Welcome to Litsy!

September reading wrap up from Storygraph. I had a funky reading slump in the middle of the month, but I came back strong at the end to finish 2 books right before the cutoff. I didn‘t read anything spectacular, but I did enjoy Kate Quinn‘s new historical fiction The Briar Club and Mythology by Edith Hamilton (on my TBR for too long to count!).

Post-Covid Kate Quinn wanted to write a book with greater hope than her usual HF, and this 1950s story of various-aged and background women boarding in house in the Foggy Bottoms area of DC was the result. It is different than her usual fare and gave me Elizabeth Gilbert City of Girls vibes. She infused each woman with a history highlighting what 1950s was to women, and I found it very interesting.

I am a fan of Quinn and am impressed how she tackles various periods in history to tell us the stories of women. This one is told from the POV of several women & the boarding house they live in. It sounds weird, but it works wonderfully. Covering such issues in the 1950's such as McCarthy red scare, the Korean War, spousal abuse, women in sports, parenting and birth control, it was a great read. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.75/5

#TheBriarClub #KateQuinn #BookSpinBingo #SeriesLove2024 #September2024

A haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse during the McCarthy era. Washington, D.C., 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation‘s capital, where secrets hide behind white picket fences.

Not the typical book I would read, but definitely grabbed my attention. Listen through Audible. Really enjoyed the characters in this book and appreciated the historical references, backed by the author notes at the end. Somewhat suspected the twist, but appreciated it none the less!

This is the 1st Kate Quinn book I‘ve read & I really enjoyed it! The really long chapters took a bit to get used to but it was nice to spend so long with each of the characters. I definitely didn‘t see the end coming! I‘m eager to read more of her books now!

Set in the 1950‘s amongst McCarthyism and the Red Scare, this book is both a mystery and historical fiction. The book is organized in long-ish chapters from the POV of different female characters residing in Briarwood House. I didn‘t see the twist coming, which is a rarity for me! A bonus: recipes are sprinkled throughout the book. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6289118375

“For all the women in my life who make up my Briar Club, the ones who bring each other food and wine and counsel whenever it‘s needed. The ones who wouldn‘t bat an eyelash at a corpse on the floor. You know who you are.” Kate Quinn never disappoints.

Love it when #histfic story has cultural references to events related to my lived experiences. As a kid I was unaware growing up in the 1950s of Maccarthyism, racism, birth control, women's rights. Sadly, these themes still echo right now. Kate Quinn never disappoints and I want to share. This book will soon fit the category #yougifted #aboutabook #recipes
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I have loved everything I‘ve read by Kate Quinn and this is no exception. She‘s one of my favorites for a reason 😁

What‘s stronger than a Pick?? I think this is my fave Kate Quinn so far, and that‘s saying a LOT. She‘s a genius. How‘d she write SO MANY POVs and make them ALL equally compelling & distinct & heart-wrenching? I ❤️ the recipes, the jam-packed history, the personification of the house, and the twists upon twists!
When women come together, stand up for what‘s right, and look out for each other, anything is possible! 🥹❤️❤️
TW: so much domestic abuse

A bit of a change for Kate Quinn! Instead of the story being in support of the history, the history is in support of the story here. The whole cast of characters is just so good and the way the story moves between characters and across chunks of time was really well done.

If you want a historical fiction which is riveting, absolutely filled with turns and twists, with interesting lovable characters and good food described, this book is it.

Set in a boarding house in Washington DC during the 1950s where none of the tenants really know each other until a new girl moves in and hosts weekly dinner parties in her room. We know from the start that a murder will eventually take place and we slowly get to know each resident of the house and their secrets. This was different from the other books I have read by Quinn but still a book I had no choice but to finish in practically one sitting.

17 pages in and already smiling ear to ear. Kate Quinn is such a brilliant writerrrrrr

Setting is 1950s in Washington DC during the McCarthy era, in a female-only boarding house. Good but without the compelling suspense of Quinn‘s other HF novels. Great characterizations.

#Pantone2024
#ReadAway2024

An interesting set of character development pieces that combine to reveal a side of the 1950s that isn‘t normally explored. McCarthyism, the birth control pill, and the presence of the nuclear bomb are examined from the impact to a set of women in DC. Not a typical action packed Kate Quinn book so rated lower for the lack of movement and action. But still an interesting and worthwhile read.

The main character is the house itself. Kate Quinn is a fantastic writer & was able to pull off a story from the house‘s point of view all while tangling it up with the various lives of the people of the boarding house.

I was so conflicted about this book. It‘s one of those that started out a little weird, a little slow but it‘s Kate Quinn; different for her. I must persist. It took a while to become invested in the characters. Plus there is the whole weirdness of the house‘s POV. I hated that part and thought it added nothing to the story. But the book finally grabbed me and finished strong. I‘m glad I stuck with it. Kate didn‘t let me down.

I was hooked in by the prologue and immediately invested in the large cast of characters.Kate Quinn writes books that makes writers feel they can not write themselves and readers like it was just a great story until you read the author's note and see all the moving parts that she magically weaved in. The time period, the themes, the character arcs, and the plot are all ingredients for the perfect book. Plus, there are recipes.

Been invited to read this!! 😄

Thank you @HarperCollins and #Netgalley

Hoo boy. Kate Quinn has done it again! Every single character (and there are a lot, but manageable to keep straight) feels exactly like a real human being that she interviewed personally for this book. And she doesn‘t hold back with the character‘s storylines, after reading some parts I had to close the book and just let her words simmer before continuing. If you want a book with substance, grit and heart, this is it! Publishes 7/9/2024