Welcome to Litsy!

I was planning on reading the French epub but the library had the original version paper book.

Waiting at the airport, allows me listening time. #ToFavoritesFall23

#WithASeason #TemptingTitles

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs

Smells like Autumn this morning with a glorious sunrise.
#happyday

I'm a huge fan of The Bone Clocks and Slade House, so it was great to at last read this book with the first intimations of the storyline/world/reality in those books. It's also a brilliant historical novel, sometimes a bit stomach-churning, about the Dutch and British East Indies Companies and their relationships with Japan. The Dutch East Indies Company is connected with the history of South Africa, so I found all of that very interesting. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My farmer's market find from Saturday 🥳

Okay, I did it—some of you may remember how much I admired “Cloud Atlas,” so I kept going with David Mitchell.

And I‘m glad I did.

There‘s big Charles Dickens vibes on this one. The guy is a beast writer, with full facility and mastery on display. Is it “show-offy”? Yeah. Maybe. I don‘t care. Doesn‘t bother me at all.

This novel also gets delightfully dark, in a type of way I really dig, and which I was the furthest thing from expecting.

Someone in a different review called these... suspension points. He uses them... and other methods to break things up, too often for my taste.

As for the plot there‘s a love story that mostly works for me, and a bunch of merchantmen doing their best to come out ahead with de Zoet being someone you hope good things happen to without really being an engaging main character.

I feel like there is something good here but... read Shogun instead.

#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94

 @Eggs Thanks for tagging me!

I do have about 6 holiday books picked out. I have them ready to go on my shelf.

Bratwurst and pork and beans

Momma Mia is a feel-good movie for me.

Can you play?
@AmyL @Monnntannnya @RavenclawOwlCat @Milara @The_Penniless_Author @lynneamch @AyaOfSiwa @SamAnne @Cindyelizavaz @stretchkev @hilded @peanutnine

Nov. 3 is Culture Day in Japan; time for reading https://www.instagram.com/p/CHGWtelgaPy/?igshid=1eb5x8y4aliz0

Separately, David Mitchell‘s novels are wonderful. But read all together, the threads linking them make them so much more. The theme that we‘re all connected through time seems especially important to remember now, and love and taking care of one another is never the wrong choice.

"Creation unfolds, around us, despite us and through us, at the speed of days and nights, and we like to call it love."

🧐 As someone who went veggie after my divorce, this just struck me funny 😂😂

Initially quite tough going, with masses of characters and my total ignorance of the period didn't help. Once I got into it I really enjoyed it - part historical love story, part creepy fantasy thriller. And some stunning writing, as you'd expect.

Mitchell is HEAVY! Oh man this book. Mitchell‘s characterization and prose are on point in this novel. A historical fiction about the isolated Japanese (Dutch occupied) trading island Dejima, in Nagasaki, is full of love, corruption, struggles, political intrigue, and murder. It is a sad, but wholesome novel. Although written in the time of 1799, it is relatable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m falling behind on posting, but I‘ve been working through this lovely book! Mitchell is hefty, but I love his writing! ❤️❤️

1. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.
2. Yes Puerto Vallarta Mexico - End of November.
3. Just my grandson, Finn and granddaughter, Evie.
4. @gradcat @arlenefinnigan @OriginalCyn620

@Eggs Thanks for tagging me. #wondrouswednesday

“If only human beings were not masks behind masks behind masks. If only this world was a clean board of lines and intersections. If only time was a sequence of considered moves and not a chaos of slippages and blunders.”

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
David Mitchell

#quote #favourites

#mountains #letstraveljuly @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

I loved every other book by Mitchell but this one was a no go 🤷🏻‍♀️

Forced to abandon this last April but only because I ran out of renews at the library. Snagged it in a recent sale and now I can take as much time as I need.

Have you every wondered what it was like to be a Dutch merchant in Japan? This is the novel for you. Parts of it move at a leisurely pace, but the climax is outstanding. While this is a great work of historical fiction in its own, its even better when you read Mitchell's other book--his emerging "meta-novel."

Not my favourite Mitchell, too many sections that didn‘t engage me. It‘s a so-so because the bits that were good were wonderful and the underlying story was great. As always, some of the writing was beautiful.

My daughters next pick off the pile!
This has three possible outcomes, based on my Mitchell experiences so far, I‘ll love it, I‘ll hate it or I just won‘t understand it!! Here goes.

Yes, it‘s April and I still need three comforters. Really excited to catch up with this having read both The Bone Clocks and Slade House.

David Mitchell is a genius. He usually specializes in stories with unique formats or common connections between characters or eras, but here, he just tells a spectacular story. I‘ve always had a deep fascination with Japanese culture, and this was wonderful in many ways. Mitchell remains one of my favorite authors and this has become my favorite of his work.

Today's #marchinbooks photo challenge by @maich is 16. #seasoninthetitle and I was surprised to find I had as many as five in my lists but no spring.

Starting the year off right! Hiding from the cold, enjoying this beautiful book. Struggling a bit with the number of minorish characters though...

I am in a minority but I adored this love story. One or two sections felt wrong (action sequence thrown in for some reason( but loved the main characters and a trip through old Japan

"Mama don't like you and she likes everyone" (of your other books)

With this book I've now read all of David Mitchell's novels. I love his writing. I wanted to love this book. Other people did. But it took me over 2 weeks of forcing myself to read to finish it and while it had its moments I was mostly bored and confused. Beautiful prose. Boring story. My one redeeming takeaway is learning more about the history of Japan. 3 ⭐️s

I love the #mountains on the cover of the Danish edition of the tagged book ⛰🗻🏔

#NoteworthyNovember

"My oh my, ain't you just strayed to the wrong side o' town, my poor lickle lambkin?"

Well... it does not seem like it will be a great year for me ?

My #Litsypartyofone continues in my favourite coffee place. I just supervised an urban run that went though the museum I work in. I now deserve a introverted break from smiling and welcoming people. Party on Littens! 🎉

I finaly had a day off which gave me the time to spend my birthday money. I got books, because what else could I get right? Two new books from two authors I have come to love over the past year.

Orito wraps the scarf around her face to hide her #scars #junetunz @Cinfhen Art by Allison Stephen http://alisonstephen.com/blog/archives/324

#Litsypartyofone "Partying" on my day off with a good book, aromatherapy, Kombucha green tea and one of my favorite healthy snacks: avocado sprinkled with Mexican seasoning. The mug is a gift from my daughter as an inside introvert joke. It reads "I had fun once. It was awful." Love it ?. She also says I look like Grumpy Cat when I'm reading. Whatever.

#Litsypartyofone. Ok maybe two. 😻#gingerkitty

So this is how this book starts out...😳😱😬

I was captivated by this story and as always, by David Mitchell's writing. This book will not be for everyone but it was a page-turner and the characters will stay with me for a long time. The story of clashing cultures, greed, power & evil, love & loyalty, and life & death is set in Nagasaki at the close of the 18th century and it is spectacular. If historical fiction written by a master is your thing, you will love this, too. #LetterT #LitsyA-Z

#seasoninthetitle #marchintoreading #day20 @RealLifeReading I'm debating getting a nicer edition of de Zoet because that one is large text and there has to be a hardcover with a nicer cover.

It is supposedly Spring here in the Crescent City but it feels more like summer. My roses are blooming.

This one is still on my tbr and the only one with #aseasoninthetitle on my shelves. 😄#marchintoreading

Reading distraction: She decided to do the full round of personal grooming here on my book. You cannot tear your eyes away no matter what. This is social day for my new bees 🐝💕

I was so distraught about my husband golfing all day that I had to have a Bloody Mary. In the hot tub. With a book. 😢🤣

#Commonwealthauthors (honestly i'd never heard this term before today. Ya learn something new everyday.) #marchintoreading

It is so hard to pick a #favoritequote but here is one for #riotgrams #day25 @bookriot

The book is a lot more complex and a lot less a romance than the blurb makes it sound. #lovetorecommend #17booklove #day21 @jess.how