Whale Fall | 
pickThis book transports the reader to a small Welsh fishing island in the years leading up to World War II. The islanders live in the old traditional ways, but change is coming… indeed has already come to the mainland. The writing is spare but poignant, honest but nuanced, immersive but reflective. A true gem of a read. I feel like I lived this book.
Another fabulous #LiteraryCrew selection. You definitely know how to pick ‘em, @Librarybelle ! 👏
It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! I have 7 questions posted as spoilers; you can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtags.
I realized I never posted the graphic for next month‘s Ragtime, so I will get that posted today.
7. O'Connor mentions a few islands that inspired this story, including St. Kilda. To get a perspective of the islands and the harshness of life, not to mention the village remains, I have a Mirror article link in the comments. #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
6. We have to talk about the whale! Do you think the whale was a good omen or a bad omen? O'Connor uses the arrival and departure of the whale's remains as an arc for the story. Why do you think she did this? What does the whale symbolize? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
5. How do you think Edward and Joan's work will affect the island? We already know that the “writings“ they did reflect a different perspective of the island and the community?
On a bigger scale, how will World War II affect the community? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
4. Edward and Joan arrive on the island to write a book, allegedly. Did you opinion of Edward and Joan change throughout the novel? Why do you think they came to the island, chose this island? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
3. Let's talk about the islanders (we'll save Edward and Joan for our next question). What were your impressions of Monad? Of Llinos? Of the community? Why do you think those still living on the island chose to stay? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
2. For me, the setting was a powerful aspect of the novel--I could feel the dampness mentioned throughout the novel. How did the setting contribute to the storytelling? Could this story be set in a different location or time? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
1. Overall, what did you think of the novel? Think about the flow of the story and O'Connor's use of vignettes to power the narration. Did this style work? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead
• Whale Fall - I‘m about 1/3 into the book in a little over an hour of reading and am liking it so far
• Daughter of Dr. Moreau - book club read; really don‘t like speculative fiction so this might be a slog
• Girl, Women, Other - another book club read; maybe the audiobook I requested becomes available?
• The Secret Keeper - another long book and book club read
#weekendreads
pickI devoured this book! O‘Connor writes a descriptive and cautionary tale of declining island life on a fictitious island off the coast of Britain in 1938. Does a deceased whale washed up on shore bring good or bad tidings? Manod, the MC, narrates a few months of life on the island, when the whale and soon after two British strangers arrive. Beautifully written. #LiteraryCrew
#Xander #CatsOfLitsy
panDid the audiobook version. It was fine, but didn‘t hit me like it seems to have others. Good narration but really was more background for me. Maybe physical copy would have done better. #literarycrew
pickThe author‘s spare lyrical writing is in the form of linked vignettes.This style,along with her detailed,descriptive writing immediately immersed me in the island‘s harsh,yet beguiling environment.We are privileged to see this through the awakening eyes of 18 yr old Manod.When 2 ethnographers visit the island they express the worst of imperialism,in their exploitation & appropriation of a people & its culture.I feel a pervasive sense of sadness.
#HyggeHourReadathon
Posting today as my hyggehour last night was relaxing enough that I went to bed shortly thereafter.A little wine & homemade blueberry crisp did that to me! Loving this short book ( tagged) & looking up the unknown such as kittiwakes. I like that name for a cat! #literarycrew
pick#WeeklyFavorite. #LiteraryCrew
The tagged is a medium low pick for me. I am always fascinated by dwindling island population stories. A short book with short sections that sometimes left me wanting more.
@Read4life @Librarybelle
We are a little less than 1.5 weeks away from our next #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead discussion! I‘ve seen some positive reviews already from group members, so I hope this sparks some great discussion on the 31st.
As a heads up, our next book is Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. I‘ll post the official graphic either today or tomorrow, when I have a free moment and remember (!), but wanted to make sure everyone was aware now.
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf
I cannot believe I am wearing a sweat shirt on the porch- it‘s 55 degrees! #booksandcoffee #literarycrew
pick29 Jul-4 Aug 25
Reminiscent of Clear, The Colony and The Island. O‘Connor deftly portrays the disruption caused when outsiders enter isolated communities.
Just before the outbreak of the Second World War, two anthropologists arrive on an island just off the coast of Wales with the intention of documenting its inhabitants. They employ, Manod, a young bilingual woman to assist, making her promises they do not keeo.
pickI finished this this morning sanding the walls in the basement. I wish it was longer
Bag 2 of Sherlock Holmes and filling holes in the basement walls from all the things I‘ve taken down
Pictured are my August reads, minus my #ThematicCozies & #FictionalTraveler picks.
#OhCanada #AgathaChristieClubR3 #CommissiarioBrunettiSeries #literaryCrew #hashtagbrigade2025 #sundaybuddyread #SheSaid
#adventuresinphilosophy #preorderbookclub #Camplitsy
Probably overreaching,but I am on track with several of the buddyreads. I go back to work 8/24 which obviously will hugely impact my reading time.
Repost for @Librarybelle
August‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead selection has garnered much praise in the book world—will we agree???
Read at your own pace during the month. I will periodically post check-ins. Discussion on August 31st. All are welcome. Let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list!
August‘s #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead selection has garnered much praise in the book world—will we agree???
Read at your own pace during the month. I will periodically post check-ins. Discussion on August 31st. All are welcome. Let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the tag list!
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, IriDas, Lkempf
Loving this character focused novel about a girl who lives off the coast of Wales trying to help two visiting ethnographers
Repost for @Librarybelle
We‘re a little over a week away from our July #LiteraryCrew discussion of Burial Rites (discussion July 31st). Our August read gives me similar vibes from the synopsis alone. Looking forward to reading this one for the #BuddyRead !
This is a low key buddy read. I‘ll post check-ins throughout the month, and discussion is the last of the month. Please let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list.
We‘re a little over a week away from our July #LiteraryCrew discussion of Burial Rites (reminder: discussion on July 31st). Our August read gives me similar vibes from the synopsis alone. Looking forward to reading this one for the #BuddyRead !
This is a low key buddy read. I‘ll post check-ins throughout the month, and discussion is the last of the month. Please let me know if you wish to be added to or removed from the tag list.
mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, IriDas, Lkempf
pick18 year old Manod lives on a small Welsh island whose population is steadily decreasing as people leave for easier lives on the mainland. She is smart and dreams of more than a life where her only future is marriage. When strangers arrive to study the island Manod is both drawn to them and dismayed at how wrong they are about her home. A quiet novel with a unique and complicated heroine, this was easy to finish quickly but left much to consider.
pickDebut novel about a small Welsh island community right before World War II. This was one of the books I had predicted would make the booker last year (I was wrong). Quiet novel about island life that is beautifully written. Fairly similar to The Colony. Story follows 18-yo Manood who is conflicted between traditions of her community and desire for modernization on the mainland.
pickReminiscent of a few books I‘ve enjoyed: The Colony by Audrey Magee and Clear by Carys Davies. It‘s a slim novel, set in 1938 off the coast of Wales on a tiny island with 20 inhabitants. We see the island from Manod‘s perspective, an 18 year old girl living with her father and younger sister, when two English researchers arrive. Seeing her existence through their eyes changes everything. Isolated community, heavy on the nature and scenery.
pickJust loved this! One of those books that I had completely the wrong idea about, and was only persuaded by another reader to give it a go.
'Your English is perfect,' Joan said, watching me thoughtfully. 'Edward was worried we wouldn't find someone.'
'I learnt at school. From Sister Mary and from reading Woman's Own.'
She laughed loudly, again. I laughed too. No one found me funny on the island.
'I see. Well, it's perfect. You could pass for an Englishwoman.'
Joan looked out at the sea.
'Greatest country in the world.'
[Sensing an authorial raised eyebrow here]
pickBeautiful writing and a bleak island life. Whilst a little predictable in the romance element, still held its worth. I liked the portrayal of young life and the natural and harsh world. Also a good time of the year to read it.
pickThere are a surprising number of books with this title. This one is quiet with a pace both leisurely and conveying urgency, echoing the collision of the way time is reckoned on the mainland with the way it runs on the island. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and was glad to have the audiobook to help me with the Welsh pronunciations. In the end, it left me wanting, which is apt but unsatisfying.
pickA quiet lyrical novel set on an island off the coast of Wales right before WWII. Beautiful writing. 3.5 🌟
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An atmospheric novel (similar to #campitsy24 pick Clear) about a community living on an island off the coast of Wales where a whale beaches itself one day.
Narrated by Manod, an 18 year old woman living with her father and sister, it describes island life and the slow disappearance of their culture as younger individuals leave for work on the mainland.
Set in the backdrop of pre-WW II this was a fairly quick and interesting read.
pickA solid debut, O'Connor writes beautifully and confronts issues with a delicate touch. Wonderfully crafted sentences and imagery give a tactile sense of place, and themes of duty to self vs family and community and the problematic nature of anthropological study and bias are deftly handled. The characters and emotional depth unfortunately don't reach the same standard, but it is still a worthy read and I'm excited to see what O'Connor writes next.
Quick trip out to Sturgis, South Dakota to visit my dad. Mitzi‘s Books in Rapid City is a nicely curated shop.
"The whale became stranded in the shallows of the island overnight, appearing from the water like a cat slinking under a door."
pickAs the drumbeats of an impending WWII are sounding, a way of life is gradually dying on a tiny Welsh island. A dead whale washes up there, a metaphor for island life, while English anthropologist types arrive to write about the people, only twisted in a way they find interesting. I liked but didn‘t love this.
I find myself reading two books with whale in the title and their story of washing up on shore happening in the background. Whale Fall has a very different writing style - spare, straightforward and clipped sentences. Where The Whalebone Theatre is very lyrical and descriptive. Whale Fall just arrived from@the library today. While its writing style is a big change from what I was reading I am interested in its story so far!
pickI liked this but, like @TrishB , I didn‘t love it as much as I thought I would.
Even before I started it, I felt like the premise was very similar to Audrey Magee‘s The Colony. Although some of the writing was beautiful, the story fell far short of Magee‘s book. For me, there was little tension in comparison and there were a few points where there was a disconnect in the story - even the whale itself didn‘t quite draw everything together.
pickBeautifully written, with a haunting MC and nasty posh, educated side characters.
Though there some very sad themes in the book I just didn‘t feel I connected emotionally with it and I wanted to love it.
I will try the authors future books though!
#quicklunchtimeread
First for a long time!
