
Recent acquisition for our personal library.
#Gaskell

Recent acquisition for our personal library.
#Gaskell

#readingbracket
#readingbracket2025
#readingbracket25
@Catsandbooks (thanks for this lovely template! 😍)
July's pick: WIVES AND DAUGHTERS (thank you, #hashtagbrigade and @BarkingMadRead!) 😍

#readingbracket
#readingbracket2025
#readingbracket25
@CSeydel (thanks for this lovely template! 😍)
July's pick: WIVES AND DAUGHTERS (thank you, #hashtagbrigade and @BarkingMadRead!) 😍
Gaskell writes such real-feeling characters. I didn‘t like this as much as Ruth, but maybe I would have if she‘d lived to finish it 😢 I definitely still hope to read the rest of her novels. Thanks as always to @BarkingMadRead and the #HashtagBrigade for another fun buddy read!

A slow book with intricate character studies, this one was perfect for a chapter-a-day buddy read. During the first few chapters, I didn't quite know what to expect, but then gradually the book grew on me, and before long I realized I was looking forward to the daily chapters.
Thanks for leading us through this @BarkingMadRead whose hashtags were hilarious as usual, and a shout-out to @mcctrish whose rage posts I was looking forward to each day 😂
ch 60: #rogerlovesmolly #hewillwaittilhereturnstopropose #docapproves #rogerstalksthehousetosaygoodbye #ofcoursemammaruinsir #cynthiawillvisitonherwaybackhome #theend ⁉️ #wtf #ifeelsochated #hashtagbrigade

Finished this a few days ago - umm— I had no clue this was the last book of the author! I was so angry!!!!! I had tot tell my baby boy (Lazlo) all about it- see how he listens :)
Anyway I enjoyed it all and all #MollyIsTheBest
#HashtagBrigade
@BarkingMadRead
@BarkingMadRead

ch 59: #hamleyhallvisit #soawkwardallaround #aimeeandsquiredontgetalong #mrsgoodenoughmademollyparanoif #rogerthinksitstoolatetolovemolly #soofcoursesquiretellsherso #mollyisdevastated #rogerischanginghismind #osborneisill #panicmode #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

I couldn‘t wait any longer - there was so little book left but so much story untold

ch 58: #rogerisalittlejealousofmollysnewfriends #interestingturnofevents #heaskshertovisithamleyhall #foraimeeofcourse #mammaisjealousofmollysattentions #howshemakeseverythingaboutherselfisamazing #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

ch 57: #weddingtime #mollyisillandcantgo #whichobviouslycausesmammapain #harriettakesover #mollyatthetowers #whichmakesmammahappyandjealous #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

ch 56: #wellthattookaturn #cynthiawillmarryhenderson #poorhenderson #poormolly #poorroger #timetogotolondon #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

#rogerisback #graveandbearded #hewantstospeaktocynthia #mammawantstoavoidthat #holdingoutforhenderson #cynthiareturnshome #muchtomammaschagrine #cynthiawantstobeamoscowgoverness #good #gtfo #letrogerrealizehelovesmolly #byeeeee #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

ch 54: #aimeeimproves #mollyisill #ofcoursemammamakesitallabouther 🙄 #harriettakesover #sneakilytellscynthia #whorushesstraighthomefromlondon #whichirritatesmamma #ofcourse #mollyissohappytoseecynthia #thisbetterendwell #ifmollydiesimthrowingmykindleinthepool #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

ch 53: #osbornesmarriageisproven #mollywritestoaimeeabouthisillness #aimeetravelsimmediately #nowshesinshock #mollycaresforaimee #squirecaresforlilosborne #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

ch 52: #mollytellsthesquireaboutosbornessecrets #squirereactedasexpected 🙄 #thenhechangedhismind #maybe #mollyslipsupandtellsmamma #whotellscynthia #whoofferstohelphalfheartedly #whatafamily 🙄 #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

ch 51: #cynthiadumpedroger #majorpityparty #shekindlygavehimtomolly 🙄 #riposborne #iguessdocshouldhavelistened #thiscantendwell #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

#hashtagbrigade
#allergictochunksters
#chunksterchallenge2025
I couldn‘t wait. I had to finish!🙈
This is a story of Molly Gibson whose life is changed by two major events: her introduction to the Hamelys of Hamley Hall and her father‘s hasty decision to remarry.
Love, loved, loved this chunky classic! Molly is often passive and put upon but there are lines she will not cross, and the reader loves her for her loyalty and her integrity.

Ch 50: #mammagetsintroubleatthetowets #cynthiaisbusted #everyoneismadateveryone #poormolly #hashtagbrigade

Saturday: ch 49: #harriettotherescue #sheandphoebeagainsttheworld #confrontsprestonandmakeshimconfess #nowtorepairmollysrep #andalsoappeasemamma #longliveharriet #hashtagbrigade

ch 48: #docconfrontsmolly #iwoukldhavethrowncynthiarightunderthebus #notmolly #towniesarebeingaloof #mamawantscynthiaback #hopingforathirdproposal 🙄 #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

@BarkingMadRead #hashtagbrigade
WIVES AND DAUGHTERS is a masterful blend of domestic drama and social commentary, showcasing Gaskell‘s keen eye for human foibles and her empathy for even the most flawed characters. While its length and pacing may deter some, its depth and realism make it a standout in Victorian literature. Highly recommended for fans of MIDDLEMARCH, NORTH AND SOUTH, or lovers of Victorian literature in general.

#haikuaday
#haikuhive
I've been reading this with the #hashtagbrigade, and even though we're not supposed to finish until 7/29, I just had to finish it today. A haiku for Molly. She surely deserved one after all she endured. ♥️
She shields those she loves,
even when the town spurns her––
soiling her white dress.

Ch 47: #ohthedrama #thebrowningshearthegossip #missboxesphoebesears #shestandsbymolly #offtofindoutthetruth #timetocallinthedoc #hestandsbymolly #browningisstartingtobelievethegossip #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 46: #pickalittletalkalittle #mollyhandsoffthemoneytopreston #busted #thebittiesaretalking #poorpoormolly #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 45: if I wasn‘t on vacay, I would be reading ahead 🤣 I may read ahead anyway! #cynthiaisbackinlondon #wheresomedudeisinlovewithher #ficklething #mammaisatthetowers #osbornestopsby #tellsall #whatdidhegiveher #enquiringmindswanttoknow #damnthatphoebe #whyisshevisiting #ismollybusted #damnthatpreston #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

#hashtagbrigade at this point in the story we are not reading fast enough!!! I have read ahead to tomorrow‘s ch 45 and I am losing my shit over how callous and self centred Cynthia is - like every chapter SHE IS WORSE! If Molly ends up dead because of the usual Victorian nonsense re:there is no coming back from trial and tribulations and that narcissist ( #notclare) and her soul sucking offspring live on I will implode FFS🤬

Ch 44: #mollymeetspreston #shealmosthashimwhereshewantshim #sheepshanks 🙄 #thiswontendwell #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 43: #prestontookadvantage #howdoyouleaveyourkidwithnomoney #prestonjusthappenedtohaveapocketfulofcash #mammaistheworst #soselfish #mollywantstorescuecynthia #sotrusting #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 42: #thisfreakingguy #mollygetsalovelyridewiththedoc #walkshome #rescuesakid #catchescynthiawithpreston #secretengagement #loanshark #whatadick #cynthiahateshim #prestondoesntcare #timeforthewholestory #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Inspired by yesterday‘s chapter of Wives and Daughters eating lunch like my controlling stepmother got herself invited to London. #HashtagBrigade

Ch 41: #somuchdrama #rogersickagain #mollyistoocurly 🙄 #cynthiapartyinglikearockstar #rogermentionedbythegeographicalsociety #cynthiawantstodumphim #shocker #browningloseshershitatmamma #nowmollyisintrouble #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 40: #thewomenhavelefthebuilding #mollyhassomanyplans #everyonewantsthemtovisit #nowthatthebitchesaregone 🤷🏻♀️ #horsebackridingwasbanned ⁉️ #teawiththebrownings #gossip #cynthiawithpreston #buttheythinkitwasmolly ⁉️ #andsomewickhamlikebehavior #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 39: #cynthiawillgotolondon #mammaschemingtogowithher #squireseeseverything #notfooledbycynthiaormamma #osborneknowsthesecret #pitypartyensues #thesepople 🙄 #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 38: #avisitorarrives #abitjudgemental #invitescynthiatolondon #mammaisjealous 🙄 #cynthiawontgo #noprettydresses #caughtsavingmoney #doctotherescue #willshego #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 37: #coxeisback #sofickle #cynthiaisridiculous #docletherhaveitthough #ifweareevermarried #wtf #someprestonbackground #ismammasellingcynthiatopreston ⁉️ #poorrogerwassick #cynthiadidntsharethatinfo #staytuned #hashtagbrigade


My favourite ginger companion, Ronnie, cuddled up to listen to the tagged for #hashtagbrigade for a quiet #HyggeHour readathon.
#CatsofLitsy #TheRonald

Ch 35: #wellnowweknow #mammaspiedonthedoc #thoughtosbornewasneardeath #nowsheisstuckwithroger #squireisnothappy #thinksmammaissilly #yessirsheis #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 34: #yikes #mollypicksberriesforcynthia #whilerogerisproposing #butalsosayingsheisfree #wtfroger #poormolly #devastated #cynthiadoesntplantoactuallymarryhim #shesdeadinside #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 33: my fave science geek 😍 #anyway #osborneisstillactingill #thedocsayshesfine 🤷🏻♀️ #rogergotthejob #thesquireissaved #docisntthrilled #squirewantsthedoctokeepthesonsawayfromthegirls #docismildlyoffended #asonewouldbe #docsaysthesquirecandoithimself #rogerisofftoadventure #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 32: random pic of Roger and Molly #anyway #harrietvisits #somammasendsmollyaway #godforbidsheshares #harriettellsthemabouttheexpedition #mammahintsthatrogerisconnectedtocynthia 🙄 #mammatellsherversionatdinner #poormolly #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 31: #allaboutroger #mammawantshimforcynthianow ⁉️ #maybemollyisimaginingthings #rogerhopestobailoutsquire #squiretooknotesonrogersreview #allbutthefrenchpart 🇫🇷 #obviously 🙄 #hashtagbrigade

Ch 30: #abitofblahblahblah #prestonsworkersstealfromhamley #letsfightovergorsenow #squiregivesprestonshit #prestonsshitsonsquire #rogerannoyspreston #andaroundandaroundwego #staytuned #hashtagbrigade #ripsilas

Ch 29: #osbornethetorturedpoet #nobodywantshispoems #traveliswearingonhim #prestonmaybeworkingfordocsoon #cynthiawantstogetaway #mollywantstohelp #osbornewantstohelprogergetcynthia #evenifthatmeansosbornegetslessmoney #brotherlylove #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 28: #cynthiaissickaftertheball #whatdidprestonsay ⁉️ #rogerisaconstantvisitor #bringingcyntiagifts #breakingmollysheart #mammaisnotafan #outrightrude #thegirlsdefendhim #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 27: I know I‘ve used this pic before, but pics of just the Hamleys are hard to find 🤣 #anyway #rogergetsinvitedtothetowers #squireloseshisshit #saystheinvitemustbeforosborne #youknow #theimportantbrother 🙄 #rogerdeclines #squireloseshisshitoverthat 🙄 #boysaredumb #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 26: #timefortheball #iadorethebrownings #interestinggossipaboutmammaandpreston 👀 #thetowerscrewappears #timetodancewiththeregularpeople 🙄 #politics #mollymakesanimpression #whichpissesoffmamma #poorcynthiawillpayforit #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 25: #prepfortheball #clarevisitsthetowers #totallyignoredbyherhosts #soshemadeupstories 🤷🏻♀️ #beatifulflowersforthegirls #frompreston 🔥 #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

Ch 24: #shortchapter #theboyscometodinner #mammamakessurecynthialooksgood #andmollydoesnt #poormolly #rogerseemstolikecynthia #almosttimefortheball #whatcouldgowrong #staytuned #hashtagbrigade