My 5th whipple, + there is something comforting abt life in middle class 1920s England. Her characters are v well drawn, evoking the conflicting emotions in families as aging, trust, + ambition create the perfect soup of a novel, + of course a perfect villain.
@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful #persephoneclub

Yes, I think I have just found my drink of choice," barley wine, bovril, black beer, and port." I wonder if I could substitute marmite as I don't think I've had bovril since I don't know when.
#persephoneclub
@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful

In 1943 173 people died when seeking shelter from a bombing raid in Bethnal Green tube station in a crush caused by a woman falling on the stairs. The bk imagines a family's experience of the disaster as they lose their youngest daughter, + 30 years later, a journalist interviews the chair of the enquiry about his report. This is a tale told in a matter of fact way but which exposes the dislike of jewish refugees at the time. Interesting but sad.

In 1944, a bomb destroyed a South London woolworths. Among the 168 who died, the author has imagined 5 young children's lives at 15-year intervals until 2009. The life that might have been for each one is absorbing as we follow their various highs + lows + in parts is very moving. The book ends with a reminder not to dwell on paths not taken, and I put it down wishing there was more and wiping away moisture from my eye.

In a small town in the Donbas, 2 remaining residents, Sergeyich + Pashka,frenemies, live a codependent life as bombing between russia + ukraine rains over them.Summer arrives + S drives his beehive south to find somewhere for his bees to pollinate, with curious encounters along the way. Set after 2014, this is a gentle but darkly profound bk given the current war. Sergeyich is a remarkable character+his response to life make a compelling story⬇️

A powerful evocation of the raw emotions of early motherhood. As the narrator talks to her toddler 'sailor', she describes with brutal honesty the contradiction of loving this new person so much you would kill for them but also run away. The loss of individuality is powerfully expressed, while the device of an old friend brings hope but also realisation that you can't go back. A brilliant piece of writing, tough, funny, heartbreaking. ⬇️

#marvellousmarchreadathon @andrew65
My 2nd this week was 3rd in the Rebecca martinsson series, which is getting better and better. After bk 2, Rebecca has had treatment for her trauma and returns to her hometown, taking on job as prosecutor + burying herself in work. In this, a body found in a frozen cabin links to a venture capital business now invested in mineral mining. The plot twists + turns, including African politics, with a dramatic end.

I like crime stories in which a journalist is the main protagonist. They are unusual but change the perspective. In the 2nd Rebecca Connolly outing, she is recovering from the events of bk 1 when a body is discovered on the culloden battlefield dressed in jacobean costume. The subsequent investigation involves a far-right politician, a local crime gang, and a nearby film company. Kept up the tension right to the end. Book 1 in #marvellousmarch

The 3rd of this trilogy finds Hervey married to Nicholas but about to have a serious operation. The bk then covers the 9 days of the 1926 general strike, + the characters are polarised btwn avid support of the cause + entrenched self-interest. What is interesting is how scared of revolution society was at a time when ww1 still impacts on lives + poverty is rife. A fascinating period, + good series. And the life of the writer is wortha bk itself ⬇️

A book that had been sat on my shelf for a while but was an enjoyable horror/crime story. Certainly lots of cliche horror tropes, spooky old asylum, couple with secrets joining a cultish group in said horror house, and lots of creaking floorboards/cold rooms and hands round neck when in the bath. Bit of a daft ending but generally good fun.

I read a lot of crime novels, + it is rare to read a genre bk in which the themes + quality of writing stand out, but this 3rd in the Laidlaw series was remarkable. Several scenes stood out, including laidlaw holding the hand of the dying mother of a criminal because she reflects a generation of Glasgow women. The story is about the death of the detective's brother + is fused with reflections on family and the fragility of life. Definitely 5*

Lucrezia, 3rd daughter of Cosimo Medici, is a wonderful character, married at 15 to the 'janus' Duke of ferrara she is vibrant child full of life. It is the knowledge that this is a tale built around her fate that she will killed by her husband that creates the emotional impact of this wonderful book. When i rd her encounter with a tiger, I was hooked with the story + prose style. The ending is sad but offers an idea of what might have been

#20in4 #fabulousfebruary I finished 2 books in this weekly challenge + both crime series. This is 12th in insp maclean, the cyclist 2nd in DI George Cross. Maclean as usual in Edinburgh battles supernatural elements in the discovery of bodies old + new, Cross a autistic detective in Bristol brings his uniqskills to unravelling the death of a man found in his cycling gears. Both well plotted and gd reads. Mid The marriage portrait at mo. @Andrew65

Another great story from Penelope Lively as she describes the relationship between Pauline and her adult daughter Teresa. During a hot summer in Pauline's countryside cottage, Teresa, her author husband, and yng baby are a family on edge, but Pauline's memory of her own husbands infidelity years before mirror the current situation. Family tension is evoked with great skill by an author whose work I always enjoy.

I finished the 7th of the slow horses series earlier this week, the praise heaped on this modern take on spy novel is well deserved. Jackson Lamb is a brilliant creation, and his devotion to his 'joes', a group of rejects from mi5, is contrasted with his appalling abuse of them in all his grossness. Here, the assassination of a Russian spy after the Salisbury novichok killings leads to direct risk to Slough House. Still not seen the TV show.

I heard an i/v with the author who described the true story of the brutal murder of 3 University students in a Nigerian Town as the source for thus novel. Psychologist Philip, who has recently returned from the US is asked by the father of one boy to investigate. Philip + his assistant are viewed with suspicion + he is quickly at risk while his marriage is also under strain. An interesting twist on the crime novel, well worth trying.

What a very tense read which evoked both the troubling politics of the late 70s (homophobia) but also the trauma of a child's disappearance. Poor Susan is surrounded by a host of troubling friends + relatives esp ex h Graham. A v dramatic end had me on tenterhooks
#persephoneclub @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Aimeesue @CarolynM @jlhammar @Tamra @rubyslippersreads @sisilia @Ruthiella @Gissy @elkeOriginal @daena @Karons1 @julieclair @willaful @Caryl

When jonas's (an office based mi6 worker) father is kidnapped by isis, against all rules he travels to Syria with stolen papers to try + deal for his dad's release. A very enjoyable take on the spy story as British, American services hunt him, and hezbollah wants his Intel. This book had a lot of hype on crimetime fm podcast + from other recommendations, and it didn't disappoint.

Our rdg grp this week will discuss this excellent family story perfectly expressing how changes in lifes paths are perceived differently by others. So when a family of 4 children are suddenly orphaned in a small North Canadian town it is left to the two older brs to bring up their yngr sisters. As an adult Kate struggles with Matt's choices + a family event where she reluctantly introduces her partner makes for drama. Loved this my 2nd by ML

The first 70 odd pages are very slow going but once into the narrative about how yng actress Charlie is recruited into an undercover plot to catch the head of a pro Palestinian bombing cell the storytelling starts to improve. It's not my favourite Le Carre but an interesting shift away from the Cold War storytelling + particularly pertinent as the Middle East is the centre of the news every day. Looking forward now to watching the BBC series

A tough but remarkable read as the author plots the breakdown of a young woman, a teacher, who following an unexpected death has to confront her grief as well as past trauma. The writing in the 1st person is gut wrenching as she spirals into such low mood that she ends up in psychiatric units. Having just read her 2 brilliant memoirs, + listened to the author on podcasts I am not surprised by the brilliant writing.

Ahead of seeing the film I read this astonishingly imaginative novel which creates a fantastic narrative of a woman rescued from the dead whose unborn child's brain is transplanted into the adult body.The subsequent tale is bawdy + funny but with a twist at the end as Bella's own afterword turn the readers beliefs on its head. The novel is far better.The film, however, is visually + musically stunning and Emma Stone is brilliant.Next step Lanark.

Looking at the past posts, I can see that I proudly said 7 yrs ago that I'd picked it up on a charity stall + planned to read it soon! Anyway I plan to have a cinema trip on Saturday to see the film so I started the book last night and was chuckling away today as I had my lunch at work. So far, but only 100 pages in, a) I can't see how the film can top the book, and b) im annoyed that i didn't read it sooner.
Still will make for a fun comparison

Sad to say goodbye to the cazalets after this final 5th volume which ended on a magnificent finale as Elizabeth Jane Howard describes, in one of the best depictions I've read of a family Christmas, the last gathering at Home Place. Births, deaths, and marriages, this has been a wonderful reading experience, and we are left in 1958 wondering what happened to those gloriously drawn characters, particularly the new generation of children.

In 1976 Dublin Mahoney receives a note from the convent where he had grown up saying that the mystery of his birth was to be found in a small Mayo village. His return to villages raises ghosts both metaphorically but also in a supernatural aspect to this novel. I really enjoyed this book, which skilfully combined mystery, great characters, and the feeling of a haunted life and history.

The 2nd of janice galloway's 'memoirs' takes her from childhood into adolescence with puberty, higher school, music, books,+ boys taking centre stage in a brilliant evocation of the turmoil of those years. The centre remains though at the home she shares with her mother + the terrifying sister Cora who is 17 years older. The ending had several moving scenes + I then listened to an lrb i/v which made for an interesting listen. Memorable writing 5*

I feel ashamed not to have heard of the artist Charlotte Saloman who died in Auschwitz in 1943 after leaving a series of artworks 'Life? or Theatre?' Created while living in France. This poetry/prose style narrative explores the writers obsession with a story that of Charlotte's unique history where depression dogs the female side, but a woman enlivened by passion and art. I felt incredibly sad on finishing but equally astonished. Very moving

At our rdg grp meeting this wk we discussed this classic American novel which was scandalous at the time as it tells the story of a married woman who toys with infidelity. It is an interesting portrait of new Orleans society where Edna's friendship with yng single men is not explicitly frowned upon but as she becomes more independent of her husband the restraints imposed on her ability to love have a dire consequence. Appropriately a classic

Set in a 12 month period before 9/11 this is the story of an entitled attractive young woman who has suffered 2 bereavements of parents + is struggling in her day to day life including her job in a v exclusive art gallery. She goes into an isolation fuelled by prescription drugs, caffeine, + video watching. A biting satire of New york Society and addiction to drugs this was both an unpleasant but compulsive read + I am still thinking abt it.

The last read of 2023 was this new to me writer and start of a series about DNA scientist (former police officer) sian love, who inherits a Nottingham pub from her uncle. When she makes an unpleasant discovery in the cellar, all is set for a well plotted story in which family secrets emerge, and she finds herself in conflict with the police and local gangsters. I am looking forward to trying more by this author.

A xmas chunkster from my favourite author + if this were his last novel it would represent many of the themes that have dominated john irving's past work. He expresses lgbtq voices in his work with warmth,+covers the US experience over his character, Adams 80 yrs incl Vietnam, Reagan/Aids, + trump. The bk feels very personal with a focus on child/single mother relationship. Loved it but at 890p a single read only. Happy reading in 2024 everyone

#PersephoneClub Rdg the afterword + searching it was shocking to realise that this dreadful story of the cruel destruction of an individual for profit was based on a true tale. Told with an excellent touch the prose rattles along with villainous brothers Patrick + Lewis conspiring to isolate Harriet. Great storytelling
@rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @Tamra @LeahBergen @quietjenn @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB @jlhammar @Gissy

This is becoming a favourite series, and in book 4, poe is dragged from the court case about his house to assist Mi5 in an investigation set around a world leader summit in Cumbria. As poe and Tilly Bradshaw are drawn into a Web of intrigue, the mystery goes into events in Iraq 20 years earlier. This was my weekend reading and a definite page turner.

I've only just discovered this series about Swedish lawyer Rebekka Martinsson who in bk 2 I recovering from the trauma inbthe 1st volume so edge's back into work by going to help sort out a church's financial issues. Inevitably, she gets drawn into a dark tale in which police officer Anna Maria returns. This is a well told story with a character I am enjoying, so I'm looking forward to book 3.

This memoir of the author's ayrshire life growing up with her older mother + adult sister Cora, who resents her young sibling, sounds like a misery memoir but is, in fact, a humorous + poignant piece of writing that is compelling + draws the reader into her life. This is a bk for my irl group this week, and I think it will be a great discussion about violent sibling rivalry and parental strife. I am already looking forward to the next volume.

Set in the Suffolk fens this gothic tale of the difficult relationship between maud and her troubling father. The bk opens in the 1960's when an older Maud has to confront the publicity of an act of violence yrs before in the rambling home she now maintains. We then revisit her as a child with Father Edmund, who becomes obsessed with a 16c local mystic + a diabolic wall painting unearthed nearby. Folkloric + well told I was suitably unsettled

@LeahBergen #persephoneclub
Here are my choices. I'm going for some American books but if they have been chosen b4 please let me know. Dorothy Hughes for a noir author I am keen to try, and Judith rosner as I tried Mr goodbar last year but persephone say this historical novel is her best work.
 @rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts @quietjenn @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @jlhammar @Gissy

The reminded me of 'Discomfort of evening' in its depiction of an unsettling narrator within an uncomfortable environment. It is a disconcerting read as we find ourselves possibly considering uncertain sibling abuse as well local folkloric belief in witchraft. The theme of the living with the sins of the holocaust also is implicit. A challenging read + I put it down, scratching my head but wanting to pick up again.

A remarkably told story about how both parental depression and sibling drug addiction impact on a family and particularly one child/adult. Gifts is a research scientist living a curiously insular life experimenting on mice + exploring relationships. When her mother's depression means she has to let her move into her flat this allows the narrative to explore the troubled past. I found it an incredibly sad tale but told with insight and empathy

In the opening of this novel, we find 16 yr old Janet murdered at the bottom of the stairs in her family's rambling Scottish home. As we read on, we learn about her short life in which this unique, eccentric, and misunderstood character faces innumerable challenges from those she meets, incl her family, save for the equally strange aunt lila. Knowing the fate of a character I loved made the impending finale more poignant. Grt storytelling, grt bk

Ignore the litsy description this is a historical crime novel set in 1840s West Wales.Barrister Harry Probert Lloyd returns to his small town when a body is discovered that he has an interest in, but Harry is going blind unknown to his father the local magistrate. The story is in the shadow of the Rebecca riots, a fascinating piece of history. I really enjoyed this story which I found via the crimetime podcast. It's a series so looking fwd to more

I picked this up in Barter books Alnwick in the summer purely due to the cover + what a great read. Gerry and Sewell are two friends in an impoverished Gateshead but are determined to get Newcastle united season tickets through various dodgy and hopeless schemes. Despite all thar society throws at them, from school teachers to family, their friendship and hope is infectious, yet this is a story that also pulls on your heartstrings.

Our other irl bk this wk was this iconic generational story that I missed in the 90s. A curious tale of 3 mid-20s Americans living a lifestyle different to family norms and telling tales to each other of life + society. It made for a good discussion. A curious story that I found compelling but curiously forgot many of the tales quickly, although I remember the enjoyable characters. A classic in mould of on the road for a generation, glad I rd it.

When we left Olivia in Invitation to the waltz, this vibrant 16 yr old had just gone to her 1st dance with her sister Kate.This sequel opens many years later when she gets on a train to visit her family + unwell father. She meets Rollo, son of the local aristocracy where the dance had occurred. What follows is the story of their affair, which seems doomed, leading to a painful + brave picture of an abortion. The writing draws you into character ⬇️

Rdg grp this week will be a discussion of this bestseller. I am torn as I felt that the story of a childhood friendship emerging from illness into an adult bond that inevitably has highs + lows is a well trodden tale but it was very readable + I liked the characters.Gaming is not something I know much abt so I found the descriptions dull. Certainly worth reading but won't linger long in my memory but an enjoyable read. Should be a gd discussion

A curious book to get on the booker shortlist ahead of some others I rd however it was a very readable story about a young girl in a English Pakistani family + her 2 sisters deal with the grief of losing their mother. The grief that she + her father feel is managed by his obsession with his daughters becoming squash greats like his hero jahangir Khan. The book combined squash + family life well, altho I wondered what wd happen next. Lovely cover

I heard this screenwriter author on the crimetime fm podcast + gave bk1 in the series a go. It is as expected a well crafted page turning police procedural in which detective DS cross investigates the death of a homeless man, which is quickly linked to a cold crime. Cross is a compelling character as he has a brilliant mind with aspergers syndrome that hampers his social skills. I'll definitely read more ⬇️

Just a quick post about a day trip I took yesterday. This is myself and my youngest daughter outside Haworth parsonage. It was an excellent experience that evoked the feeling of life for these amazing sisters. So tonight we watched the BBC production 'to walk invisible ' filmed in haworth + captures time + place so well. Nancy, as youngest of 3 girls, was team Anne, I was Branwell, + his pillow looked like he had just got out of bed. Great day.

I will echo @LeahBergen comments abt how hard this was to read as the depiction of life in wartime seems to suggest that the world has learnt little over 80yrs. This series of letters written to her children by Tilli a woman living in hamburg 39-46, + discovered in the 70s is heart-rending, particularly when her + the city's ⬇️
#Persephoneclub @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @jlhammar @Gissy @Aimeesue @Tamra

A frightening novel that expresses how close any of us are from having to escape the terror of civil war and repressive regimes, is also a salutary tale for those who qn motives of immigrants who are forced to leave their home. The story of Eilish + her family is set in a Dublin in which the brutal repression of a union strike leads to a dictatorship that destroys the family. Disturbing but excellent writing that may well win the prize in Nov.