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Cuilin

Cuilin

Joined May 2016

So many books,📚so little time. 🕰 Irish 🇮🇪 living in the US, Teacher, #BookedInTime #NoPlaceLikeHolmes #WhatTheDickens
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The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Cuilin
The five orange pips | Arthur Conan Doyle
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CatLass007 Short term memory is interesting. Short term memory can handle just a few pieces of information at a time. When something else presents itself the brain makes a decision about whether to forget something, move it to long term memory, or keep it in short term memory for a bit longer. Some things just don‘t need to be remembered. I think Holmes idea of long term memory being like an attic is spot on. Although he seems to have more (cont)⬇️ 5d
CatLass007 control over what is worth remaining in the memory, the attic. 5d
Librarybelle We don‘t see Holmes‘ methods as fully as we do in the past cases, or at least that‘s what I felt. While he does figure out the case, it‘s after the fact. This is an interesting quote…determining what to remember versus what can be shuffled around or rearranged to accommodate other thoughts. Something worth thinking upon… 5d
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IndoorDame I think he did. Tracking down the sailors was not that interesting to me. But solving the why of the case was interesting. From a modern perspective it was immediately clear that the Klan was responsible for the threats and the murders, but it wasn‘t clear to me what the uncle‘s connection to them was. I thought of several possibilities, and Sherlock‘s actual deduction wasn‘t one of them. 5d
dabbe This quote makes me think of Benedict Cumberbatche's Sherlock's “mind palace“, a brilliant way to illustrate this point. And where would Holmes have been on this case without his trust encyclopedia? 😂 5d
Cuilin @dabbe yeah, this did make me think of the whole mind palace of “Sherlock” too. I was surprised that the Klan would‘ve made it into an Encyclopedia during the Victorian era. 5d
dabbe @Cuilin Same here! 5d
Aimeesue I highlighted this quote. It‘s something I think about a lot for my job, because available resources and contacts are always changing, so I have to know where to find what a person needs when then need it. Vs knowing the systems and processes we follow and how to make them work for folks we serve. I have a LOT of files of resources on my computer! 5d
31 likes8 comments
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Cuilin
The five orange pips | Arthur Conan Doyle
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CatLass007 I think Holmes feels responsible. But he seems to be embarrassed rather than remorseful. 5d
Librarybelle I think we see as close to feeling remorseful as he can - not completely, but he acknowledges there are consequences. I like @CatLass007 noting that it seems to be more embarrassment, which I think best fits his overall thoughts. 5d
IndoorDame I think it‘s natural that he would feel responsible, but I actually don‘t think he is. Being an investigator is a totally different skill set than being a bodyguard. After advising caution, which he did, the things he can effectively do to help protect a client are limited. 5d
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Read4life I agree @IndoorDame. He warned him but he‘s not a bodyguard. I also agree it‘s more embarrassment than remorse. 5d
Cuilin @CatLass007 yes, it‘s more about his failings and embarrassment. 5d
Cuilin @IndoorDame I think Sherlock is very literal so when somebody asks for help solving a puzzle, he takes that seriously. The request was not to protect his life. 5d
dabbe I agree that Holmes is not a bodyguard, but if he wanted to nab the killers, he and Watson could have gone with Openshaw (Watson with his trusty gun, of course), and they might have been able to catch the guys in the act--just like they did in “The Red-Headed League.“ But then it'd probably be too similar, so there's that. Plus, Watson writes about cases that are unique, and having one's client die definitely makes it--what's the word? SINGULAR. 5d
24 likes7 comments
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Cuilin
The five orange pips | Arthur Conan Doyle
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Cuilin This makes me think I read too many cozy mysteries as I was a little frustrated with the ending. Lol 5d
CatLass007 Yes, it was a frustrating ending. But this sad story has an even worse real-life equivalent. The Klan never disbanded, as Conan Doyle states. It just went underground for several decades and still had a huge impact on life in the South. Even worse, they‘ve come out of the woodworks lately. They are no longer underground. They are in everyone‘s faces. (edited) 5d
Librarybelle Totally agree, @CatLass007 . A frustrating ending and also an IRL tie-in. I had read this one years ago and completely forgot about the connection to that horrific group. 5d
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IndoorDame I‘m not sure I would have found any ending to a story about the Klan satisfying. As @CatLass007 says less and less underground in recent years, so an ending where Sherlock bested the Klan in some grander sense would‘ve been even less satisfying. 5d
Cuilin @IndoorDame yeah that‘s a good point. It‘s interesting that Doyle could probably see how the Klan could go on and live underground. I guess I just felt unsatisfied that these two Klan members weren‘t caught. Drowning seems too good for them. 5d
Read4life Such good points made by @CatLass007 & @IndoorDame. Like @Librarybelle I forgot the connection to the Klan. 5d
dabbe Doyle doesn't seem afraid to bring out atrocities: colonialism by the British over India, and the Klan ... this is also one in which the client dies. Why on earth did Holmes send him home, knowing how dire the consequences were? This one was hard for me to suspend my disbelief. Why not go with him and then nab the killers? They were in the bank all night long in “The Red-Headed League“; they could have done something similar here. 5d
Cuilin @dabbe he could have at least sent Watson with him. 5d
dabbe @Cuilin With his trusty gun! 🤩 5d
Aimeesue I think this was the only possible (mostly) satisfying ending. How could they have been arrested in the US? There was no proof any of the deaths were actually murders. Even were they tried, the jury would‘ve been all Southern white men and we know how bias and racism are STILL affecting trials today, so I wouldn‘t have had a lot of hope for justice there. 5d
28 likes1 stack add10 comments
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Cuilin
Heidi | Johanna Spyri
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I found two more copies. The picture book my MIL got for my daughter from a trip to Switzerland. The small one I got at jumble sale in the 80‘s. This is the one I wanted to read as I remember reading it when I was 12 while listening to Bohemian Rhapsody, and now I can‘t separate Heidi and Queen. But it‘s falling apart, so I think I‘ll read my grandmother‘s hardback copy. All four books are different translations.
@TheBookHippie

TheBookHippie How wonderful ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 1w
51 likes1 comment
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Cuilin
Their New-Found Family | Rebecca Winters
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Forgot to take a picture of package but it‘s on the way. @Nessavamusic This was so fun to put together. #FoundFamilySwap @KateReadsYA

KateReadsYA Yayyy 🎉 thanks for the update. 2w
Nessavamusic @KateReadsYA Mine is also on the way, totally forgot to take a picture. 2w
KateReadsYA @Nessavamusic Thank you for letting me know :) 2w
30 likes3 comments
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Cuilin
Untitled | Untitled
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1. My parents have no idea where they got my name. There‘s a mountain range and islands of the coast of Scotland called Cuilin and the Irish for holly is cuileann or cuilinn.
2. I can‘t even get a key chain with my name but someone named an Irish Wolfhound after me.
Thanks for the tag @RamsFan1963

Who wants to play?

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Cuilin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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IndoorDame He says she won‘t believe him, and it‘s dangerous to rob women of their “delusions”. But I think it‘s actually that at that time it doesn‘t occur to him that she might need to know the true character of the people around her so she can use her own critical reasoning skills more effectively in the future, because he assumes there will always be a man around to think and decide for her. 3w
CatLass007 Again, I see this as a symptom of Holmes‘s cynicism, probably Conan Doyle‘s cynicism expressed through Holmes. The circumstances under which the spirit of women is crushed and then they are forced to conform to the standards of society, a society that is inhabited by both men and women. The women who were crushed are now doing much of the crushing. (edited) 3w
BeeCurious Holmes has already decided Mary has no critical thinking skills, so why bother to tell her. His decision will allow her to be victimized again. I think the egotistical behavior of Holmes is horrible, even toward Watson. I'm not quite sure why he puts up with him. 3w
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Librarybelle Agree, @BeeCurious ! Holmes thinks he‘s superior, no matter what, but especially toward women. Mary is not worthy to learn the solution. 3w
CogsOfEncouragement If Holmes tells her, she loses her mother completely. She also loses the feeling of being loved and wanted as a bride. Holmes also believes the cold-blooded stepfather to end on the gallows sooner or later. 3w
BeeCurious @IndoorDame @CatLass007 @Librarybelle - Holmes really is a tough character to like or even respect, as he shows so little respect to others. I suppose readers can admire his brilliance and hope he mellows out a little throughout the series. This is just my personal reaction to Holmes as a character, so far anyway. 3w
CatLass007 @BeeCurious You‘re not wrong. 3w
dabbe Again, I have to go back to Watson. The story is told through HIS eyes, not Holmes's. I'd like to think he's being completely objective in his reports, but even Holmes tells him he gets too fanciful sometimes. On these re-readings, I have really been honing in on Watson more than Holmes for some reason. RE: women ... the mother is sly and (dare I say) evil towards her daughter: two completely opposite portrayals of women who are blood-related. 3w
BeeCurious @dabbe Good points, especially about the mother. During each reread I'm sure you are picking up on many different things. Many of these stories are a first read for me, so I've been hyper focused on Holmes. He is a shocking character, even through Watson's eyes. I wasn't expecting that. Of course Holmes is also a product of Victorian society with a male author, so I probably shouldn't be shocked. 3w
CrystalE02 It could have been both of view of Holmes and Watson. 3w
dabbe @BeeCurious I also am getting to see Holmes with new eyes, thanks to all of you! What a wonderful reading community this is. 🤩😃😍 3w
dabbe @CrystalE02 Absolutely. They're both (ahem) Victorian men, though Sherlock does seem to have a more scathing view of women. I think Watson sees them as damsels in distress (aka his wife, Mary). 3w
kelli7990 Maybe he didn‘t tell her the truth because he knew that she wouldn‘t believe him. 3w
Aimeesue @CogsOfEncouragement I absolutely agree. Rather paternalistic, but Mary doesn‘t seem to care much about the money - of which they‘re shorting her of only the income, not the principal, right? What would happen to her if he did reveal the scheme? 3w
38 likes1 stack add14 comments
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Cuilin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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IndoorDame It‘s a favorite quote of mine! But I see this story more as demonstrating how cruel life is than how strange. Maybe we just live in more cynical times? 3w
CatLass007 Didn‘t Shakespeare say something similar in one of his plays? I‘m paraphrasing but the theme was “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Or am I trying to fit a round peg into a square hole by comparing the two? 3w
CatLass007 @IndoorDame I don‘t know that we live in more cynical times. Holmes doesn‘t just feel superior to others, his cynicism about the motives of others is on full display. 3w
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Librarybelle I have said a few times life is stranger than fiction! 😂 Call it my years working at the library! 😂 But, I like @IndoorDame ‘s assessment, that this story shows the cruelty of life rather than strange. I see this as a story of manipulation as well. 3w
CogsOfEncouragement I find a character in a story of fiction saying this quite funny. Real life is so strange, dear reader, please forget you are reading a story from the imagination of the author. I feel it is another bit of dry wit which makes me enjoy this series so much. 3w
kelli7990 I think it does. I think it‘s strange and disgusting that the stepfather in this story pretended to be a potential suitor for his stepdaughter so no one else would marry her and he ended up marrying her for money. How did she not know that she married her stepfather? He must have been really good at disguising himself. 3w
Aimeesue The lengths to which her mother and stepfather went were mind boggling. Who does that? 3w
Cuilin @CatLass007 ah yes, Hamlet to Horatio who he believes has a narrow outlook on the world. 3w
32 likes8 comments
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Cuilin
A case of identity | Arthur Conan Doyle
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IndoorDame I have mixed feelings about this. I found the fiction vs. reality part of it very satisfying, but the perception of women part infuriating. So the solution itself was actually very satisfying, but then the fact that the law couldn‘t touch her her stepfather, that Sherlock didn‘t bother to tell Mary what he discovered, that he clearly hadn‘t intended to tell her even before she left his office, & how nonchalant he was about it all really rankled. 3w
CatLass007 I completely agree with @IndoorDame! Holmes is a creature of his time, and I suspect Conan Doyle was as much of a misogynist as his creation. But I sometimes wonder if the term misanthrope would be a more apt description. Holmes is extremely condescending to his male clients and even his supposed friend Dr. John Watson. Did anyone else notice that all the female clients and/or suspects are named “Mary”? 3w
BeeCurious Shame on Holmes for judging Mary as having a vacuous face and then not telling Mary who the perpetrator was. How is she to protect herself? It seems Homes just took the case for his own self- gratification. 3w
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Librarybelle I completely agree with @IndoorDame - I enjoyed the fiction but the brush off of Mary and the unwillingness to share his findings is disappointing, though not out of character. Dare I say that I figured out the mystery/solution and I am - gasp - a woman!! Interesting thought, @CatLass007 - I had not thought of that! 3w
CatLass007 @BeeCurious You‘re quite right. @Librarybelle What exactly had you not thought of? The misogyny, the misanthropy? All the above? 3w
Librarybelle @CatLass007 Sorry - the use of Mary for the clients and suspects 3w
CatLass007 @Librarybelle Even Watson‘s wife is named Mary, right. Of course, initially she was a client. Irene Adler is the only character we‘ve met so far which Conan Doyle seems to have used any imagination in choosing a name. Wait, if we were still in college, which I most definitely am not, this could make a fun drinking game. Every time a character named Mary shows up or is even mentioned, everyone drinks!🍷🤪 3w
dabbe I can't help but be reminded that it is Watson who is writing this (supposedly). So, it's also him who is showing his misogynistic thoughts as well. Plus, a 1st-person narrator is never completely reliable, so how much of these damning words against women are Sherlock's? Or are they Watson's? Or both? 3w
CogsOfEncouragement Some people change the system and some maneuver the best they can within it. Women don‘t have a lot of rights at this time. Holmes and Watson live within these laws. I feel like Doyle told stories that got people thinking about how someone like that stepfather should be prosecuted but he actually broke no law at that time. 3w
kelli7990 Yeah. I feel like it was satisfying. 3w
Read4life Good point, @dabbe Definitely something to think about. 3w
dabbe @Read4life 🤩😃😍 3w
Aimeesue I found it satisfying, though I‘m irate at mom for going along with scamming her own daughter. Mary, you need to be more suspicious! 3w
BeeCurious @Cuilin Thank you for posting these thought provoking questions. 3w
Cuilin @BeeCurious you‘re welcome, apologies for lack of responses as I was at a memorial service and with family but hope to respond today. 3w
Cuilin @IndoorDame agree, for Sherlock solving the riddle comes before caring for the client. 3w
Cuilin @CatLass007 yes, for Sherlock the puzzle, case always comes first. 3w
Cuilin @Librarybelle yes , me a woman figured it out too!! Shocking 😮 3w
Cuilin @dabbe good point but they‘re definitely Doyle‘s and of their time. 3w
Cuilin @Aimeesue oh that was infuriating!! No Mom awards there. 3w
Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement I asked my husband (prosecutor) what would happen today? He said they could be charged with conspiracy to defraud. 3w
IndoorDame @Aimeesue couldn‘t agree more!!!! 3w
IndoorDame @dabbe such a good point! I‘ve been thinking a lot about Doyle‘s POV as the writer, but basically ignoring Watson‘s. I need to start considering his influence too! 3w
BeeCurious @cuilin I'm so sorry for your loss. There is no need to apologize either, as there are other things far more important than Litsy. We all appreciate the time and effort you and @dabbe have put into making this buddy read fun and interesting. I'm learning so much and am not certain if I would have even attempted to read all these #sherlocked stories on my own. 3w
CogsOfEncouragement @Cuilin Yes, so different today. Thankful for the fight the women before us took on to no longer just be property of their father or husband, to be able to vote, to serve on a jury, etc. Sherlock puts no blame on the mother, and I think we need to remember how limited her power was too. 3w
dabbe @Cuilin Most definitely. Sorry about your loss, too. 💚 3w
dabbe @IndoorDame 🤩😃😍 These 3 men: Sherlock, Watson, Doyle ... #oy! 😂 3w
31 likes27 comments
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Cuilin
Heidi's Children | Johanna Spyri, Charles Tritten
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Story time. Yesterday I was looking for my copies of Heidi. I knew I had a few and I came across the one that my brother-in-law gave me after my sister died, I knew it had belonged to my grandmother. Well, I open it up and found a note she had written to my grandmother when she was around eight which means I was about five. I can‘t believe I have this. 🩷

@TheBookHippie #childrensclassicreads2024

Ruthiella Lovely ❤️ 4w
TheBookHippie Beautiful. 🌸 4w
batsy ❤️ 4w
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BethM The best ❤️ 4w
Jari-chan ❤️❤️❤️ 4w
dabbe Simply awesome. 💚💙💚 4w
marleed That is so sweet!🥰 4w
LeahBergen Ohhh! ❤️❤️ 4w
MaureenMc So lovely 💗 4w
50 likes13 comments
review
Cuilin
Daughters of a Dead Empire | Carolyn Tara ONeil
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Pickpick

Here‘s the thing, was this great literature? No. However, did I turn the pages quickly because I was so invested in the story? Yes, and sometimes that‘s all you need from a book. #BookedInTime #RussianRevolution

Next up in March: Ancient Ireland.

How was your February choice, and what are you planning for March?

See All 27 Comments
julieclair This looks good! And I agree… a book doesn‘t have to be literature to be enjoyable. 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau I'm falling behind, but am hoping to catch up during the summer!! 1mo
Mollyanna For March I‘m reading 1mo
Cuilin @TheBookgeekFrau this is a choose your own path, buddy read. No worries, jump in whenever you can. 🥰 1mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna same author as mine!!! 1mo
SamAnne I haven‘t participated yet but love following the post. Ancient Ireland might be the encouragement I need! 1mo
Bookwormjillk I‘m sorry I‘m not a good member of this group but I‘m enjoying seeing what you all read. 4w
dabbe I won't be done with my Russian book until the end of February; it's THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV with the #hashtagbrigade. I'm a bit burnt out on Russian stuff; hence, the not-even-close Russian “Revolution“ novel. 🤩 For March, seems like a lot of us have chosen books by Morgan Llwelyn. Mine is LION OF IRELAND. 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures I have been having a few conversations lately about the difference between a storyteller and a writer. I think we need both! 4w
Mollyanna @Cuilin and @dabbe this prompt was made for Morgan Llewelyn 🤣. I looked at both of the books you chose as well. I‘ll get to them eventually, interested to hear what you think… 4w
dabbe @Mollyanna I've never read anything by her. Is she good? 🤩 4w
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk it‘s all good. Jump in whenever. 🥰 4w
Cuilin @Mollyanna @dabbe my book is a part two. The first book, which I really enjoyed is 4w
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures absolutely, sometimes you need beautiful writing, and other times you just want to be able to keep turning the pages of a good story. 4w
Cuilin @SamAnne no worries, whatever works for you 🥰 4w
Mollyanna @Cuilin and @dabbe She is. Although it‘s been a bit since I read one of her books. Many moons ago I read (and liked) 4w
dabbe @Mollyanna Good to know. Now I'm excited! 🤩 4w
Bluebird I‘ve fallen behind. My Feb pick is one from my kindle, but I‘ve been on the go so much this month I‘ve only had time for audiobooks. I‘ve read about 20% and enjoying it so far. Hoping to finish next month.. 4w
Mollyanna @thegreensofa your March pick is very intriguing. Looking forward to hearing how you like it. 4w
Cuilin @Bluebird Audiobooks are great for when life is busy. 👍🫶 4w
Cuilin @thegreensofa sounds great, though I think Anglesey is Wales. Though it‘s a short skip over to Ireland. Plus both are Celtic. I‘m relearning Geailge/Irish and want to learn other Celtic languages like Welch. 💚 4w
Itchyfeetreader I can‘t make my mind up what I might read for March - I enjoyed my feb pick fun to read something I would never have picked up otherwise 4w
55 likes1 stack add27 comments
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Cuilin
Perfumer's Secret | Adria J Cimino
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1 It may be obvious to say books, but I especially loved the smell of brand new school books, cracking them open and sticking my nose right in the middle.
2 A crayon/paint/Play-Doh mix. I taught Montessori preK for 27 years and the smell of a preschool classroom still makes me smile.
4 Weirdly tobacco. I am not a smoker, but I love the smell of pipes and cigars. I even have a candle that smells like them.
@Eggs & thanks for the tag @dabbe

dabbe OMG, the smell of Play-Doh. I'd love to smell your combo, too! And I can totally understand the smells of cigars; they remind me of my grandpa. 💚💙💚 1mo
Cuilin @dabbe yes I think the smell of cigars are a nostalgic reminder of the past. 1mo
Eggs #1 - oh yes that was heaven! Great descriptions 🙌🏻👏🏻 1mo
40 likes3 comments
review
Cuilin
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Pickpick

Oh, I love her writing style. What I found particularly interesting personally was the fact that she picked two story settings in locations in Ireland I‘m really familiar with, Arklow and Achill Island. I was able to completely visualize the characters on location, which is really cool. I love when that happens. Anybody else love it when they recognize the location in a book?

Aimeesue Yessssss! It adds so much to my enjoyment of a book when I know where the streets etc are. 1mo
Cuilin @Aimeesue exactly 🫶 1mo
60 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Cuilin
Sherlock's Home: The Empty House | Sherlock Holmes Fans, Steve Emecz
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#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe

First in with all the correct answers ….

@Aimeesue Congratulations 🎉

Email me your address and I will get this in the mail this week. Cuilin3 at gmail 🥇 🏆

Pageturner1 congratulations 🎊 @Aimeesue 1mo
Aimeesue Whoop! I never win anything! I guess my Sherlock obsession has finally paid off 🥰 1mo
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Cuilin @Aimeesue it sure has 💛 🥇🎉🤩🏆 🕵️‍♀️ 1mo
dabbe You were the only one who had a PERFECT score! #congrats 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
Read4life Congrats, @Aimeesue 🎉 1mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 1mo
Aimeesue @dabbe I would like to thank my HS English teacher, Mrs. Persis Caverly, for prepping me for this honor with her incredibly detailed literature quizzes. Finally, something I learned in HS has implications in the world at large 😋 1mo
kelli7990 Congratulations @Aimeesue! 1mo
dabbe @Aimeesue #iloveit 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
46 likes13 comments
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Cuilin
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Librarybelle I think, in Sherlock‘s strange way, “the woman” is a compliment. She bested him. In the Victorian man‘s way of thinking, women don‘t do that. They‘re not cunning enough. They give away too many details. But, in the end, Irene Adler played Sherlock after she realized he played her. We also know Watson felt a need to protect Mary from the last book and fell for her “Victorian” charms. 1mo
Cuilin I agree it‘s a compliment to Adler, but at the cost of every other woman. Women shouldn‘t be so smart!!! 1mo
Aimeesue I don‘t think it‘s exactly that Sherlock doesn‘t think women are smart. More that Irene Adler has the intelligence PLUS the wealth and freedom of movement (due to her career,) daring and confidence to pull this off. Plus Sherlock doesn‘t think ANYONE, male or female, is as smart as he is. THE woman is almost a nickname for his nemesis. 1mo
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IndoorDame Yes, but a sort of backhanded compliment. I think he‘s saying it like a very polite curse. Most of the things Sherlock says about women during the case itself before he knows he‘s been tricked are blatantly derogatory. 1mo
CogsOfEncouragement @aimeesue I agree Holmes thinks no one is at his level, yet Irene bested him. That makes her The Woman. When he tells the king she is on a different level he definitely means Irene is the elevated one. Holmes makes no comment about being stunned that a woman in particular could outdo him. There also seems no ill judgement on her sex life or her wearing men‘s clothes to get around the city easier. 1mo
Bookwomble @Librarybelle I was going to say something pretty much the same as you 😊 1mo
BeeCurious I think that was as close to a compliment as one could expect from Holmes, especially when aimed at a woman. Holmes could just as easily fling his sarcasm at any men he did not respect. During the Victorian era, domesticity and pious devotion to church and family were considered to be the feminine ideal, maybe that is part of the reason why Doyle chose to make marriage a central theme in this story. It also helped create a more tidy ending. 1mo
dabbe @IndoorDame I wrote a couple down: 1. When talking about being the witness to Adler and Norton's wedding Holmes states that “Irene Adler, SPINSTER, [was married to] Godfrey Norton, BACHELOR.“ Nice, Doyle, nice.
2. From SH again: “Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting.“ That makes ALL of us sound sneaky and sly. #ugh
1mo
IndoorDame @dabbe #ugh is right! 2 especially bothered me! That whole section about women not trusting men of business, because apparently we have no powers of judgment. 1mo
Aimeesue @dabbe Given the status of women and their roles in society at the time, probably an accurate description though, right? In order to to anything outside the “norm” women had to keep plans and secrets safe or risk the social consequences, of which there were many. Being secretive is valid straegy for achieving what you want when The Man‘s trying to keep you down. That SH doesn‘t recognize systemic sexism is pretty much of it‘s time though, yeah? (edited) 1mo
Cuilin @Aimeesue @dabbe @IndoorDame let‘s deny them any agency then complain when they‘re secretive. 🙄 and they can‘t see the connection, who‘s looking dumb now Doyle. 😂 1mo
kelli7990 “The woman”? What does that mean? I don‘t think I would want to be called that or talked about that way but men‘s attitudes towards women were different back then. I would want to be called by my name. 1mo
mom2bugnbee I realize that Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock isn't necessarily canon, but when he calls his Irene Adler "THE Woman", it is *definitely* a compliment. He thinks the world of her (in a romantic way? It's never entirely clear) & it's his way of saying that she is the standard to which he holds all women. 1mo
Cuilin @mom2bugnbee Agree, though not canon I still think Sherlock is complimenting Adler. He admires her. 1mo
26 likes15 comments
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Cuilin
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Librarybelle Sherlock does not have the highest regard of women, except being bested by Irene Adler - some of his theories about women‘s behavior made me roll me eyes. From the last book, we know Sherlock was not necessarily a fan of Watson marrying, and so it may have been a sarcastic remark, or it could have been a simple observation. I‘m actually suspicious of the Adler/Norton marriage and the motives behind it - more on her side than his. 1mo
IndoorDame You again see class being important in marriage with the king‘s comment that it‘s a shame he couldn‘t have married Irene since she was really remarkable. And you also see the idea of love as a motive in marriage (and in crime) being alluded to in the various relationships we see in the story. 1mo
CogsOfEncouragement Watson says that “with a kindly eye” Sherlock waved him to an armchair. I think Sherlock observed that Watson looked healthier with the weight gain and was sincere that he looked well. Watson is being taken care of and it shows. 1mo
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CogsOfEncouragement As much as Sherlock does not want to be married, he comforts his client with the fact that if Irene is in love it fixes everything with feared use of the photo. He doesn‘t poo-poo that. 1mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame love as motive for both crime or connection is an interesting theme considering Sherlock avoids both. 1mo
Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement I agree that he was sincere. If we look at Watson as a wounded veteran then yes marriage, love and care would be evident. 1mo
dabbe @Librarybelle Especially since the marriage was so rushed, and they basically ran to the continent. Why the expediency? 1mo
dabbe Mary Watson gets relegated completely to the back burner so to speak in this story. Watson's servant girl gets named as Mary Jane (another Mary), but Mary Watson is only called “my wife.“ I can't help but take is as Watson saying “my property.“ And he agrees to aid Holmes without saying something like “Let me check with Mary first.“ I'd be livid if my husband went on some dangerous case without checking in with me first. Times were different then. 1mo
kelli7990 I‘m confused. When did Watson get married? Has he been married since he got out of the military? 1mo
Cuilin @kelli7990 No he marries Mary Morstan from The Sign of Four. It happens off stage. 1mo
24 likes10 comments
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Cuilin
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Librarybelle I personally liked this first story over our first two reads. I‘m not usually one for short stories, but Conan Doyle captures all of the necessary plot points, while also adding a bit of adventure. I read through this very quickly! 1mo
Cuilin @Librarybelle yes this was a quick read. I can see how this was the beginning of Sherlock‘s popularity with Victorians. 1mo
Librarybelle @Cuilin Definitely! 1mo
See All 16 Comments
IndoorDame I loved this too! I definitely preferred the even pacing of this compared to the novels. 1mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame yes, nothing was superfluous. The pace was perfect. 1mo
CogsOfEncouragement This book was the first Holmes I read about twelve years ago. It made me an immediate fan of Watson and Holmes. Even though I remembered a lot about this particular short story, I still enjoyed it immensely. The short stories reminded me of Encyclopedia Brown which I adored as a kid. 1mo
BeeCurious Overall, this was much more enjoyable to read than The Sign of Four. The short story cut out all the superfluous stuff and focused on the mystery at hand. 1mo
dabbe The explanation at the end of this story was obviously much crisper and to the point than in the first two novels. Dare I say that it took a WOMAN to concisely explain her actions rather than the verbosity of Small in FOUR and WATSON's forever lengthy Part 2 in SCARLET? I believe Doyle learned from his 1st two novels and “cut to the chase“ to allow for a one-sitting read. The public responded well to his changes, and so have we. 1mo
dabbe Two inconsistencies I noticed: 1. Holmes would not tell Watson everything he was thinking of in the 1st two novellas, yet in this one he states, “I have to let you see the difficulties if you are to understand the situation.“ Why the change, Sherlock? 2. The landlady of 221-B is not mentioned by name in SCARLET, is noted as Mrs. Hudson in FOUR, and just one story later is deemed to be Mrs. Turner. Me: 😳 Couldn't the editor have notice this? 1mo
Cuilin @dabbe crisper is a perfect description!! Give me a laconic woman than a verbose man any day!!! Mansplaining must of been rough for Victorian women. 🙉 1mo
Cuilin @dabbe yeah like who‘s Mrs. Turner? 1mo
dabbe @Cuilin 😂😂😂 1mo
Read4life These short stories made me fall in love with Holmes as a kid. 💙 1mo
kelli7990 I liked that this was a fast read but I don‘t understand what happened in this. Was there a murder mystery in this? I don‘t know but this story says that Watson is married to a woman but I didn‘t know that he was married. I don‘t see how he would have time to be married when he and Holmes are hanging out all the time solving mysteries. 1mo
Cuilin @kelli7990 good point, he gallivants around London solving crimes and doesn‘t exactly check in with his wife. 1mo
mom2bugnbee @kelli7990 We learned of his marriage in our last read, The Sign of the Four. And there was no murder in this one - just the attempt to recover the photograph & Holmes being outwitted by - gasp! - a woman. ☺ 1mo
21 likes16 comments
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Cuilin
Sherlocked!: The Ultimate Escape Room Puzzle Book | Tom Ue, Sophie Blackman, The Escape Room Guys
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A One a week B Two a month C Other suggestions welcomed.
The short stories are quick reads. The first collection is The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. There are 12 stories in this collection. The first one is A Scandal in Bohemia. Let us know at what pace you think we should read them. We will go with a majority decision.

Librarybelle I like B, but I am happy with whatever decision is made! 2mo
CatLass007 I don‘t have a preference but I will vote for two per month. Just because. But whatever the group decides is fine with me. 2mo
See All 24 Comments
IndoorDame I‘m up for whatever people like, but if we‘re still checking in at the end of the month I‘d vote for 2/mo, if we‘re discussing stories 1 at a time weekly makes more sense to me. 2mo
AllDebooks I'm happy with either option, no preference 😊 2mo
Read4life I also have no preference but to give an answer I‘ll say B 🤓 2mo
CrystalE02 I am happy with either option. 2mo
Aimeesue I‘d prefer one a week, just to keep moving though it at a steady pace, if we‘re discussing weekly as well. Echoing what @IndoorDame said. 2mo
TheAromaofBooks I'm fine either way, but as a few others have mentioned, no matter what we decide I think it would be fun to discuss each short story individually, however often that ends up being. I'd prefer weekly, I think, just because that's still three months on one book, versus half a year, which seems like a very long time. 2mo
Mollyanna Like everyone else, either works for me. As an answer, I would take 2 per month. 1mo
CogsOfEncouragement A - One a Week. 1mo
mom2bugnbee One a week is my vote! 1mo
Cuilin @CatLass007 ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame agree ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @Read4life ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @CrystalE02 ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @Aimeesue ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna ✔️ 1mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna ✔️ 1mo
eeclayton Either way works for me. I agree with @IndoorDame 1mo
42 likes24 comments
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Cuilin
Historical Fiction | Alfred Duggan
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Here‘s the plan for the next few months, I‘m including some links for March and April. Join all or one. All are welcome.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/44827.Ancient_Ireland_Celtic_Mythology_and_H...

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/spanish-inquisition

https://feedly.com/i/top/historical-fiction-blogs

See All 47 Comments
lil1inblue Ooh! I'm intrigued! 😍 2mo
Cuilin @lil1inblue you‘re welcome to join in. We‘re an historical fiction group. Pick a book of your liking that fits the monthly prompt. Would you like me to add you to the tag list? 2mo
lil1inblue @Cuilin For sure! This is right up my alley. And I love the prompts! 2mo
Cuilin Wonderful, I‘ll add you. February prompt is the Russian revolution if you care to join in. I haven‘t even started mine yet. 🤦‍♀️ 2mo
Bookwormjillk Fun! 2mo
jenniferw88 Thanks for this! Can you please clarify the dates for the biblical fiction one? 2mo
Cuilin @jenniferw88 absolutely, the first few books of the Bible took place during the Babylonian exile in 5-6 century BCE and was completed in the first two centuries of CE. It‘s quite a large timeframe. 2mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
Mollyanna Great prompts. Looking forward to finding books. I‘ve had The Red Tent on my TBR for ages, so that‘ll be my Biblical fiction book. Now to find selections for the other three 🤩 2mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna I loved the Red Tent. 2mo
Mollyanna Oh that‘s good to know. I am excited to finally pick it up. 2mo
rwmg @Cuilin @dabbe For Ireland I will probably read “Act of Mercy“, the next up in the Sister Fidelma series set in the 600s AD. 2mo
rwmg @Cuilin @dabbe For biblical fiction, I will probably read “Damascus“ about Saul/Paul of Tarsus 2mo
rwmg @Cuilin @dabbe I'm not sure what the parameters are for the Spanish Inquisition, but can I recommend “Leo Africanus“ (aka “Leo The African“) about a Moor whose family was forced to flee Granada after the Reconquest? It hasn't been long since I read it so I'm not sure I'm ready to re-read it just yet. (edited) 2mo
Cuilin @rwmg Acts of Mercy sounds great 2mo
Cuilin @rwmg Damascus is perfect 2mo
Cuilin @rwmg We‘re an open minded flexible group. I‘ll accept something even if written by Monty Python, 😂 I think I‘ll read 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin @Mollyanna ... so did I. 🤩 2mo
dabbe @rwmg On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
dabbe @Mollyanna On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
dabbe @rwmg On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
Mollyanna Thank you @dabbe 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Cuilin I am so scattered right now can you remind me what February is? I need to get on it! I can't seem to find the post. 2mo
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures no worries, Russian Revolution Era. I haven‘t started mine either. (edited) 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Cuilin thanks! I remember now I was going to read 2mo
sblbooks Since next month is middle grade March, I'm going with juvenile fiction 2mo
julieclair These prompts sound great! 😃 2mo
Cuilin @sblbooks how wonderful 💚☘️ 2mo
sblbooks @Cuilin I was already planning on reading this book set in Ireland, but it wasn't Celtic. I had to find another one. 2mo
Cuilin @sblbooks oh, that looks good. I think next year we‘ll choose an Irish book prompt in March again and this time I‘ll choose something during the famine or 1840s Ireland. So you‘ll be ready if you haven‘t read it before then. 2mo
sblbooks @Cuilin Sounds good. There's several for that time period. I won't have any trouble. 2mo
sblbooks My April pick for the Spanish Inquisition is 2mo
sblbooks My May pic for biblical fiction is 2mo
sblbooks My June pick for the Dust Bowl is 2mo
Cuilin @sblbooks my favorite book of all time was set during 1840‘s Ireland 2mo
Cuilin @sblbooks i‘m loving all your picks 2mo
sblbooks @Cuilin thanks, and I stacked Star of the Sea. 2mo
Bluebird As I‘m trying to stick with my plan to pick from my TBR mountain whenever possible. …For March I‘ll be reading 1mo
Cuilin @Suet624 👍☘️💚 1mo
Cuilin @Bluebird this is on my TBR too! Though I‘m going to read 1mo
Cuilin @kspenmoll looks fabulous 1mo
48 likes47 comments
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Cuilin
True Detective | Max Allan Collins
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@dabbe

Well obviously Sherlock but I also love
1 The Famous Five by Enid Blyton
2 Morse by Colin Dexter
3 Vera by Ann Cleaves

Want to play

dabbe Three more to add to my TBR! 🤩😘😃 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe they‘re all good. Famous Five is a children‘s collection from my childhood. I loved them. (edited) 2mo
PurpleyPumpkin Inspector Morse! He slipped my mind. A great detective. 👍🏽 2mo
See All 13 Comments
Bookpearl Alex Cross from James Patterson, even though I haven‘t finished the series John Puller from David Baldacci‘s Zero Day and Eugeena Patterson from Deep Fried Trouble by Tyora Moody. Her books center around food and I love it! 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin See the method to my madness? I now have tons of new detective stories to explore (my favorite genre ... surprised?) 🤩😍😃 2mo
Bklover Thanks for the tag!❤️❤️ 2mo
Cuilin @Bookpearl Eugene‘s sounds fabulous, great name too!! 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe no not surprised, genius move. 2mo
Cuilin @Bklover 🩷 2mo
Eggs Thanks for tagging me ❤️ I love the Vera character too! 2mo
Cuilin @Eggs 🩷 Love Vera. 2mo
kspenmoll I just started watching Morse after years of sharing the show with my dad, but I have never read the actual books- and Vera is fabulous! 1mo
Cuilin @kspenmoll Have you watched Endeavor? 1mo
46 likes13 comments
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Cuilin
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#TLT #ThreeListThursday @dabbe

This list is going to be a tell me you‘re ADHD without telling me you‘re ADHD lol

1 I only like to eat and drink from certain dishes and utensils. The spoons must be small, the lip of the cup must be thin. 🤷‍♀️
2 I will not eat any piece of fruit before 12 PM or after 5 PM. I‘ve a very small window for fruit eating. 🤷‍♀️
3 Noises irritate me, specially eating noises.

Want to play? Tagging

Crazeedi Thanks for the tag!! 2mo
dabbe I bet #s 1 and 2 are a texture thing. I feel the same way about certain foods and how they “feel“ in my mouth. Things that are slimy? #noway 🤩 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe absolutely it‘s a sensory thing!!! 2mo
See All 11 Comments
julieclair Thanks for the tag! I am totally with you on eating noises. 2mo
DebinHawaii Thank you for the tag! I feel you on some of the sensory stuff & eating noises! 2mo
Crazeedi #1is so me!! My coffee cups have thin rims too, utensils yes! And certain noises are excruciating! 2mo
Crazeedi And thanks for the tag!! 2mo
Cuilin @Crazeedi @DebinHawaii @julieclair thanks for commenting I‘ve just spent the day wondering if I‘ve just completely over shared. 🫶 but seriously, some people could crunch butter. 😊 (edited) 2mo
Crazeedi @Cuilin true that! 2mo
Reggie lol, I have relatives like you. My poor dad. Who could make soggy noodles sound crunchy annoys my mother to no end. It‘s a thunderous sound his chewing. Lolol 2mo
Cuilin @Reggie I‘m rather polite about it, but inward I‘m seething. 😤 😆 2mo
49 likes11 comments
review
Cuilin
Scarlet | Stephen R Lawhead
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Pickpick

How was your #BookedInTime reads for early medieval times? Where was your book set? Did you learn anything new about the time period? I loved both Pope Joan, and Scarlet. Vastly different novels. Both get 5 ⭐️

Reminder for February: The Russian revolution! My daughter found “Moscow Mists” in some secondhand store. My cover is just as dramatic as this picture. Apparently Rasputin shows up in this one. 😳 What are you reading?

Bookwormjillk I downloaded the audiobook for Pope Joan and hope to get to it soon. Not sure yet for February. Still thinking about A Gentleman In Moscow even though I know that's post revolution. We'll see. 2mo
See All 39 Comments
sblbooks I dnf'd The Road to Jerusalem. It had the longest chapters ever. I got through two chapters at approximately an hour and a half each. 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau I didn't get to read my medieval pick--The Rebel Nun. Due to budgetary constraints I'm keeping my purchases limited to used book stores since I have a ton around me 😁 2mo
Karisimo Some good Russian revolution options: The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander (just 200 pages), Romanov by Nadine Brandes (splashed with a bit of magical realism), Daughter of A Dead Empire by O‘Neil, and The Romanov Conspiracy by Glenn Meade. 2mo
AllDebooks I really enjoyed my pick, Amy Jeffs Wild. Great retelling of medieval folklore, followed by an essay on the original/history. I've started Orlando Figes 2mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk I‘m sure it connects in somehow. Lol. I loved that book. 2mo
Cuilin @sblbooks hail the bail 🙌 hopefully next month‘s challenge will be a good one. 2mo
Cuilin @TheBookgeekFrau lucky you to have choices of used bookstores. This weekend I found a book sale and I got six books for $9 2mo
Cuilin @Karisimo all look good. 😊 2mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks A people‘s tragedy looks really interesting. 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau @Cuilin Nice!!! Yeah, it's like a book lovers paradise💞 And I'm so glad bc where I used live there was only Barnes and Noble (and Borders before they closed). 2mo
dabbe @AllDebooks On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
dabbe @Bookwormjillk Both are on our spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
dabbe @sblbooks I put it as “Bail“ on our spreadsheet. #hailthebail! 🩶🖤🩶 2mo
dabbe @TheBookgeekFrau I have it on our spreadsheet in case someone wants to read it someday! 🩶🖤🩶 2mo
dabbe @Karisimo On our spreadsheet! 🩶🖤🩶 2mo
dabbe @AllDebooks Your “pick“ for WILD and your Russian book are on our spreadsheet! 🩶🖤🩶 2mo
dabbe This is probably horrible of me, but can I count THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV as my “Russian“ book? I just finished WAR AND PEACE after reading it ALL year last year, and now I'm reading this one with the #hashtagbrigade. TBH, I'm Russianed-out. 😂 2mo
Deblovestoread Both your books sound good! Mine doesn‘t give a location so I pictured Medieval England based on other reading. 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau @dabbe Cool! It's on my wish list which means, I'll get around it someday 😆 2mo
kspenmoll I am going to join n again in March- too much going on in February . 😊 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe totally understandable!!! It‘s certainly Russian. 👍 2mo
Cuilin @kspenmoll I‘ll post March and April‘s prompts soon. 👍 2mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread yes I really enjoyed mine. Scarlet is book 2 in a Trilogy. 2mo
julieclair I‘m still debating about my February book. The Russian Revolution is something I know very little about, so every book I look at sounds good! I will finish my January book tonight or tomorrow. I am absolutely loving it, and would never have discovered it without this challenge. 2mo
dabbe @TheBookgeekFrau Amen! 🤩🤗😂 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin Thanks, my friend! 🩶🖤🩶 2mo
dabbe Is SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen? 2mo
dabbe @julieclair Got your “pick“ on the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
julieclair Thanks @dabbe ! That spreadsheet is so helpful. 👍 2mo
thegreensofa I read Medieval Woman by Ann Baer for January and it did my head in. Those poor people really had it so, so hard! For February I‘m going to read The True Memoirs Of Little K by Adrienne Sharp. This is by far my favourite reading challenge! 2mo
rwmg Whoops. I got myself into a muddle and thought January was the Russian Revolution and then never got round to the book I had planned: 2mo
Cuilin @julieclair Avelynn looks great!!! Glad you‘re enjoying it. 2mo
Cuilin @thegreensofa I‘m so happy to hear that!! 🫶 yeah I‘m glad I wasn‘t leaving in the dark ages whoa that was a tough time. 2mo
Cuilin @rwmg lol no worries, we‘re very chill here. On the plus side you‘re ready for February! 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo
48 likes39 comments
review
Cuilin
Agatha Christie's Poirot | Agatha Christie
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Pickpick

January reads includes this lot for #serieslove2024 some Christie, Sherlock for #NoPlaceLikeHolmes Scarlet book two of the Raven King trilogy #BookedInTime and the Inspector Ravenscroft mysteries are just for fun mood reading.

dabbe What fun! 🩶🖤🩶 2mo
TheSpineView Wow! Great job! 2mo
41 likes2 comments
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Cuilin
Untitled | Untitled
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Thank you so much Misty, for the lovely package. I love the little book pin. 🩷 In these dark wintry days this was so cheery. #sharreadathon #Litsylove

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

AmyG 🙌🏻❤️ 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yay! I‘m happy you like it 🤗❤️ 2mo
49 likes2 comments
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Cuilin
Longing | Mary Balogh
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#WeirdWordWednesday @CBee

Hiraeth, nostalgia for ancient places! Oh I feel this one deep in my soul.

IndoorDame Yes!!! 2mo
Deblovestoread Didn‘t know the word but know the feeling. 💜 2mo
CBee I love this word ♥️ 2mo
See All 13 Comments
Cuilin @CBee 🩷 2mo
Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes So there‘s a word for those feelings. 2mo
LeeRHarry Such a good word, one of my faves 💕🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 2mo
Cuilin @Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes yes pronounced he-RYE-th 💚 2mo
Cuilin @LeeRHarry got to love those Celtic languages. 🇮🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇮🇲 can‘t find any flags for Bretton and Cornish. 💞 (edited) 2mo
BookmarkTavern I love this word. 💖 2mo
Cuilin @BookmarkTavern I love it too. 2mo
kspenmoll I just love this. 2mo
44 likes13 comments
review
Cuilin
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Pickpick

This is now my favorite nature/natural book. I listened on Audio but will definitely purchase a copy. As my agoraphobia worsened this winter this book made me question if I just not in the right location. (US) It reminded me of home (Ireland) and how important landscapes are to our psyche. It reads like poetry, with descriptions that take your breath away. I recommend to all interested in Western Scottish Croft life. #NaturalLitsy

TheBookHippie Oh I‘m going to get this. My good friend -who is terminal misses Ireland so much. I‘ll read this to her. 2mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie so sorry to hear about your friend. Yes it would be a beautiful read. Scotland and Ireland are more similar than I thought. 2mo
kspenmoll Where do you live in US? Some Irish friends of mine thought Maine & its coast reminded them of Ireland. 2mo
See All 6 Comments
kspenmoll @TheBookHippie Christine so sorry about your friend. You are such a blessing. 2mo
Cuilin @kspenmoll I‘m in New Hampshire. Closer to Vermont than Maine. Though I do like Maine. 2mo
47 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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Cuilin
Untilted | Autechre
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Thanks for the tag @Eggs
1. Leave my house at least twice, hopefully including some sort of walk, and finish my January reads.
2. Scarlet by Stephen Lawson
3. Accepting and inquiring.

@Cupcake12

Tagging

@TieDyeDude @peaKnit @Bluebird @Amiable

Cupcake12 Love your two words for no.3 Have a good week x 2mo
ElizaMarie Ooo I love your goal for this week! 2mo
Eggs 🩵🩵🩵 2mo
43 likes3 comments
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Cuilin
Sustenance: A Saint-Germain Novel | Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
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All I‘m saying is, if you‘re trying to get your January reads finished on time one needs sustenance. 🤷‍♀️

ElizaMarie Oooo it looks great! 2mo
IndoorDame Good sustenance choices! 2mo
maich I agree with you😜 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ☕️ 🩷 2mo
dabbe 🤩😍🤗 2mo
Crazeedi Looks yummy 2mo
kspenmoll Yes!!! 😀 2mo
64 likes7 comments
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Cuilin
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I did a thing. I ventured out this weekend to see my daughter in Providence. We went to the Athenæum and then to Aleppo Sweets for some Arabic coffee with cardamom and of course some baklava. The Athenæum had a sale so I got 6 books for less than $10!!! No anxiety. It was lovely.

batsy That sounds lovely. Baklava + books 👌🏾 2mo
Bookwomble Sounds so relaxing and nurturing 💖 2mo
IndoorDame Oooh, Ive always wanted to go and just never gotten around to it even though I live right near there! 2mo
See All 17 Comments
Bklover What a wonderful day! 2mo
Cuilin @batsy perfect combo! 🩷 2mo
Cuilin @Bookwomble it really was. 🩷 2mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame I recommend. It‘s a beautiful space. Have you been to the library on Nantucket? It reminded me of that. (edited) 2mo
Cuilin @Bklover delightful 🩷 2mo
IndoorDame @Cuilin no. I actually haven‘t been out to Nantucket at all since I was a girl, before I lived in the area. I used to go as a tourist to visit family friends. 2mo
dabbe #yahooyou! Looks like a lovely trip. 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
mom2bugnbee Providence, RI? If so, my daughter goes to college 30 mins away & we will need to visit next time I'm visiting her! 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe 🩷 2mo
Cuilin @mom2bugnbee yes, it‘s lovely. 2mo
Tamra Wow, that sounds awesome! 2mo
kspenmoll I am so happy for you! Little steps. 2mo
Cuilin @Tamra it was 🩷 2mo
Cuilin @kspenmoll thank you 🫶 2mo
69 likes17 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Sherlock Holmes The Sign of the Four | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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AnnR Looking forward to it! Thank you @Cuilin and @dabbe. 🤗 2mo
Pageturner1 looking forward to it 😃enjoying it more than i thought i would 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! 2mo
See All 29 Comments
Librarybelle Hooray!! 2mo
CatLass007 I wasn‘t sure I‘d like reading Conan Doyle‘s Holmes. But I think A Study in Scarlet was wonderful reading. 2mo
kelli7990 Yay! 2mo
dabbe Glad you're all liking #NoPlaceLikeHolmes so far (even with that Part 2!) You're in for a treat with the next one! Just like a fine wine, Doyle gets better with his handling of our beloved duo! Thanks @Cuilin, for figuring out our next read and dates! 💜🩶💜 2mo
AnnR I downloaded an extra copy of the ebook on my iPhone and my curiosity got the better of me. After reading a few pages, all I can think of is Holy, hypodermic Sherlock! As I know very little about these individual stories, I wasn't expecting that! Straight out of the frying pan with Part 2 of A Study in Scarlet, and right into the fire in the opening paragraphs in Sign of Four. 😱 2mo
CrystalE02 Can't wait!!!
2mo
Cuilin @AnnR love that!!!! 2mo
Cuilin @CrystalE02 me too. Would you like me to add you to the tag list so you don‘t miss any posts? 2mo
Cuilin @CatLass007 agreed 2mo
CrystalE02 @Cuilin please I would like that 2mo
Cuilin @CrystalE02 💜👍 ✅ 2mo
Larkken Hey! I'd love to join in this month, could you add me to the tag list? I've always lost steam after the dreaded pt 2 of Study in Scarlett before and am excited to get over that hump 😄 2mo
Cuilin @Larkken 🩷👍 2mo
CatLass007 I look forward to The Sign of Four. 2mo
dabbe @AnnR 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @Pageturner1 Yay! 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @TheAromaofBooks 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @Librarybelle 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @CatLass007 Yay! 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @kelli7990 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @AnnR 🤩😍🤗 2mo
dabbe @CrystalE02 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @Larkken You're on the list! Glad to have you aboard! 🖤🩶🖤 2mo
dabbe @CatLass007 Me, too! It's been a while since I've read it, and I can't wait to revisit! 🤩😍🤗 2mo
AnnR @dabbe I couldn't resist after your Batman comment on my post Friday. 🙂🤓😊 2mo
dabbe @AnnR 🤩😂😍 2mo
44 likes29 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Murder is Easy | Agatha Christie
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In memory of Sharon #sharreadathon 🩷

I saw Sharon had two Agatha Christie mysteries on her TBR including the tagged book. I‘m going to listen to some Christie mysteries and short stories for this readathon.

TheBookHippie ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 2mo
CBee ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
Suet624 How lovely. 2mo
72 likes4 comments
review
Cuilin
The Rescuers | Margery Sharp
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Pickpick

First, I want to begin by apologizing to my daughters, for never having read this to them when they were little, they would have loved it!! The concept of the Prison Aid Society of mice is heartwarming. “There is no more wonderful moment in life than when a prison door opens.” My favorite is when Bianca is running for her life and ask Nils “are we passing anything of historic interest?”

The mice props are from my daughter‘s collection.

AnnR Oh so cute! 🙂🐭 2mo
TheBookHippie So so cute!!! Also I love this book! 2mo
Laughterhp Is this book what the Disney movies are based off of? Because those are my favorite movies. 2mo
See All 12 Comments
Cuilin @Laughterhp yes, and I can say the book is wonderful 2mo
Ruthiella You can make it up with grandchildren. 😄 2mo
batsy Love the photo! I've not read this before and I'm looking forward to getting to it before the month is out. 2mo
Cuilin @AnnR thanks 🐭 2mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie me too. I sent an apology to Bekah since she‘s the one that collects mice ornaments. I may send her a copy of the book too. Thanks for hosting and choosing this book. 🩷 2mo
Cuilin @Ruthiella 🤞🤞🤞 2mo
Cuilin @batsy thanks, looking forward to your review. 2mo
TheBookHippie @Cuilin I am reading it with my grandson daily he loves it! He will be 10 next month. My son 17 has been listening and enjoying it too. I‘m definitely keeping it in mind for gifts and teachers it‘s such a lovely read. 2mo
kspenmoll Love the mice!!! 2mo
68 likes12 comments
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Cuilin
Untitled | Untitled
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#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

Thanks for the tag @dabbe

1 Any period is preferable to contemporary, love ancient, medieval, renaissance, Victorian, Edwardian, etc
2 Pope Joan
3 War and Peace

Who hasn‘t played yet? Tag

dabbe I'm with you on #1! 🤩 2mo
Eggs War & Peace - impressive ! 2mo
43 likes2 comments
review
Cuilin
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Pickpick

Our society, sometimes struggle with the question of what art might be for. Here the answer is simple: art is a weapon against despair. Art is about hope when it shows us pretty and inspiring things and especially when it shows us melancholy ones. Beautiful book to dip into, if you‘re feeling down or looking for inspiration. Art includes drawings and photography too #midwintersolace

AllDebooks Oooooo, I like the sound of this 😍 2mo
TheBookHippie Oh I like this!!! 2mo
56 likes2 comments
review
Cuilin
Pope Joan: A Novel | Donna Woolfolk Cross
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Pickpick

A perfect historical fiction novel. Clearly a lot of research went into this. The pace and writing, perfect. The storyline, exciting. It had everything from Viking raids, to plagues, floods, fires and lots of Latin 🩷 For thousands of years Pope Joan‘s existence was denied. She is a legend, the only female pope to ever sit on the throne of St Peter.
All the trigger warnings as it is a novel set in the dark ages.

5 ⭐️

Prairiegirl_reading This has been sitting on my shelves for YEARS!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 3mo
Cuilin @Prairiegirl_reading get reading! 😆 seriously it was good. 😊 3mo
Prairiegirl_reading 👍🏼👍🏼 3mo
See All 6 Comments
Suet624 I‘ve never heard of her!! 2mo
Cuilin @Suet624 The RC Church worked very hard to make sure that we didn‘t. 2mo
Amiable I loved this book! 2mo
68 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Cuilin
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AllDebooks They were so lovely. I've saved mine x 3mo
TheBookHippie I am as well! I love them so much! 3mo
See All 9 Comments
BookwormAHN Lovely ❄️ 3mo
wanderinglynn I still have mine up too 💚 3mo
Bookwormjillk I still have mine up too! 3mo
julieclair What a beautiful display! I still have mine up, too. 3mo
gossamerchild This is fantastic :-) 3mo
Catsandbooks 🩵🩵 3mo
76 likes9 comments
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Cuilin
January | Daniel Parker
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#JanuaryReads #BookedInTime #ChildrensClassicReads2024 #NoPlaceLikeHolmes #SeriesLove2024 #HashtagBrigade

Two will continue but I hope to finish five by the end of the month. Happy Sunday Reading. 📖

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Cuilin
A Study in Scarlet | Arthur Conan Doyle
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5feet.of.fury It‘s hard not to pick Henry, but gotta go with G. 3mo
PuddleJumper That's hard! A for classic Holmes and then D for some fun 3mo
Cuilin @5feet.of.fury G 👍😍 3mo
See All 46 Comments
Cuilin @PuddleJumper My sister would choose D too. 3mo
AnnR Gotta go with G. 🔎 3mo
dabbe Love them all! But … A (JB) was the most original Sherlock in the shows that most closely held to the canon, so my ultimate heart lies there. 🖤 3mo
DaveGreen7777 I might be one of the few leaning towards F… “Young Sherlock Holmes” was one of my favorite movies growing up! 😀 3mo
Cuilin @dabbe I agree Brett was the most authentic. 3mo
Cuilin @DaveGreen7777 such a great show!!!! 3mo
Cuilin @AnnR completely understandable. 😍 3mo
RaeLovesToRead A is my Holmes 😊 3mo
AllDebooks I love Henry in Enola Holmes but, ultimately I'd choose Benedict 🔍🎻 3mo
Cuilin @RaeLovesToRead smart choice 3mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks I understand, I mean 😍 3mo
AllDebooks @Cuilin lol, Ikr 😅👀😍 3mo
IndoorDame Apparently I need to watch more TV! I‘d choose G, but I feel like I‘m missing out on many good options here… 3mo
Bookwomble A all the way! 3mo
Pageturner1 i‘m not up on the Holmes characters. i haven‘t really watched any of the movies. i will have to rely on other‘s answers 3mo
Librarybelle I‘ll more familiar with G - really good Sherlock 3mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame You‘re safe with G!! 3mo
Cuilin @Bookwomble Brett was so good!!! 3mo
Cuilin @Pageturner1 oh to watch them all for the first time!!! 3mo
Cuilin @Librarybelle 😍😍😍 3mo
KadaGul @cuilin Sooo E😍 F😍G😍 3mo
Scochrane26 Definitely G 3mo
Read4life G most definitely 3mo
Daisey G! 3mo
erzascarletbookgasm For me Jeremy Brett played the best for the character. But B Cumberbatch has brought a fresh air to the character in modern London, and he‘s irresistible 😊 3mo
TheAromaofBooks You seem to be missing Wishbone 😂 3mo
Tineke I loved Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock but I'm also missing Johnny Lee Miller's Sherlock in Elementary. Although it was a bit of a loose imagining. 3mo
Cuilin @TheAromaofBooks 😂😂😂 there was a dog cartoon character too. 3mo
Cuilin @KadaGul why limit yourself 😍😆 3mo
Cuilin @erzascarletbookgasm my thoughts exactly 3mo
Cuilin @Tineke oh need to check that one out. 3mo
Cuilin @Daisey 💯 3mo
Cuilin @Scochrane26 makes complete sense 3mo
CogsOfEncouragement D, G, & E I enjoyed each series with these. 3mo
Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement all fabulous 3mo
CatLass007 I have to say that I didn‘t care for either of the movies with Robert Downey, Jr. and I don‘t have any opinion about the others because I haven‘t seen them. 3mo
mom2bugnbee I'm late here... No one will ever match Benedict Cumberbatch IMO. ♥ 3mo
Cuilin @mom2bugnbee noted! 😍 2mo
CrystalE02 G. Benedict Cumberbatch!!! Thanks to my brother for getting me into the show. My stepdad got me into the Sherlock Holmes books. He doesn't like Cumberbatch as Sherlock he like Jeremy Brett. 2mo
Cuilin @CrystalE02 two great choices 2mo
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Cuilin
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This is my second Adam Gopnik I‘ve posted about this week. As climate change brings the risk of a shrinking winter, this meditation illustrates its beauty through time, science, politics, art, poetry, song and story.

“Winter is the white page on which we write our hearts”

#FridayNightReads Winter nonfiction
@Chrissyreadit @AllDebooks @TheBookHippie @jenniferw88

AllDebooks 🩵❄️🩵 3mo
TheBookHippie It‘s so scary!! 3mo
57 likes2 comments
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Cuilin
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Thank you so much Christine, from the pencils, to the journal and the wonderful books. The socks arrived right on time because mine go missing when my daughters go back to college. 🤔 I love and appreciate it all. @TheBookHippie

Thank you all at #NaturalLitsyWinterSolace for all the organizing.

Chrissyreadit 😍😍😍 3mo
AllDebooks What a treat, that looks amazing 😍 3mo
TheBookHippie Oh I‘m so glad you love it!!! Socks are always needed! ♥️🙃 3mo
kspenmoll The socks look so warm! 3mo
52 likes4 comments
review
Cuilin
Don Quixote | Miguel de Cervantes
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Pickpick

16th century, a village in Spain a man cosplays as a knight errant. Misfortunes abound. At times camp and hilarious other times tedious and repetitive. An entertaining and philosophical masterpiece.

This was not the longest book I‘ve read but some days it felt like it. It really needed some editing. I‘ve never said this before but maybe read the abridged version 😆

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! And I am not usually someone who recommends the abridged edition but... there is definitely space for that argument for this one 😂 Thanks for reading with me!!! 3mo
Cuilin @TheAromaofBooks I tried twice before and never finished so thanks so much for hosting. 3mo
dabbe I ashamedly gave up after the first part. Maybe I should try the abridged version. 😂 3mo
See All 8 Comments
Cuilin @dabbe I will be recommending the abridged version of this from now on. #LifeTooShort 3mo
BarbaraBB I agree 😀 3mo
dabbe @Cuilin @BarbaraBB Do you know of any specifically that you'd recommend? 😍 3mo
TheBookHippie I agree read the abridged!!!! Oy. 3mo
BarbaraBB @dabbe Unfortunately not, I‘d be interested too! 3mo
63 likes8 comments
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Cuilin
Pope Joan: A Novel | Donna Woolfolk Cross
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#LastFirst
@BookNAround

Tagged book is the first book of ‘24 and Marley was the last book of ‘23 🎊

kspenmoll Pope Joan- was it good? I am interested. 3mo
Cuilin @kspenmoll I‘m loving it. I found it free!!! On Audible. Using it for January Early Medieval #BookedInTime 3mo
50 likes2 comments
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Cuilin
Paris to the Moon | Adam Gopnik
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Who wants to run away and live in Paris for a bit?

#NewYearNewBooks #MoonOnCover

RebL 🙋🏻‍♀️ 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Me 🙋🏻‍♀️ 3mo
lynneamch Yes, please. Time for a reread. 3mo
Eggs Moi!! 3mo
55 likes4 comments
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Cuilin
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And I read more pages today!!! I‘m quite pleased with that total. 🥳

Ruthiella Good job! 👏👏👏 3mo
TieDyeDude 💪🎉 3mo
See All 6 Comments
TheBookgeekFrau Wooooohoooo!!!👏🏼👏🏼🎊 3mo
eeclayton Congrats! 🎉 3mo
Gissy Great!📚📚📚🥳🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏 3mo
54 likes6 comments
review
Cuilin
Marley: A Novel | Jon Clinch
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Pickpick

More villain origin story than a retelling. This was marvelous and the writing wonderfully Dickensian. We meet a nasty Marley, and a kind Scrooge as schoolboys and observe how Marley‘s influence pollutes Scrooge. You could continue straight to a Christmas Carol, and the transition would be seamless.

#BookedInTime
Marley 4 ⭐️
Christmas Carol 5 ⭐️
Great Expectations 5 ⭐️

dabbe On the spreadsheet! 🤩 3mo
Deblovestoread I hope to remember this next year before my annual Christmas Carol read. 3mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread yes!! I recommend reading this right before A Christmas Carol. I may do that next year too!! 3mo
See All 7 Comments
Cuilin @dabbe 🙏 3mo
dabbe GREAT EX and BLEAK HOUSE are my faves by Dickens (exempting A CHRISTMAS CAROL, of course). 🤩 3mo
Cuilin @dabbe Bleak House, Carol, Oliver T, & Two Cities are mine. This year I want to read 3mo
dabbe @Cuilin 🤩😍🤗 3mo
53 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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Cuilin
Fresh Water for Flowers | Valrie Perrin
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These were all so amazing. Thank you @Suet624 for Fresh Water, I adored it and meeting you 🩷, #hastagbrigade for the enjoyable hashtags and chats with Vanity Fair, and #RereadingtheClassics for the Madding Crowd. A big shoutout for Mayflies 💔and if anyone reads As Meat loves Salt pleas tag me as I want to know what another Litten thinks.

Suet624 I‘m always so happy whenever someone reads my favorite book. So fun to hang out this summer. Let‘s do it again soon! 3mo
Cuilin @Suet624 Yes!! 🙌 3mo
48 likes2 comments
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Cuilin
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#Hashtagbrigade #Pemberlittens

Translated by Pevear and Volkhonsky.

I read War and Peace translated by this couple, which I loved, so I feel like I‘m in good hands here.

TheBookHippie I love them as well! 3mo
DGRachel I love that cover! 3mo
See All 14 Comments
dabbe I couldn't have gotten through WAR AND PEACE this year without this couple's translation. Using the same one, too! 💙🖤💙 3mo
Cuilin @dabbe I get it!!! I may read all their 🇷🇺 translations!! 3mo
BarkingMadRead That cover is amazing! 3mo
dabbe @BarkingMadRead ... do we have a daily reading schedule to follow? I hope so, because I don't know how I'll get through without it! 🤩 3mo
BarkingMadRead @dabbe we will do a chapter a day #forever 3mo
dabbe @BarkingMadRead That made me snort my coffee! 🤩😂🤩 3mo
5feet.of.fury I have the same translation! Glad it‘s a good one! 3mo
Cuilin @5feet.of.fury I trust the translators, 🤞on Dostoyevsky. 😬 right? 3mo
Cuilin @dabbe 😂 3mo
batsy There's a new translation by Michael Katz that I'm hoping to splurge on at some point. Love this book so hoping to have at least several versions 😆 3mo
Cuilin @batsy Unfortunately it‘s still in hardback. I was tempted but went with P & V. It‘s my first time reading it!! 3mo
53 likes14 comments
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Cuilin
Lie With Me | Philippe BESSON
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Tagged book second favorite of the year!!!

Thanks to #GoldenAgeCrimeClub @Mitch for The Franchise Affair and #NaturalLitsy @AllDebooks for 🦋 book.

ChaoticMissAdventures I have Like With Me at the very top of my list for next year! So glad to see you enjoyed it. Swimming In The Dark was one of my favorites this year. And I read Besson's In The Absence of Men too, such great atmosphere in all of them. 3mo
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures I loved it and will reread it. I should read more by Besson. 3mo
Mitch So glad it was a hit with you 🙌🏼 3mo
42 likes3 comments
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Cuilin
At Swim, Two Boys | Jamie O'Neill
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I have to look at my favorites as a collective. Some months have two favs while others not even one.

The tagged book is my favorite for 2023!! 💔

There‘s a theme here.

Gissy They seem deep topics. I want to read In Memoriam. At Swim, two boys sounds so interesting! 3mo
Cuilin @Gissy yes deep, In Memoriam was beautiful, Two Boys was incredible especially if you‘re interested in Irish History. 3mo
ChaoticMissAdventures How did you get on with Young Mungo? I feel like I have heard it is a bit too dark? I keep picking it up and putting it back at the bookshop. 3mo
See All 12 Comments
Gissy @Cuilin Yes, I try to read Irish authors during the month of March. I have enjoyed most of the books I read📚💚💚💚 3mo
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures I found Shuggie Bain to be darker. I recommend Mungo. Stuart‘s writing is dark but worth it. 3mo
Cuilin @Gissy Two boys is set around the 1916 Rising. It‘s full of Dublinese, phrases I heard from my parents and grandparents, which I found comforting. I love to know what you think. Tag me please if you read it. 🙏 3mo
Gissy @Cuilin Yes I will🤗 3mo
BarbaraBB I still need to read your favorite book, it‘s been sitting on my shelves for years. Encouraging to know you loved it so much! 3mo
Cuilin @BarbaraBB What can I do to get you to read it? Lol I‘d love to know what others think of it. 3mo
Gissy @Cuilin I have a couple of books I want to read in March by Irish authors including this one but if you have other recommendations, please let me know. There are a couple of Readathons during March in YouTube and I watch them looking new books to read by authors new to me. 3mo
Cuilin @Gissy I run #BookedInTime, in March the theme will be Ancient Celtic Ireland if you wish to join for that month, you find a novel to fit the theme. I‘m happy to tag you when I read an Irish book/author. 3mo
Gissy @Cuilin Yes, please🙋🏽‍♀️ 3mo
38 likes12 comments
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Cuilin
Unashamed | Harry Baker
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My new favorite contemporary poet. Including a link as my description will not do justice to his own work.

#midwintersolace #naturallitsy poetry

https://share.icloud.com/photos/095-Qb_S-uO0GlnUOTrfdvW0Q

Press play and listen to this simple genius.

TheBookHippie Wow ❄️🩶❄️ 3mo
AllDebooks Thanks for the link, he's amazing 👏 3mo
Chrissyreadit You are right! Excellent! 3mo
See All 6 Comments
Cuilin @AllDebooks thank you TikTok!! I‘m in awe. 🫢 3mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie I know!!! 3mo
51 likes3 stack adds6 comments