Welcome to Litsy!

#ARichLife Day 10: Cannot wait to read by the #Fireside again as we spend the December holidays in the Bay Area with family.

I liked this more than the other Simon Armitage collection I read recently! This is all prose-poetry, weird little stories. I didn't LOVE it, but I think I enjoyed it.

Seems I requested this and couldn‘t remember why. Looked back and saw that in June @CarolynM had mentioned it was her best read for June. So I requested it from library. A great read. Reminded me of Ben Elton‘s books. Taking events of the day and weaving them into a story. This is set in Britain and includes the politics during covid and beyond. Mysterious deaths . Crime , my favourite genre. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A satirical political mystery written in three distinct sections, set in current times with many flashbacks. The plot had some interesting twists. I was surprised by who died and later the cause of death.

I‘m not sure what to make of this book. The writing is great, there‘s lots of entertaining clever talk & a poignant portrait of a man with severe mental health issues but in the end I felt like Guido. “Guido felt he was being bombarded with concepts and moods, impressions and expressions, like insects splattering against a windscreen on a summer drive.” A low pick.

#BookReport for June

The Proof of My Innocence was my favourite for the month and one of my favourites for the year so far.

I just loved this book. Ostensibly it‘s a murder mystery told by means of literary pastiche (a cosy mystery complete with secret passages, plenty of suspects & a quirky detective, a dark academia background excursion & an auto fiction conclusion) but at heart it‘s a political asking (expressly) why the proponents of the Thatcher/Reagan era policies which have created our current society do not like that society. ⬇️

An odd format, described as a novel but containing much biography and thoughts on the life of a writer. Thoroughly enjoyable mostly but the literary critical segments sometimes get a little convoluted. Definite pick though.

#JaneAustenThenAndNow
My June Northanger Abbey - Now plans: Graphic Novel
Movie
Fullerton Parsonage by Laura Simons is a retelling told from the perspective of Henry Tilney. Free on author's website.
https://www.laurasimons.com/portfolio/regency-stories/

Continuing to read Rational Creatures and Dangerous To Know Anthologies

#Pemberlittens what are you reading?

I was intrigued by the intro describing Rosalind Belben's books as hard to read but impossible to forget. After reading this one, I'm not sure I agree with ithat statement. I found this book easy to read. Parts are memorable, but I don't feel it'll be a lingering one for me. Belben writes both plainly and with a poetic quality. Overall, it's a slight pick.