Welcome to Litsy!

First quarter of #Booked23 complete. I made a plan and didn‘t stick to it at all. I think this will be the theme of my 2023 reading. 😂 My “any part of a trilogy” is a bit of a fudge as this is book 2 but there is a fourth being released later this year so not really a trilogy.

I loved this book all the way through until the ending, which nearly ruined the whole book for me. 😡

Sally first presents as a neurodiverse MC, which I felt was handled really sensitively (not like The Maid which felt like it was slightly poking fun). However, as the story unfolds, we learn how her past may have influenced her behaviour - nature vs nurture, maybe.

This was MUCH darker than I expected but also warm and funny. TW in spoiler.

I am not sure I have ever struggled more with a book. Well written and with incredible world creation this was still a bit of a slog for me and has taken several weeks. In part of was the style. The set up is part history part fiction with the narrator telling the story based on primary source materials and that made it tough. I also felt in 700 pages there needed to be more was it about of the risks of nationalism? Religious inflexibility? ⬇️

15/23 This one went through a bit of a slump 3 hours from the end, but then picked back up and ultimately I enjoyed it. It was creepy but what I was really interested in was the family relationships. The characters did all the normal stuff you should never do in a horror movie 🙄 but as this is written like a movie that fits. I liked the ending which is high praise for me 😂 Reading for #booked23 #newin2023

12/23 I‘m glad I finally got around to reading this book. I read it at the same time as The Familiars by Stacey Halls and It really made me think about that fact that all through the ages women have had to use whatever they have at their disposal to get what they want and need. I guessed the twist immediately, but that didn‘t really matter, that wasn‘t the point. Well written and engrossing. Worth a read. #booked23 #setintwoormoretimeperiods

Five books finished, four in progress. Enjoying Olga on audio and the Jane mystery on kindle. I started MPP a few days ago and am going to read a bit more but think it will be back on the shelf.

4.5 🌟 The Family Roe #AuldLangSpine #NonfictionBingo
4 🌟 Death by Dumping #SeriesLove2023 #Book1
3.5 🌟 Severance #Roll100 #Bookspin #Booked23 #Pandemic
The Bride Test #TBRTarot
Malibu Rising #AuthorAMonth

Not going to say anything to avoid spoiling things for the #SundayBuddyRead group. A low pick for me for this #QuietYABook #Booked23 #EpostolaryNovel #bigfabbeatles #PleaseMrPostman #52Books #Withadedication #Pantone #Persimmon

@Clwojick @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen @alisiakae @CSeydel

#52books23 #startswithI
#booked23 #aboutreproductiverights (ok, it's not all about this but it's featured enough times!)

@Cinfhen @alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread @RaeLovesToRead @squirrelbrain @Bluebird @LeeRHarry @ravenlee

As suspected, I finished last night!

Overall this is a very funny and light-hearted book, although at some points Alan doesn't come across as very nice (this is mainly directed at film editors/critics/journalists, however - not his fellow actors).

It only really gets sad towards the end, where the entries tail off/are shorter, and Rima (his wife) takes over.

#pop23 #celebritymemoir
#52books23 #publishedposthumously
#booked23 #inmemorium