Welcome to Litsy!

#12Booksof2023 November had a several *almost* five star reads that made a deep impression on me. I‘m picking this one to highlight because it was my first Barbara Pym novel, and I‘m so happy to have been introduced to her by the #hashtagbrigade. I‘m excited to read more of her work, and I can see her becoming a much beloved author in my future. @Andrew65

I was in the mood for a Pym and seeing all the #hashtagbrigade posts made me chose this one. Maybe not quite as good as Excellent Women or Less Than Angels but still very enjoyable. It had me giggling at the juxtaposition of the spiritual and the domestic - the egg and chips tea for the newly converted Roman Catholic being my favourite example.

Thanks for the tag @RamsFan1963

1 Favorite read of November is tagged book not a very popular one but I loved it especially reading with #hashtagbrigade @BarkingMadRead
2 Looking forward to A Christmas Carol #BookedInTime and Great Expectations #RereadingTheClassics @AllDebooks

@TheSpineView

Why yes I did pour my Thanksgiving champagne out of a flute into this glass because it matched the cover. Thanks for hosting @BarkingMadRead! I find Pym a comfort read. Perfect for this time of year.
🥂🍾 #hashtagbrigade

My actual conclusion about this book is that Pym just isn't for me. I've tried a couple of her books, and I just find her writing to be a little too cynical for me - her humor has a bitter undertone to it that just doesn't work for me. I know a lot of people love her and find her funny, but she just isn't a match for me. This book was... fine. I didn't really like anyone. And I think the reason that everyone on this cover is spilling stuff is ⬇

I didn't get this library hold until this week, so have missed the #Pemberlittens #Hashtagbrigade buddyread. I did start but couldn't gel with the characters. This is more of a pause rather than a full on bail. I'll try again at a later date.

@StayCurious @BarkingMadRead

While reading the tagged book, I joined the collection of readers who decided I just had to taste lapsang souchong #tea but it‘s not supposed to arrive until the day after tomorrow, so this smoky brew remains a mystery to this reader… 🫖🍵 #humbleharvest @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

A bored, self-absorbed English housewife reflects on her life, and the lives of her neighbors, in a 1950s village. Nothing much happens, and I didn‘t even particularly like her, but her wry observations kept me chuckling. An enjoyable read.

Another fun read with the #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade . Thanks, @BarkingMadRead !

I didn‘t get to read this as a chapter a day read this month, but I listened to it today and enjoyed it, although not quite as much as Excellent Women. Pym provides a detailed slice of life look at these characters‘ world of 1950s England. Even though I didn‘t particularly like most of the characters, there was just enough humor to keep me invested in the description of their daily lives.

#audiobook

The first Pym I read was with #PemberLittens so when this was a #HashtagBrigade read, I knew I had to join in. I love Pym‘s writing and her ability to see the interesting in the everyday

Wilmet is a 30-something, married woman with no children. She is trying to fill her days with things to do, and in 50s that‘s not always easy

And the cover, at first glimpse I thought the women was holding a Christmas three ornament, but I now I know better

Had fun reading a chapter a day with @BarkingMadRead and the #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

(Photo of Husky from wikipedia)

Nothing much happened but I still found the book enjoyable. The character studies were excellent and I loved Pym's soothing way of writing.

Thanks @BarkingMadRead for hosting another fun buddy read, and thanks #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade for your commentary 🙂

Ch 23: and they all lived happily ever after? #maryandmariushaveachurch #wilmethasrodney 🤷🏻‍♀️ #thatsaboutit 🤣 #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade have a great December off 🤣 we will pick up on January 1st!

For a book about a lot of little nothings, like a Seinfeld episode, it is Pym‘s writing that kept me interested and focused. Wilmet, our MC and narrator, learns a bit about herself and life through the course of the novel and that life is filled with a “glass of blessings.” There are also parts to this that are surprisingly hilarious, as if Pym sneaks in a punchline. Another great read with #PemberLittens #HashtagBrigade #1958 #192025

I very much enjoyed following along with Wilmet's life as she struggled with her restlessness. It was a relaxing story with not much plot but plenty of dry wit and humor. The characters were well-written and entertaining. I'm really liking Barbara Pym as an author, this is the second of her books I've read with the #pemberlittens
Thanks @BarkingMadRead for leading the #hashtagbrigade on this, I've enjoyed the discussions

Ch 22: a visit to Bason‘s antique shop #icantpicturethebeard #whatadisaster #theirdinnerthough #cheating#cheaterswhocheat #theydeserveeachother #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

I loved my first Barbara Pym, but at the end of the month I‘m still not sure why. What is it we respond to in a novel when nothing much happens and the characters aren‘t especially likeable? Is it the truth of the character sketches, the writing itself, some tiny piece of our own lives we recognize…? #hashtagbrigaide #pemberlittens @BarkingMadRead

This was my first Barbara Pym book, and I must say I enjoyed it. If you asked me what it was about, however, I‘d have to say it‘s not about much of anything. It is the story of Wilmet, a married woman in the 50‘s who has become bored with her husband and with her very undemanding life. We see her daily life unfold (I‘d be bored too) and her search for her own “glass of blessings”. Looking forward to more Pym treasures.
#hashtagbrigade

A dash of Wharton's prose, a flourish of Austen's wit, and a bit of spice from Gaskell's CRANFORD, this novel portrays the daily life of a well-to-do married woman living in 1950s London. Subtleness is key here as a complicated plot does not exist; mostly it reads like a well-developed diary of the life of Wilmet Forsyth trying to put meaning into her life. Pym also showcases a muted wit that satirizes the religion and society of the day. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 161 of the year.

Ch 21: reading about a scene in a coffee shop… while in a coffee shop #ididnotplanthis #imnotthatcool #thegangsallhere #theworstgangever #basonhadgossip #wilmetbeathimtoit #suchaweirdgathering #wilmetbumpsintoransome #whoimmediatelymentionsmarysmoney 🙄 #andletsnotforgetbasonsnewjob #antiquestorewhatcouldgowrong #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

A beautifully and perfectly written story that captures the essence of the 1950s for Wilmet who is living with her husband and mother-in-law. The war, during which Wilmet had a job and adventures, is over, the 60s culture of free expression has not hit yet - what is Wilmet to do with her time, her thoughts, her passions. ⬇️

#Pemberlittens #HashtagBrigade

Which one is Marius? 😂 The young guy on the left?

Ch 20: Wilmet visits Mary #lazydays #longnights #whohadproposalontheirbingocard #gomary #thatscooterthough #whydogoodwhenyoucouldscoot #randombeeswarm #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 19: Sybil is gonna get hitched #rodneyandwilmethavetoGTFO #ohthehorror #teawithkwithwasamusing #sybilseesall #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 18: another Seinfeld episode #abookaboutnothing #but #almostdisney #fatherthamesisretiring #toavillanamedcinderella #liveyourbestlifemydude #basonwillmisstheegg #maryandransome #isitathing #staytuned #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

What I was thinking, while reading chapter 18 lol
“ you can‘t do that in the Church of England, you can‘t say “You must have tea and cake with the vicar, or you die.” You can‘t have extreme points of view”
Cake or death, that‘s an easy question. Eh cake please, very well give him cake”.

‘Will your colleague be at home this afternoon?‘ I asked, as we stood on an island amid a swirl of trolley buses.
‘My colleague?‘
‘The person you share the flat with.‘

[…]

‘You always said you that I lived with a colleague. But aren‘t we all colleagues, in a sense, in the this grim business log getting through life as best we can?‘

(Are we finally getting our suspicions confirmed?)

Ch 17: Willmet has tea with Piers #athisflat #andwemeetkeith 🏳️‍🌈 #howdoesshenotseeit #poorkeith check out @rwmg ‘s latest post for a glimpse at what Keith might look like! #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade
#ps #ialmostusedapicofprofessorlupin #iwentwithkeithsroominstead #vangogh #irises

Chapter 17
Keith?

#pemberlittens
@BarkingMadRead

Ch 16: Wilmet bumps into Bason #verydaring #shemakeshimreturntheegg #thamesknewanddidntcare #iguessthatsgood 🤷🏻‍♀️ ##wilmetprepsformary #rodneydidntknow #dotheytalkatall 🤷🏻‍♀️ #sybilwantstobringaguesttoportugal #thatsnotweird 🙄 #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 15: Bason is a klepto #somuchdrama #butwherewasrodney #thisfeelssketchy #ithinksybilknows #sybilknowseverything #also #everytimetheymeniontheministryigetharrypotterflashbacks #thestruggleisreal #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade
PS @rwmg posted a great map of where Piers lives #talkaboutsketchy

After reading chapter 15, this cover‘s meaning is beginning to be a little bit clearer to me.

Chapter 15
Piers seemed to live in a dark wasteland beyond Shepherd's Bush and I could only guess what that might be like.

@BarkingMadRead
@Dabbe
#pemberlittens

Ch 14: Willmet goes visiting #pinkblancmange #piersisbackatwork #fornow #maryisleavingtheconvent #formarius #letstalkaboutthatforaminute #hisbuddyisheadedtorome #willhegotoo #whatcanmarydo #besidesstaywithwillmet #whatcouldgowrong #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 13: it‘s Spring and Wilmet is as delightful as ever 🙄 #madthatharryhasntcalledforadate #girl #youremarried #soishe #moveon #apparentlytopiers #whoisntatwork #norishisworkfriend #hmmmmmm #aretherumorstrue #yourrumorsnotbookrumors 🤣🤣 #whoansweredthephone #inquiringmindswanttoknow #andletsnotforgetsybilsflowers #wilmetistheworst #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Better late than never, I suppose, but I‘m finally starting this one. It‘s been a busy few weeks (hooray for gigs! But they‘re eating my reading time) and I‘ve been trying to finish library books. Maybe I can catch up to the #hashtagbrigade #buddyread

Ch 12: Mrs Beamish leaves Ransome money 😳 #interestingturn #andyethehintsthatitwasntenough #dude #whatwentoninthathouse #staytuned #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 11: drama at dinner (and for a pic of the pancakes, go over to @rwmg ) #harrysentthebox #busted #notasfunasifpierssentit #rodneytookitwell #whatgoesonatwork #sketchy #awkwardallaround #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

My fluffy new reading spot for
#Pemberlittens #HashtagBrigade 📖
@BarkingMadRead

(not my photo, taken from google images)

A Shrove Tuesday dinner party with pancakes brings revelations but some mysteries remain.

A glimpse of Prudence.

@BarkingMadRead
#pemberlittens

Ch 10: Wilmet doesn‘t like Mary‘s plans until Mary‘s brother gets mad about it #asifthisisascandal #dudeobviouslyneverreadtess 🙄 #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

As we came up to the clergy house I saw the notice about not ringing unless on urgent business. But there was hardly time to consider whether we should ring or not, for the moment we set foot on the doorstep I noticed a curtain at a ground floor window being flicked aside and heard footsteps within. Evidently Mr Bason had been watching for our arrival in a rather Cranfordian way.

Ch 9: Tea with Bason #alovelytourofnobodysbusiness #basongetsacall #poormary #whatanawkwardtrio #moredramaaboutthecassock 🙄 #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 8: Wilmet at Christmas 🙄 #poormary #hermomisdying #amitheonlyonesuspiciousofransome #iwonderhowhewillbenefit #wilmetdreadstheprofessorsvisit #untilhegivesheragift #andacompliment #shecanaddhimtoherconquests 🙄 #pembelittens #hashtagbrigade

But in the meantime there was the excitement, which I still felt, of the Christmas post arriving two or three times a day in the week before Christmas Day.

[Those were the days. We get post every other day. Picture is found online]

Ch 7: Wilmet is quite popular this Christmas 🙄 #cheatingcheaterwhocheats #isaidwhatisaid #lunchwithamarriedman #giftfromanotherman #whatcouldgowrong #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Ch 6: Wilmet gives Mary some fashion advice #wilmetneedsanattitudemakeover #sheissuchasnob #gooddeedsareonlygooddeedsifyoumeanwell #isaidwhatisaid #ransomeandmary 😳 #thatshouldbeinteresting #basonstillcausingtrouble #ihavehighhopesforhisdrama #staytuned #pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

I‘m just wondering, how boring is your life when giving blood is exciting?