I'm 20% in and it's pretty enjoyable, though nothing memorable. Which is such a shame. The prologue had hooked me!
It's one of those mysteries that only focuses on the mystery and that ends up being very chatty because information need to be exchanged. But the mystery is interesting enough to keep me reading.

Found this book from the 1950s, telling a story of the 1920s. Didn't even try to resist 😂

The other is my new reading journal.
Can't believe l finished my first one. I started here on Litsy, when l first joined in 2017. Can't believe it's been so long 😱

Such a lovely edition!
It's smaller than normal, really like a pocketbook. And with this engraved, metallic cover.
I hope the story will be good too 😁

And now, new read 😜
Another story set in the 1920s, of course.

Took me some time getting into this story, but then l really enjoyed it. More for the world than for the characters or the plot, l should say

This is Hollywood where movie stars may really become immortal. Film producers are monsters and if you get lost in among the fires lit in the night, you might not be able to go back.
The surreal mood is very strong and l loved it, but in some places it made it hard to figure out where the story was going.

Waiting for my coaching call today and reading Siren Queen in a cosy bar 😁

It's taken me quite some time to connect with this book. But at 73% l'm now really enjoying it.

It took a bit to get going, but at the 24% l'm quite hooked.
I'm loving the atmosphere and the ethereal rendition of magic.
Not sure I'm connecting with the MC, but she is interesting enough.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

I have to say, it is a lovely book, with some very interesting recipes ☺️

#FellowshipOfTolkien

I can resist everything but temptation!

A friend of mine sent me some photos of this book.
I'll have to say l did resist a whole 5 minutes before l ordered it 😌

Just started this.
I'm really excited notified by the magic realistic setting. I'm less sure about the writing style.
But we'll see.

#NetGalley

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1️⃣ 1920s / Magic / Films / LGBT
2️⃣ All the time 😜
3️⃣ The Fall of Numenor

Here's a toast to our favourite professor on the day he reaches Bilbo's age when he left Middle-earth!

🥂🥂🍾

#FellowshipOfTolkien
@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN

A pic of my preciouses... Just because 😻

#CatsOfLitsy

A very happy new year to all Littens. May 2023 be a more serene, more happy, mor fulfilling year, full of more books than you can ever read (which is never the case, right? 😂)

And a special wish my #FellowshipOfTolkien partners in crime, @Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN
I hope to spend a lot mor time with you in 2023 walking the paths of Middle-earth 😜

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Just finished.
The last letter always mists my eyes 🥺
This is such a wonderful book. Not only an imaginative collection of letters full of stories (as you would imagine) but above all, a collection of love letters from a father to his children. It moves me every time thinking about the hours and hours of work Tolkien must have put in to write these letters to his children.
It always warms my heart 💖

I had forgotten how beautiful this letter is.
It's ful of stories, but between the lines, we can feel a dad's love for his children.
I love it.

And while reading, l thought that in 1932 Tolkien must have still been telling Bilbo's stories to his children and l wondered about the cave adventure.

It's always such a pleasure to read this book.
#FellowshipOfTolkien

#FellowshipOfTolkien

And this is the last spread 😁

@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BookwormAHN @wordslinger42

#FellowshipOfTolkien

These slender leaves were tough to gloo on.
But they look so pretty 😁

#FellowshipOfTolkien

I've decorated these with dried leaves. First time l attempted this.
Turned out ok, l think.

Look #FellowshipOfTolkien!
After years of hiatus, l've finished the Tom Bombadil section of my Tolkien #bujo.
I can't believe we read it in 2017!!!!

Happy Christmas, everyone 😁🎆🎄🌟🌟✨

#FellowshipOfTolkien

It's that time of the year!

@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN

So, here we are again 😊
Who else is doing #NaNoWriMo?

Happy Hobbit Day, everyone!
This is one of my favourite days of the year!
I love celebrating Bilbo and Frodo's birthdays with fellow Tolkien fans from around the world. It's almost like getting around the Party Tree in a place that exists in our hearts, if not in the real world.

I wish a fantastic Hobbit Day to everyone. Do something hobbit today!
Do something hobbit every day! I think our lives would be better if we did.

#FellowsjipOfTolkien

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

@Daisey @BookwormAHN @wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Hey, gals! Raggi g e everyone, just to keep in touch 😁

I've had this ready for days and I keep forgetting to post.
I haven't Vought up to this (admittedly very loose) schedule, but I'm on my way.

I'm really enjoying the letters. Such a precious look into the life and thought of a remarkable man.

How's everyone faring? 😁

I found the first part of the novel to be a bit slow, and the last part to be a bit rushed. But the middle is fantastic. It tells about the exodus of children from London just before the outbreak of WWII as well as about a girl gone missing. It is truly heartbreaking.

There is, I think, real unbalance among the different elements if the story, but in the end, l enjoyed it.

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Well, looks like HoME will finally be translated into Italian 🤩

I'm switching to this one because l need to have it reviews by Thursday.
It's novella, prequel to the tagged book.

I'm quite enjoying this one, even if the middle of the novel is maybe a little bit too ramancy for me.
But l like the setting and the concept is interesting and different.

I'm halfway through and l have no idea who the murderer is.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

@Daisey @BookwormAHN @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42

I know I'm late, but here's the schedule for the second half of May.
I'll admit I'm still behind (May has been crazy), but l want to catch up so we can start reading together again 😊

@egg @TheSpineView #WondrousWednesday

1. Baking. I also love gardening.
2. Almost always. I review most books l read and post review everywhere, including on my blog.
3. I don't really have one.

I've been meaning to start this book for over 10 days, now. Today is the day!

So yes, fine, l have a soft spot for Irish stories. This one was good. It told the story of a teacher for m Dublin hiding away in County Meath with her 'rebel' husband. It tells of women mutual help and self discovery.
It starts maybe a bit slow, but then it pics up and l couldn't put it down.

Full review and excerpt here https://theoldshelter.com/reapers-of-justice-by-anne-frehill-historical-novel/

And on this Easter day, let's go back to the letters 😁

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

While l was away, l've read quite a few books 😜
This is the one I've just finished.

Loved it. There's a fabulous cast of characters. I loved the dialogues, they sound so natural and yet they reveal so much. Loved the way the aftermath of WWI on soldiers was handled.
The ending was maybe a bit complicated and unecessarily so, l think. Ma the book was good, so l took it as it is.

Will this be a new beginning?

I've been quite scarse here on Litsy since the beginning of the year. So many thing happening, it's difficult to keep in with everything.
But I'm trying to find a way 😁

Seriously enjoying this one 😁

Errrr.... The app tells me l've been away for over one month. I really didn't realise it. I've been so busy with work, and the blog and a possible new business - it just swallowed me up.

But hey! Here l am on Tolkien Reading Day.
Couldn't miss this one 😜

@HappyLitsyversary reminded me two days ago (and l've only seen it today, just to show in what mess l'm now 😝) that l've been on Litsy for five years

FIVE YEARS!

I've no idea how it can be five years, but l'm so happy l'm still here (if admittingly sporadically of late), reading with the best book friends l've ever met 😘

This is a murder mystery set in 1920s Montana, quite an unusual setting. And l really appreciate this.
It was a mix of 1920s coming of age story and a kind of Western vibe, because, really, things were still like in the previous century in some places.

It's really different from the usual 1920s cosy mystery 😊

(Couldn't find the book in the database, it've very new).

So sorry I disappeared. It's been a very busy couple of months and I'm not sure it'll be better in the next couple, but I'll do my best to be present 😜

Didn't read a lot either, but l finished a couple of cosy mysteries that l enjoyed.
This is the second instalment in Mary Miley's new series set in 1920s Chicago and was as enjoyable as the first.
I was more taken with Maggy's story than the mystery, to be honest, but I ended up enjoying both.

The second novel in the Maddie Pastore series is quite enjoyable. But slow, at the moment, but enjoyable.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

I mean... 😥😰

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

Ta-daaaa!!!!
Here it is! 😊

I Swift reread through the letters to Christopher to take down quotes for my Instagram feed. I really really love these letters 💙

@Daisey @wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BookwormAHN

Happy birthday, Professor Tolkien!

Today is Tolkien 130th birthday.
I've celebrated it with a little homage 😊
https://t.co/pDf1jpjXtV

#FellowshipOfTolkien

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

So many times, reading these letters addressed to Christopher away at war, l've heard echoes of things l read in The Lord of the Rings.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters

"This book has come to be more and more addressed to you and so your opinion matters more than anyone else's".

I remember Christopher saying a couple of times in HoME that his father wrote The Lord of the Rings for him.
In this light, that of a conversation between father and son about war, the book takes up even a deeper meaning in my opinion.

It was enjoyable as usual, but l also found it a bit aimless. I mean, lots of things happened and for a good chunk of the book, I wasn't sure what the story was about.

But then, I suppose this goes with following the real lives a real people.

Certainly a pick, anyway.

Sorry I disappeared. November was such a messy month, with NaNoWriMo and different commitments at work. And if this were not enough, last week I came down with bronchitis and I'm still recovering.

How's everybody doing?

I've fallen terribly behind with #TolkiensLetters but l'll try to catch up over this weekend.
I'll also prepare the new schedule. I'm thinking to leave out the last week of December because l think we'll be all too busy anyway 😅

#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienLetters

This really moved me.
Once again, l got the strong impression that Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings for his children and especially for Christopher. I never imagined this kinship, this oneness of experience and desires.
What moves me here is that Tolkien speaks to Christopher (who was really a boy at the time) as a peer, as well as his beloved son. That was a very special bond.

I understand, now.