as a happy coincidence 😁♥️