Greengates | Litsy

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

I enjoyed this story, how Mr. Baldwin goes through the process of adaptation after his job retirement, affecting everyone in the house: his wife who had a routine for 30 years and even the maid. How funny that scene with the broom. But also is about to take risks at that age. Sometimes he was annoying with all those insecurities during his decision but understandable. Slow pace, more character driven, love the writing style, loved that couple 4⭐️

Gissy January 2023 #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaOfBooks
#PersephoneClub2022 I decided to read some of the books read by PersephoneClub in 2022 @LeahBergen 1y

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 1y

LeahBergen Isn‘t this a lovely book? 🥰 I‘m so glad you‘re enjoying some of our past reads! 1y

42 likes3 comments

Cathythoughts

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

#AlphabetGame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I really enjoyed this one with the #PersephoneClub recently. A story about Tom‘s and Edie‘s retirement .. beautiful writing, an insightful look at life. I‘m anxious to read more by this author.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing!! 2y

LeahBergen Loved this one, too! 2y

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen ❤️ 2y

50 likes3 comments

BarbaraBB

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

A man retires, a life changing affair. What to do with his time? Gardening? Writing a book? It takes getting used to, for him and his wife.

Another wonderful book by Sheriff, whose A Fortnight in September I loved too, about daily life of two decent people in the early 20th century. A real gem!

#52books #BookISawSomeoneReadInPublic

LeahBergen Yay! I‘m so glad you enjoyed it, too. ❤️ 2y

Megabooks Great review! 💜💜 2y

CarolynM Such a great read. I don‘t know how he did it, but he made so much of so very little. I‘m looking forward to reading Fortnight in September (my copy arrived last week🙂) 2y

BarbaraBB @CarolynM You‘ll love it! He does exactly that again: making so much of so little. 2y

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BarbaraBB

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

#weeklyforecast 25/22

I just started When the Ground is Hard, for #ReadingAfrica2022. Next will be the tagged one, a nice #Persephone by an author who I discovered recently. If there‘s time left, I‘ll read another book for Africa.

Cinfhen

LeahBergen I hope you love Greengates! 🤞 2y

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen I expect to, I know you buddyreaders did and I enjoyed his other book so much

The Fortnight in September

Cinfhen Which countries do these books cover??? 2y

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Swaziland (Eswatini) and Burkina Faso! 2y

48 likes4 comments

Tamra

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

Muster the courage to make your happiness, take the leap!*Fine print reads: “A leap by its nature is not without risk.”😬

I am going to order Sherriff‘s The Hopkin‘s Manuscript now. 😊

#PersephoneClub
@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @quietjenn

quietjenn @Tamra haha, I opened up the Persephone website last night to see if The Hopkin's Manuscript was in stock. 😅 Trying to resist the urge to place an order - my collection of Persephones is rapidly outgrowing the shelf it is on - but not sure I'll manage very long. (edited) 2y

Tamra @quietjenn such a sad state of affairs! 😆 I didn‘t order a Persephone edition this time. 2y

Tamra @quietjenn I preferred Fortnight in September. The ending of Greengates almost seemed like a different book because the emotional temperature was very different from the rest. Fortnight seemed more evenly written. What do you think? (edited) 2y

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LeahBergen I prefer Fortnight in September, too, I think? 🤔 I haven‘t read Hopkin‘s (although I‘ve heard good things) and only have one other of his books on my shelves to read

Wells of St Mary's

quietjenn @Tamra I agree. There were a few bits at the end that felt discordant with the rest of it. I think it would've been better if that last chapter were an Afterward, instead of a regular chapter. Overall, Fortnight was more consistently itself. 2y

Tamra @LeahBergen ohhhh yay, I hadn‘t run across that title. Must investigate - thank you for mentioning it! (edited) 2y

quietjenn @LeahBergen Oo, that sounds great too! 2y

Tamra @quietjenn I like the way you describe it! 2y

CarolynM While I was happy for the Baldwins that the risk was worth it, I was a bit surprised that the money issues apparently disappeared once they'd made the move. How much did a subscription to that club cost, I wonder? I was also a little nonplussed at how easily they discarded Ada. 2y

Tamra @CarolynM I know! I had the same thought about Ada. 😒 I guess it is part of the frenzy of acquiring the new. Indeed, it seemed liked they were going to have to live like misers to get by with a mortgage and then that seemed to have miraculously become a nonissue. 🤔 2y

quietjenn @Tamra also, thanks for the non-Persephone tip. I just got the Penguin 😂 2y

Tamra @quietjenn 👏🏾 2y

rubyslippersreads Maybe it‘s because I‘ve been watching the new season of #MrsMaisel but I pictured Jason Alexander as Van Doon. 😂 2y

rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @Tamra I know—poor Ada! (edited) 2y

Tamra @rubyslippersreads 😆 good one! 2y

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Cathythoughts

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

#PersephoneClub I loved this book too. When I stopped reading last night I had nightmares about how all this would end ... I finished just now and it feels like a book of two halves ( well, more like 2/3 and 1/3 ) ...
I felt I lived through these times with Edith and Tom. Excellent book 👍❤️

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Tamra

Tamra Agreed, the characters were so well drawn that the middle section was nail biting! 😬 I‘m jealous you have greenery! (edited) 2y

LeahBergen I agree! I really needed that ‘happy ending‘ for them but found the change of narrative voice in the final chapter a little jarring. I still loved it, though. 😆 2y

Cathythoughts @Tamra The characters are so good 👍❤️ 2y

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Oh I loved it too and I can‘t wait to get more by this writer... 2y

CarolynM I was expecting something to go wrong too and yes, the last third, while flowing from what went before, seemed like a sharp turn from the rest of the story. 2y

70 likes5 comments

LeahBergen

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

Oh my God, #PersephoneClub ! I LOVED this book.

How can the story of a retired 1920s English couple, coming to terms with what their future holds, be such a compelling page-turner? 😆

I won‘t say anymore but do let me know what you thought of how their lives ended up (covered with a spoiler, please)!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, CarolynM, elkeOriginal, Tamra, Cathythoughts

BarbaraBB As always, you sold it! #stackedandonmywaytobuy 2y

CarolynM I kept expecting disaster to strike, probably financial disaster. Although I was very glad it didn't, I did wonder at the way the money problems just disappeared. And the cost of a live-in maid was never raised at all! 2y

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I hope you like it as much as I did! It‘s a quiet story, but lovely. Have you read his

The Fortnight in September

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LeahBergen @CarolynM I was TOTALLY expecting some horrid disaster to strike… shady builders or poor health or something! As to the maid issue: from what I‘ve read in other books, one maid was a given in the pre-WW2 period for middle-class families and their pay was pretty minor in relation to household expenses. There WAS that bit about the new neighbour “showing off” the fact that he had more than one maid, though. 😆 2y

Cathythoughts I‘ve only a small bit to go .. looking forward to chatting about it. I agree , it‘s so moving ❤️ 2y

Cathythoughts When they banged the door shut of their old house ... I was in horror at what they‘d done. I was scared for them. A bit of a fairytale ending , but I‘m so glad it worked out. Not a chance that I would take myself, I can‘t imagine selling our house at this time in our lives. The writing was superb 👌 2y

quietjenn @CarolynM @LeahBergen Yep - I was so nervous for them, thinking it would all fall through and that they'd be left with nothing and nowhere. So happy to be wrong about that. (edited) 2y

Tamra I loved the writing, it was so perceptive! I didn‘t enjoy the ending; the final chapter felt like a tag given the tension and suspense that had ramped up. The two racist passages were disappointing even though I understand the context. (edited) 2y

Tamra @LeahBergen I thought for sure they were being taken by the builder! 2y

Tamra @Cathythoughts not in this economy! 😅 But it‘s such human nature to see the grass as greener on the other side. I thought Sherriff captured that so well. (edited) 2y

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I was so scared for them! 😆 And, like you, it was probably because I was putting myself into their shoes and imagining it for myself at his time. 😆😆 2y

LeahBergen @quietjenn I felt that I really needed that happy ending for them after all the anxiety I‘d felt. 😆 2y

LeahBergen @Tamra Yes! The use of those racist terms was so jarring and slammed me right out of the narrative (as it always does in books from this era 😬). And I agree about that final chapter: I appreciated the happy ending but the change in narrative voice was a little odd for me. 2y

Mitch Sounds like something I should read! 🤣🤣 2y

LeahBergen @Mitch Ha!! It IS you! 😆😆 They move to the country from the outskirts of London. (edited) 2y

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CarolynM

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

Who would have thought that the retirement of a "bowler-hatted man of the Banks and Insurances Offices" 100 years ago could form the basis for such a delightful novel? I marvel at a writer who can keep me engaged in such a modest story. An excellent first book for the #PersephoneClub. Can't wait to chat when we have all finished reading.

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @quietjenn @Tamra @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal

LeahBergen Wonderful review!! And exactly what I thought of it. 😆 2y

BarbaraBB If I hadn‘t already ordered it based on @LeahBergen ‘s review I would have now 🤦🏻‍♀️. Your Persephone book club scares me - I‘ll probably end up buying all your choices too 🤣 2y

Ruthiella @BarbaraBB Me too!😆 2y

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LeahBergen @BarbaraBB @Ruthiella 🤣🤣 You two need to read along with us! 2y

Cathythoughts I‘m nearly finished! Very powerful book , can‘t wait to chat about it 2y

quietjenn I couldn't agree more 🙂 2y

72 likes6 comments

quietjenn

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

pick

A quiet, simple story, told in lovely, evocative language. Very much in the same spirit of Fortnight in September. Looking forward to hearing what the rest of the #persephoneclub thought and chatting about it! #persephonepick for February.

Tamra 😊 Such lovely writing! I wish he had been more prolific. 2y

quietjenn I know! Looks like there are a few currently only available in the U.K., but I have some ebooks by the publisher, so hopefully they‘ll get the rights to sell them in the U.S. 2y

LeahBergen I finished today, too, and loved it! 2y

Cathythoughts Nearly there .. I‘m loving it too 2y

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Tamra

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

This novel has the same life reflective quality that I loved in Fortnight in September. 😊 Lots of quotable passages in it.

I‘ve finished, but I don‘t want to write more until others have wrapped up and we can chat.

#PersephoneClub

@Cathythoughts @quietjenn @LeahBergen @CarolynM @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal

quietjenn They feel a bit like companion novels to each other, even though they aren't the same characters. Really lovely. I've only a wee bit left, so hoping to finish this afternoon. 2y

Tamra @quietjenn yes they do! In fact I thought it was a continuation of Fortnight before I started. Enjoy your remainder. 😁 2y

CarolynM I've finished. Looking forward to chatting 2y

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Tamra @CarolynM 👏🏾 I‘m anxious to know what you thought. 2y

elkeOriginal Such a good quote! Brilliant. 2y

Tamra @elkeOriginal so many in it! 💚 How are you getting on with it? 2y

elkeOriginal I only just got my copy in the mail yesterday so will be running behind 🙁 Looking forward to it though based on these posts! 2y

Tamra @elkeOriginal you have the pleasure of all the anticipation. 😁 2y

Cathythoughts Great quote ! I‘m almost finished. Hopefully today 🤞 I love it 2y

Tamra @Cathythoughts 😘 2y

53 likes10 comments

CarolynM

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

Sixty-one next Saturday and suddenly, unbelievably, a gambler.

I'm getting very worried for the Baldwins🥺

#PersephoneClub

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @tamra @elkeOriginal

Tamra I couldn‘t stop reading and finished today! 🤞🏾 2y

CarolynM @Tamra Well done! I'm just past the halfway mark. 2y

Tamra @CarolynM it was totally compulsive. Enjoy! 2y

quietjenn I relate, but can't figure out if I've been conditioned by my usual reading to expect disaster 🤨 2y

Cathythoughts Very good ! I‘d say this passage will be coming up for me soon. I‘m a bit freaked out for them ... not sure where this will all end. @Tamra For such a ‘ simple ‘ story it is a compulsive read. 2y

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Cathythoughts

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

But before he could reply she hurried on with a desperate eagerness:

shy wings of memory went fluttering through the tips of the larch woods, over bramble hedges and rutted fields :
they descended abruptly and breathlessly to anticipate one of the objections he was certain to make ———

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Tamra

Tamra 😍💙 2y

TrishB Beautiful ♥️ 2y

LeahBergen ❤️❤️ 2y

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Tamra

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

“It was funny how Tom seemed to think that because he has retired, she had retired,too.” Edie

I keep coming back to this quote from chapter 4. Conveys so much in so few words. 💙

I‘m not doing a very good job holding back on this gem. Reading with toast & tea.😅

#PersephoneClub

quietjenn Sounds like a lovely morning! 2y

Tamra @quietjenn I‘m trying to ignore things that “should” and “must” be done. 😏 Have you started yet? 2y

LeahBergen I loved that line! 2y

Cathythoughts Great quote. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2y

quietjenn @Tamra I have, but only just. Finishing up a few others this morning, then planning to devote myself to it this afternoon and evening. When I can convince myself to ignore my own Shoulds and Musts! 2y

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Tamra

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

So, what is up with these initials every so many pages at the bottom left of right hand pages? They are in alphabetical order. Is this a Persephone trademark? 🤔

#PersephoneClub

@rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @elkeOriginal

LeahBergen I believe they are used by the bookbinder to collate or order the signatures of the book. A ‘signature‘ is the bundled stack of pages bound into a book. 2y

Tamra @LeahBergen Thank you for the explanation. I don‘t recall ever seeing it before. My lesson of the day! 🤓 2y

LeahBergen You‘ll see them a lot in older books (and especially antiquarian books from the hand press era). Oh, and I should also mention that they‘re called “signature marks”. You‘ll probably notice them more now that you‘ve spotted them. 😁 2y

See All 6 Comments

Tamra @LeahBergen I‘ll now be spying them everywhere! 🕵🏾‍♀️ 😆 2y

Cathythoughts I‘ll be spying too 🕵️‍♀️😁 2y

batsy That's fascinating @LeahBergen didn't know that! 2y

38 likes6 comments

LeahBergen

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

Okay, #PersephoneClub … I have cracked it open and started to read.

How about those endpapers?? 😍

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, CarolynM, elkeOriginal, Tamra, Cathythoughts

Tamra Beautiful! 💜 I‘m loving every word so far, I hope you do too. 2y

CarolynM I'm enjoying it very much too❤ 2y

Cathythoughts Lovely endpapers & lovely mug ❤️. I‘m really enjoying too 2y

See All 19 Comments

rubyslippersreads 😍😍😍 I hope to start it today. 2y

UwannaPublishme 😍😍😍 2y

merelybookish The endpapers are so pretty!! (Is it sacrilege to say I wish Persephone covers were pretty too? 😬🙈) 2y

LeahBergen @Tamra @CarolynM I‘m thoroughly enjoying it! And (I kid you not) I just came downstairs and told the dog he was sitting in “my” spot. 😆😆 I‘m really feeling for poor Mrs. Baldwin! 😆 2y

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thank you! The mug is from a local pottery. The artist is a very young potter and calls these “Granny Mugs”. She can‘t keep them in stock as they sell out immediately. 😆😆 2y

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I read a good little chunk today! I‘m on chapter 5 now, I think? 2y

LeahBergen @UwannaPublishme 😘😘 2y

LeahBergen @merelybookish Yes, it is. 😂😂 No, I actually find people love or loathe the uniform dove grey covers. I love them for some reason? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Maybe it‘s the pop of colour surprise on the inside? 2y

Tamra @LeahBergen hahaha That‘s a dog for you! Ours does the same with the chair & bed. 🐶 Poor long suffering Edie. 2y

Tamra @merelybookish I‘m with you. 2y

CarolynM 🤣 I'm currently engaged in à running battle with the cat for the best spot on the couch. 2y

Cathythoughts I like the covers too.. I love dove grey, also the print in the books is the perfect size .. not too big , not too small 👌 2y

Cathythoughts @CarolynM @Tamra and Leah , I‘ve given up with my dog Lisa ... she has her own chair now , little princess 💕🙄 2y

Tamra @CarolynM 😽 2y

Tamra @Cathythoughts I do like the contrast & delight of the end papers! 💙 2y

Tamra @Cathythoughts they don‘t believe they belong on the floor. 😹 2y

72 likes19 comments

CarolynM

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

Hooray! My Persephone order is here at last. I'll get stuck in to Greengates this afternoon. #PersephoneClub

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Tamra @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal

Tamra I‘ve been holding back…..just a bit. 😆 2y

LeahBergen Yay! 👏👏 I‘ll be starting tomorrow! 2y

quietjenn Woohoo! 2y

Cathythoughts Oh that‘s great. I‘ll be starting mine tomorrow. Our first Persephone book together 😁 2y

62 likes4 comments

andrew61

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

#PersephoneClub
@LeahBergen
https://www.stuckinabook.com/tea-or-books-31-lists-yes-or-no-and-the-fortnight-i...
I know many of you are going to be enjoying Greengates so I thought I'd share a link to the Tea or Books podcast where I first heard about the book and also Fortnight in September. Simon and Rachel provide a gentle discussion about many pre war novels and it is worth catching this episode.

Ruthiella I love this podcast. ❤️ 2y

LeahBergen Thank you, Andrew. I love this podcast! ❤️ 2y

Cathythoughts Thanks Andrew, you are very good 👍 2y

quietjenn Looking forward to listening to this! Thanks for sharing. 2y

31 likes4 comments

Tamra

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

Up next! I really enjoyed Fortnight in September so I have high hopes. 😃

#PersephoneClub

Tamra Beautiful first chapter! 💙 2y

LeahBergen I can hardly wait! 👍 2y

Tamra @LeahBergen I couldn‘t. 😏😉 2y

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Cathythoughts Exciting! 2y

Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeahBergen @Carolynm @quietjenn @elkeOriginal @Rubyslippersreads My copy of Greengates just arrived 💚👍 (edited) 2y

Tamra @Cathythoughts yay!! 🎉 2y

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, I didn‘t get this notification for some reason! Yay! I think I‘ll start it tomorrow. 😊 2y

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I know sometimes that happens 🤷🏼‍♀️ so looking forward to it X 2y

75 likes8 comments

quietjenn

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

My copy of our inaugural #PersephoneClub title arrived today. I thought I'd just read the first page or two, to get a sense of things, and had to *make* myself stop about ten minutes later. I think we're in for a good time, friends!

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal

LeahBergen Oh, good to hear! 👏👏 2y

CarolynM 👍 2y

Cathythoughts Yay !! Exciting..... still no sign of my copy 🤷‍♀️, I‘ll post as soon as I get it. C‘mon Greengates , get here ! 2y

Cathythoughts Lovely picture 💫 2y

elkeOriginal Great news! I hope mine arrives soon… 2y

64 likes5 comments

LeahBergen

Greengates | R. C. Sherriff

Well, here it is at last … a #PersephoneClub !

Six of us have come together and chosen our club reads until the end of this year (in order of the above months): @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal @quietjenn

Feel free to read along with us at any time; discussions are very low key and consist mainly of comments on each other‘s posts and reviews.

mklong Oh I‘ll definitely read along! Is it too late to join the club? 2y

CarolynM 👏👏👏 I'll repost on @LitsyEvents 2y

LeahBergen @mklong Great! Please do read along with us! We closed off the voting on picks as we had six and therefore enough to carry us to the end of the year (and it made it easier to do the graphic 😆). We‘ll shuffle our names again in December and you can most definitely join us then for our next round of voting. Is that okay? 2y

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LeahBergen @CarolynM Wonderful! Thanks, Carolyn! 😘 2y

mklong Sounds good to me 😊 2y

tenar How fun! I‘m going to mark my calendar to read along in April. I‘ve not yet read a Persephone, as I‘d assumed they didn‘t have ebook editions, but I‘ve lately realized a good number actually do! 2y

Tamra Ohhh, Greengates is on my TBR! 2y

LeahBergen @mklong 👍 2y

LeahBergen @tenar Good to hear! I‘m glad you‘ll be joining us. Yes, all of their books aren‘t available as ebooks but they‘re getting more and more. 2y

LeahBergen @Tamra We are planning to start reading this one towards the end of the month as we‘re waiting for everyone‘s copies to arrive. I do hope you can join us! 2y

Tamra @LeahBergen I‘ll see what I can do! 😄 2y

Cathythoughts Leah, what an elegant post ✨ Well done. 2y

Cathythoughts @CarolynM That‘s great Carolyn 👍🏻 we an official Litsy happening 😁💃🏾📚 2y

CarolynM @Cathythoughts 👍🙂😎 2y

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! I was really trying to make it look like a Persephone cover. 😆 2y

BarbaraBB That is so cool! I‘ll definitely chime in on discussions and books maybe too. 2y

andrew61 Looks great. I will try and dip in and I like the look of a few of the books especially the wintered Holtby and duff Cooper. Hope you all enjoy greengates and look forward to seeing the comments. 2y

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB Please do! 😘 2y

LeahBergen @andrew61 Yes, please read along with us whenever you like! 2y

Suet624 How wonderful, Leah. A great group of readers and a great selection of books. Have so much fun!!! 2y

LeahBergen @Suet624 I hope you jump in for one of our discussions, if you ever feel so inclined. 😘 2y

Suet624 Thank you! 2y

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