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CHALLENGE: BLACK

FICTION - HISTORICAL FICTION - FANTASY

A rook was the beginning and the end for William Bellman.

Black was the color of the day for this book along with rooks, who according to the author never forget.

If you like dark theme, and you don't mind being told every detail of someone's life, you will enjoy this book. 

https://tinyurl.com/5ahswdp8

I enjoyed this in the end even though I am not sure what to do with it. Part ghost story, part allegory, full of atmosphere and strong writing. I guess I just didn‘t fully enjoy the story arc, or maybe I just want more.

In a moment of youthful bravado, William Bellman kills a rook, an act of cruelty that is quickly forgotten. But forgotten does not mean lost when memory remains…Years later Bellman is a successful business man with a thriving family when people around him suddenly start dying. Desperate for a solution, Bellman makes a deal with a stranger in the hopes things will get better. Atmospheric, entertaining read.

Starting this one today…

#OutAndAbout #ReadingOnTheTrain

I‘ve enjoyed all of Setterfield‘s novels. Once Upon A River is my favorite, but this is close behind. I read it a few years back and was surprised by how good it was after seeing so many mixed reviews. Hope we get a new one from her soon!

#OminousOctober #Black
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Was this a ghost story?

Anyway, I confess, I liked the bits about the textile industry and the funeral "industry" much more than the actual plot and its characters.

I know, I'm weird.

@TrishB recommended the tagged book some time ago.

I really like the story and the writing style. The narration is also very good.

Alas, my children insist on a board game night, otherwise I'd probably finish the book.

#TBRPile 📚 “I have heard it said, by those that cannot possibly know, that in the final moments of a man‘s existence he sees his whole life pass before his eyes.”

I wouldn‘t normally choose to read a ‘ghost story‘ but I‘m really glad this was on your #nywd @LeeRHarry . It‘s the sort of book that works really well (for me anyway) on audio; kind of meandering and unhurried but with lots of beautiful prose and detail.

Have you read Once Upon a River, Lee? That‘s the only other Setterfield I‘ve read and I enjoyed this one just as much.

I finally gave myself permission to sit in bed & read while waiting on my husband to wake up. Normally I go sit on the couch or dining room table, in fear that I might fall asleep if I stay in bed.

Where is your favorite reading spot?

#mystery #literature #amreading #quietmorning #relaxation #coffeeinbed #weekend

"Once you said a thing, it could never be taken back and would be taken up and repeated and altered and told again, no matter how misshapen and out of true. Better to say nothing."

#mystery #literature #amreading #fiction

Getting through this #nywd book on audio much more quickly than expected… poor puppy has an upset tummy so I‘m sitting with him in the kitchen in case he needs to go outside in a hurry. 😬

#audiocolouring

To make matters worse, he had learnt which door to use to go out but the handle broke this morning so he has to go out a different way! 😱

Anyway, the book is fab! @julesG - I think you‘d really like this, if you haven‘t read it already.

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today‘s prompt:

#HAUNTED
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

Today‘s Prompt: GHOST

I didn't seem to find the "ghost" in this ghost story until the very end.  The "ghost" was a subtle theme even though it was to be the main theme…https://tinyurl.com/5ef6x8dx

@atriabooks
@d_setterfield1960

Setterfield writes atmosphere and character so well! My so-so rating is for the length; this novel could have been cut in half and would have been the better for it.

Love these collective nouns: “story of rooks” and an “entertainment of humans.”

Current listen - Setterfield‘s atmospheric writing always sucks me in. There is a subtle unease or disquiet that you can‘t quite pin down or predict the turn it may take.

Very well written and poetic in its descriptions, mixed in with just the right pace of plot and development. It follows the story of a successful businessman who avoids his grief by turning to his work and what the consequences of this are for us all. It isnt the spooky read you might expect but it has the right amount of Victorian Gothic mood that I really enjoyed.

And one “cheat” book from book shopping yesterday—it doesn‘t satisfy any challenge but it‘s been on my tbr list for awhile

England early 1800s.
As a young boy, William accidentally kills a corn crow. This incident follows him his entire life through his success at work and adult life.

#Two4Tuesday

1. A friend sent me Bellman & Black this past week in the mail.
2. Another friend preordered a book for me called The Greatest Secret for my birthday.

Tagging @AkashaVampie @Andrew65

Sadly, it doesn't hold a candle to The Thirteenth Tale.😞
After striking a bargain with a mysterious gentleman after personal tragedy, Bellman's business affairs go from strength to strength. But if there's no place for a thing in his account books there's no place for it in his life. Were he not concerned for his staff's wellbeing he'd be just another Scrooge. Not so much a ghost story as a rook's wing shadow over one man's monomaniac capitalism.

This book had so much potential but it was just ok for me. I find birds creepy so I thought this book would be perfect for me. I loved all the little blurbs on Rooks throughout the book but the story itself fell flat. It felt like there was constantly something happening but I was never fully drawn in. It wasn't badly written and the characters were interesting enough but it was just lacking that something special.

#Fiction #Gothic

Are you a Black Friday shopper? I definitely have no desire to get mixed up in those crowds so if I happen to shop at all today, it will definitely be from my computer.

I must note that I was a bit dismayed by my inability to find more books with black in the title. Given the type of books I am generally drawn to, I thought this would be an easy task. I was wrong!

I cannot believe how much I loved this!

I totally see where the negative reviews are coming from, especially given the nature of the author's other works. But this, right here, is gothic fiction at its finest. Rather than spotlighting a well-crafted plot, this instead is a character study of a man who is haunted--perhaps both physically and emotionally. I loved The Thirteenth Tale, now I really want to pick up Once Upon A River!

Such a fun Litsy Postal Book Club package from @Laughterhp ! Today is perfect tea weather & anytime is a good time for Reese‘s! Love the adorable bookmarks and fun notebook & can‘t wait to dive into Bellman & Black. @DebBates101 your package will be en route tomorrow!

Phew, finally finished my first book for #24B4Monday!

This book was interesting. It was basically about a boy named Will and his life growing up and all his accomplishments and faults. His life, his grief and basically his workaholic lifestyle. Won‘t say too much more since this is for a buddy read for our unofficial #LTLMPBC - It‘s only a so-so because I didn‘t love it, but I did like it.

Alright, husband‘s finally left for the night. Snuggling into the bean bag and ready to get a lot of reading done!

Hoping to finish the tagged book today!

#24B4Monday

Cozy on the couch, finally digging into this book. I‘m about 50 pages in and enjoying it so far.

This is my first Diane Setterfield. (Even though I also own The Thirteenth Tale)

This is my pick for our unofficial #LTLMPBC - we started last year and just decided to keep going! 😊

I didn't dislike Bellman & Black, but it didn't wow me (I *really* liked Setterfield's "The Thirteenth Tale" and "Once Upon a River"). It dragged on—I think it would have more impactful if shorter (more tightly written).

This book was so good! Gothic and eerie this book was right up my alley. I listened to it on audio on my drives to and from work and it kept me intrigued the entire time. I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Diane Setterfield!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have to say I‘m disappointed that I didn‘t love this one! Her other novels captivated me but this one left me cold.

I understand the mediocre reviews for this now. The subtitle for this is "a ghost story". No. There is no ghost in this story. Honestly not much happens at all and the things that do don't make much sense. So with Setterfield read The Thirteenth Tale and Once Upon a River and skip this one. I wish I had.

I don‘t know how I missed this book, since The Thirteenth Tale is one of my all-time favorite books!

It‘s hard to read with a cute little dog insisting on taking a nap.

Thankful for a quiet night to read.

Happy thanksgiving! Enjoying some outdoors with this book today.

@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks
@Vkois88

Cloak

BELLMAN & BLACK was an unusual read with the premise of death, darkness, black birds (rooks), the color black, and black events...namely funerals and mourning goods.

There also was a mysterious man in a black cloak.

Who was the cloaked man who took all the light away at Will's mother's funeral? Why was this man always around when there was a funeral?

It was a bit dark, but good.

https://bit.ly/2NvAlQv

#currentlyreading this gothic story from Diane Setterfield

#readingresolutions #photochallenge #clocks

Today‘s #bookmail ❤️📚

I know it had bad reviews and I too think her first book is amazing....so I expected little but I really enjoyed it. Some really interesting historical information and I love the birds!!!

Mysterious strangers and a Faustian bargain... #macabremonday #mysteriousmonday #hallowreads #spookyoctober #littensdressedinblood #screamathon @JoeStalksBeck @Tiffy_Reads @Jess7 @MidnightBookGirl @4thhouseontheleft

Sorting my towering TBR pile into reading now, up next, and library loans. This is the tip of the iceberg.

I am enjoying The Thirteenth Tale so much and I went on GR to see if the author had written anything else. I was about to shelve her other novel when I noticed lots of negative reviews. Any opinions from my fellow Littens? Is it really not worth it?

To bail or not to bail? The Thirteenth Tale is one of my favorite books. So maybe my expectations were too high for this one. It's honestly hard for me to believe they were both written by the same author. This book is just odd to me. Not much happens and when a turn in the story comes along and a plot could really arise it is dealt with in a matter of a page or two. William is likable but I am struggling whether or not to keep trudging through.

Trying to read this (sort of slow) book under a pile of dogs

The last book from my boxing day order has finally arrived! The cover is so striking in person - I love the color of that feather 😍 #bookmail

Still working my way through this one, but suspect it's one of the few audiobooks that I might have preferred reading. #audiostitching #LitsyStitchers