So this week in #bfc @wanderinglynn I managed to hit my books, swimming and home lunch target but a day working at home but me under my steps at only 64k ! bUT came out stronger with a lovely walk through central London‘s last night after seeing the fabulous All My Sons at the Old Vic

I really enjoyed this one. It‘s creepy and twisty enough for anyone who loves mysteries but also kind of heart breaking. I enjoyed the police officer narrating this sorry and the moral ambiguity was great. Off to find number 5!

My consumption of the Dublin murder squad continues. Don‘t judge me for the wine it‘s been that sort of a Monday! (And for #BFC I did my swim this morning and took packed lunch to work so not a total wipeout!)

So I do not quite hit my goals although there were some special@circumstances! BUT I do think being in this challenge had me thinking more about walking and exercise wh in is partially the aim! @wanderinglynn

Okay so the premise of this novel is absolute nonsense AND YET i enjoyed it immeasurably! I Am going to binge this series I think! In other news thanks to an early night and bath I have hit my one book for the week target and thanks to a long walk to the office here in Madrid and back I have also hit my #bfc step for the day!

In Madrid for a few days with work so got a lovely walk through the park with a stop off at the rose garden with my book! Smashed my daily goal for #BFC feeling pretty proud of myself!

I think I enjoyed this. An unusually reflective, verbose and I think decidedly unreliable police officer as the narrator had me hooked once I pushed through the style as did the mystery within a mystery. I guess I am just left a bit unsatisfied with closure. For those of you who have was the series will I ever get that closure and if so how many do I need to read please?

I loved this book. A part of parallel story lines has a now 85 year old US based art professor reflecting on her experiences in Warsaw during the war as her grandson is targeted as part of an attempt to legislate gay teachers out of jobs. The story is a strong warning from history and a powerful immigrant story. This I think will be a rare 5 out of 5 for me.

I had been debating joining in the fitness challenge and have decided that it‘s exactly what I need to follow on from a holiday reset, try and both stop working ALL the time and inspire me to get moving after 9 days all inclusive!! @wanderinglynn thanks so much for organising - this seems to have turned into a bit of a hit!

This is undoubtedly an important book - the author brings decades of clinical and social research into conscious and unconcious racial bias with a specific focus on criminal justice and education. She writes well and carefully explains a huge number of studies into the topic as well as explaining their significance. She does so without judgement whilst explaining some of the clinical as well as social with I found fascinating. ⬇️⬇️

So to be clear nothing really happens in this book however for me it‘s a pick. The language is reminiscent of my much loved girls school stories and the characters are a delight. There is an underlying message here about social change not being ‘done‘ after one big win ether for society or the people who enable the change. I will be seeking out more of Lisa Evans books.

Disappointing - the historical element is good as is the telling of a more diverse sense of early Stewart history BUT the magical elements were confused and not fleshed out. I am also confused about the reinterpretation of the religious issues of the day which were decidedly lacking in subtlety. However claiming as over 300 page and a blue cover for #maymadness and #mayscavengerhunt @TheReadingMermaid @RadicalReader

fascinating and infuriating! Perez takes you through a relentless summary of the ways in which the world treats male as the standard & female (if considered) an aberration. From office temps, city planning, politics and car safety through to a genuinely heartbreaking chapter on the medical industry this book warns us of the risks when women are excluded from data and how that risk accelerates as we become more automated. go read this now! ⬇️⬇️

Pleased to be able to race through the last two in this series whilst away. Elegantly plotted with plenty of inter connecting characters and storylines this kept my attention right to the bitter end. Also works for a number of the #maymadness #mayacavengerhunt prompts !

Thanks for the tag @jenniferw88 hope you are well #wonderouswednesday 1. Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy 2. little Women (once a year without fail) 3. Badly! LibraryThing is most complete long term view but good reads in the last couple of months. I then sporadically update! 4. Playing around with the Hipstamatic app last night! 5 jump on in anyone who would like !!

This was a #blameitonlitsy although really it should be #thankslitsy And more specifically thanksyou @Andrew65 totally forgotten how much I used to enjoy Linwood Barclay novels and this is a cracker. Great small town politics, a horrific crime and enough unsavoury folks to have you casting around for the guilty party. Off to pick up part two because what is a holiday for if not binge reading!

I downloaded this months ago on a whim, then last weekend took the in-laws to see Come from Away & realised it was the same true story. This was a quick non fiction read full of heart - the author does a great job of painting the kindness of the townsfolk, the pain of those days & brining some of the stories of the nearly 7000 passengers diverted to Gander to vivid life. Post theatre we were entertained to hear my husband had been!! His 📸

I enjoyed but didn‘t love this. Comparisons with Elinor Oliohant are to be expected and I found Susan somewhat less charming overall. Yes she is socially withdrawn & isolated but this is a carefully cultivated choice. She shows a distinct lack of empathy and whilst I was pleased to see her female friendship develop she is still decidedly judgey. Pleased for her but not necessarily routing for her by the end. #anglophileapril #ownerofalonelyheart

This was not quite what I expected. The thriller elements were interesting and twisty although I did get most of them. The main character was an extreme example of self distraction to the point that is was hard to empathise. It also finished abruptly and was a little too nicely tied up for me. A quick holiday read

greetings from Miami where I am on a layover on my way to a much needed holiday! Just watched the film on a plane and am reminded anew about what a powerful, nuanced and multi dimensional story this is. As ever the book, with richer back stories and a more complex narrative wins but I was pleasantly surprised by how well the story had been translated and was blown away by the acting in this one. Enough to insist my husband watched it too!

Almost no time to read this week means this has taken me longer than I would have liked. Wonderful storytelling with just the right mix fo characterisation, mystery, history and with a sniff of magic /other that has me hooked to the very end.

Not my favourite of Moriaty‘s but good for #anglophileapril #everybreatheyoutake

Dear litsy I have a confession... I am horribly hungover! Plans for the day have been dismissed and I won‘t be moving very far from here (I may also embrace the restorative power of an afternoon nap)

Not my usual kind of a book but I really enjoyed this rich YA fantasy book. The relationship between the 2 main protagonists is incredibly toxic to the extent that I would probably have put the book down if a contemporary novel. However in this world with their deep backstories I was able to read through. A story about power, trust and relationships when the people who should love and care for you are manipulating and power hungry.

This is a unique way of telling an autobiography. Each (non chronological) chapter reflects on a near death experience of the author and are beautifully written. I was incredibly moved by the story of two of her children and her fertility issues as well as a childhood case of encephalitis in particular. This really moved me and at times resonates strongly

I really liked this series featuring that rarity of things - a female serial killer. “She'll take your heart but you won't feel it” #easylover #anglophileapril @Cinfhen @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi @Mdargusch

What felt a bit like a return to form on this, Cooper‘s 20th outing. Less@personal nonsense and a good solid case or two rooted firmly in #metoo territory. I respect Fairsteins‘s background in working with victims of violent crime and sexual assault and I think she always covers the crimes with compassion vs titilation. This lived up to that!

I am still reading this one - it‘s ages since I have read something so slowly but the power of the data and the stories contained to drive me to frustration / rage / sadness means I have been eking it out. It‘s all the more powerful for the factual non interpretive tone. I‘m not even half way in but the desire to DO something on reading is massive

Greeting from sunny Munich where I can currently hear the glockenspiel playing from my open window! Really enjoying this one, but have highlighted half the book!

There is truly a time for every book. I‘m tired, stressed and a bit run down. This book from @kaysworld1 was like a lovely warm cosy hug and just what the doctor ordered. Gentle & kind

So many mixed thoughts on this one. I have been interested in how the uk system treats child criminals for some time and so the premise of this was interesting to me. It was well written, undeniably creepy with a couple of twists I didn‘t see coming. BUT and it‘s a big one for me the echo of the James Bulger case were too loud and jarring for me to claim this was an enjoyable read.

I think this was supposed to be a comedy and yet I found parts of it profoundly sad. A divorced couple and their new partners plus seven year old Scarlett and her imaginary rabbit friend away together for Christmas. WhT could possibly go wrong? None of the characters are particularly pleasant although some more sympathetic than others

Fourth flight in six days. Pretty tired but for a fair bit of reading done! This book is very well written but I feel like I want to scream with some of the carrying on from the apparently grown adults in this one. The kid talking to her imaginary giant rabbit friend is as mature.... (also night flight should sleep but have a star is born and the favourite on inflight entertainment... decisions decisions)

I am not always a fan of witchy type books but I really enjoyed this young adult novel exploring the experiences of the descendants of the key players in the Salem witch trials. Lots of history and context that if enjoyed tucked up on my hotel room in Boston... wish I had long enough here to head up the coast and revisit Salem!

This book has inter generational friendships, female empowerment and a strong sense of community all of which I loved. That the writer expresses such lovely strong emotions about swimming was the cherry on the cake. For some it may be a little too saccharine but I found it joyful and uplifting even if I did shed a tear or two (to the consternation of the air steward who was serving me!) ⬇️

Possibly a bit too clever for its own good I still really enjoyed the body swooping / time travelling country house murder mystery. So many things to ponder and I really didn‘t have a clue who might have done why. Excellent escapism!

I may only be away for 2 days but I am on my hols and I will get my #litsywalkers time in after weeks stuck doing laps of the office; rain and wind be damned. This picture also a fair reflection of how my head feels half way into this book 😂

Hi Litsy 👐 it‘s been a while. Work has been chaotic and I hadn‘t picked up a book in weeks. Any how afternoon off so I read this one. An interesting premise a genetic abnormality that means aging slows leads Tom to be approaching his 500 th birthday. I loved Tom‘s story and the messages about history, learning and the ignorance and fear of the different but overall felt this could have been something more and richer. A just about pick !

I see why this book seems to be compared unfavourably to Circe but I think it‘s unfair. Can we not have 2 books be exceptional female authors that present a female perspective to the Greek myths? I really enjoyed this - here Briseis‘ story highlights the uncomfortable truth about the perception of women in times of war as well as presenting a more rounded view of the Iliad

Have plans later on so embracing the spirit of #litsypartyofone now @MrBook @Ambrosnazzy

I have been in a reading funk and this got me out of it! As a kid I dismissed this because of the phantom in the title. More fool me! The word play and world building would have been. Up my 9 year old alley and were a lot of fun now. Yes it‘s a tad preachy and the takeaway about the importance of learning is pretty obvious but the book is none the worse for it!

#musicalnewyear #summernights ok weird choice I know BUT the thing about summer nights is the different ways Sandy and Danny tell the story of their summer and how they see it so differently so this so what I thought of (there‘s an insight into how my mind works no one probably needed) @Cinfhen @vivastory

Thank you @LibrarianRyan I really enjoyed reading about everyone‘s #20thingsaboutme and all the conversations and chatting going on yesterday

Loving reading all of these this morning here‘s mine! #20thingsaboutme. Great idea @LibrarianRyan will pop back to tag some new followers later

#musicalnewyear #boulevardofbrokendreams she walked alone? Too literal ?😂@cinfhen @vivastory

Hey #litsywalkers I have managed at least 8000 steps this week each day but only walking round and round the office ! Here‘s a rather lovely zero filter view of the London skyline in then distance (and a light show projecting hearts into a nearby building) that I have just left behind. Happy happy Friday!

1. Probably historical fiction 2. Shellfish esp crabs and lobsters. Am better than I was, as a kid my mum used to have to sellotape her cook book pages up if they had lobster pics 3. A cleaner in a cinema (don‘t judge me) 4. Looks to be 5 Celsius 5. Will do! #friyayintro

#musicalnewyear #myshot Young, scrappy and hungry? @Cinfhen @vivastory

1. Been on a soup making kick trying to get more veggies into me! 2.done (it‘s for#newyearwhodis) 3. Excluding those we have gone through on the overnight train 13 plus Washington DC (never very sure on DC status in such things) - not a bad count for a Brit! 4. I‘m slowly building a collection of girls school stories from the 1920s to 1950s - I try and buy in shops vs online 5. only work plans to Boston and Munich so far #humpdaypost @MinDea

#musicalnewyear #favouritethings ideally stolen shamelessly from @KarenUK some of my favourite things include 1. Stained glass 2 eating with friends and family 3 tulips 4. Home! 5. Beaches and sunsets / sunset at the beach 6. Bunny noses (miss this little guy) 7. Live theatre esp musical theatre (implies throughout given these are all mine photography and travel)