I liked the humor, which you wouldn‘t expect from a book about the five people who fell to their deaths when a bridge fell. But that‘s just the conceit. The book is really a wonderful character study, and a reminder that no one really knows everything about another human being.

“There was something in Lima that was wrapped up in yards of violet satin from which protruded a great dropsical head and two fat pearly hands; and that was its archbishop.”

After multiple revisions, I‘ve finished my December #bookspin #doublespin list. Hooray! @TheAromaofBooks

RIP, Stephen Sondheim. 😥 He was an amazing talent.

A book that will make you think about what “race” actually means. I loved the writing, liked Irene, and loathed Clare. A slow boil, but when it comes to it, it boils over quickly! Now I can check out the movie.

@jewright @Louise @Sace @Suet624 @arubabookwoman @Currey @catebutler @Catherine_Willoughby @crazeedi @mdm139 @emilyhaldi @rubyslippersreads @KathyWheeler @llwheeler @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @BookishTrish
Consensus was to start our next Wharton in January. It‘s a short one, but I propose splitting it into two discussions. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving/Thursday and have one of these lovely covers to look forward to. #whartonbuddyread

The only picture I got this year was the soup course. Enormous meal eaten, absent relatives called, and the dishes washed and put away. Now I have time to put my feet up and wish you all a happy Thanksgiving.

This was leaning heavily towards so-so (I had to make myself pick it up) until about 75% of the way through. Then he made me care enough to go on reading. But the characters were 2 dimensional and the parallels too complete for me to be really invested. Unpopular opinion, but I don‘t think it worth the hype. #authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville

Reposting for @LitsyEvents the new Litsy town square. Tag this account to spread the news of your event, swap, buddy read, challenge, etc. Follow this account to see what‘s going on.

Kristin Hannah has a talent for inducing tears, and this is no exception. Have tissues handy. And I learned a lot about the dust bowl and California labor movement. You‘ll fall in love with the characters. And for more about the labor movement, read The Last Ballad, which is based on a true story.

Amélie doesn‘t understand that when I borrow a book I need to read it rather than play with her.

I loved this book! Comic-tragedy, dark farce, however you want to categorize it, I felt the MC‘s frustration, and yet loved her father. Hated what Valentina was doing to Nikolai and yet could laugh at her expectations (“not-peasant-cooking not-electric cooker”!) Highly recommended! #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

Enjoying my #doublespin book while my husband plays “red dot” with Amélie. @TheAromaofBooks

As so many before me have said, this book will haunt me. While both women were prone to rages, I confess I understood Emergence‘s more than Magda‘s. I went in blind and am glad. That‘s a good way to experience this book. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

I started my #bookspin this morning before work, but didn‘t have a chance to post until now. It sucked me right in! @TheAromaofBooks

Friday night, a glass of wine, and a new book to start. 😀

Here‘s my #bookspin list for November! @TheAromaofBooks

A fast read, and an odd one. I‘m not sure I liked any of the characters, but I think I get what Hoffman was trying to say about isolation. Between a pick and so-so, but I‘ll bump it up because it held my interest.

Major clean out, so we can fit books on our shelves. Now off to the little free libraries. (It‘ll take more than one!)

And they all lived happily ever after - even Job Trotter! I thoroughly enjoyed this early Dickens. His humor shines through and you can see the themes that are to occupy his pen for years. Thanks for the inspiration @Cuilin and all the #whatthedickens readers. Especially @BarkingMadRun for keeping me company through the world of Pickwickians.

“Selden paused in surprise. In the afternoon rush of the Grand Central Station his eyes had been refreshed by the sight of Miss Lily Bart.” #fristlinefridays #whartonbuddyread @ShyBookOwl

#whatthedickens @Cuilin @BarkingMadRun I‘m at 95%. I think I‘ll finish it over the weekend.

This short book is a difficult read, if you take it seriously and really get introspective and honest with yourself. She frequently references how each of us, and the church as an institution, needs to die in order to become something better, like a seed must crack open in order to produce fruit. The basis of the American church, as an institution of colonialism and oppression, is hard to take for those who love it. But we need this book.

Chapter 51, and we‘re back to “blue v. buff” and the rival editors! #whatthedickens @BarkingMadRun @Cuilin

I can‘t talk about one without talking about all three, and warning, this will probably go long. After I finished the 3rd book, I read other people‘s thoughts to help me articulate my own. Of the many reviews, blog posts, YouTube videos about this book, the majority were from a Catholic (and one LDS) viewpoint, treating this trilogy as a cautionary tale against sin, specifically sexual sin. Had I read those before I read the books 👇🏻

I may be reading ahead, but I‘m desperate to get Mr. Pickwick out of debtors‘ prison! #whatthedickens

I found this meme on Tumblr and couldn‘t resist, even though it doesn‘t reflect this section of the book. I‘m circling around two themes this time. 1. Was Gaute‘s manner of finding a bride supposed to be a judgment on Kristin? Or Erlend? Or was it meant to help her get over herself? Continuing to feel guilt over a sin you‘ve been forgiven for is after all a form of pride. “I‘m so bad, not even God can forgive me.” (2 in the comments.) #kristinl

Sorry @TheBookHippie I was driving home from vacation and spaced on posting about this week‘s section.I‘ll get it up tomorrow.#kristinl

Anyone read this? It‘s only my second Ford Maddox Ford, and I‘m not sure I get it. I‘m neither British nor upper crust enough to understand much of the slang, and whole pages are full of it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I believe this was Lively‘s debut novel of a prolific writer, and I‘m glad I read it. I‘ve enjoyed her writing sine reading Moon Tiger years ago. An examination of history - personal and societal - and the first time I‘ve seen the position of Town Clerk mentioned in fiction. 🙂

#currentread

A difficult childhood with unimaginable events, many caused by a family taking opposite sides in WWII, no one comes out looking good. (The author doesn‘t spare himself either.) But his grandfather, Old Boss, made me feel like I needed a shower. He was filthy rich, and got there by being slimy, before, during, and after the war. And Alexander “Bully” was a pawn in all their games. I learned lots about Holland during WWII and after, and the 👇🏻

I‘ve seen this described as a mystery and “noir.” I think it is neither, but a masterfully written character study, and a commentary on the connectedness of life. Highly recommended!

There is nothing to do with the ocean in this book. The “magnificent dappled sea” refers to bone marrow. (But I couldn‘t resist showing my current view.) Biro is a doctor and it shows, his prose sometimes running to medical lecture. But you want to know what happens to Luca so even if the seams show, I‘m glad I read it. 3 ⭐️

Maxwell does not disappoint. His prose is so seemingly simple and yet transports me to wherever he wants me to go. I fell in love with 8 year old Bunny from the beginning and didn‘t want it to end.

Just started the tagged book. I love Maxwell‘s prose! Also reading Pickwick Papers (❤️ Dickens‘ wicked sense of humor) Romeo and Juliet (❤️ the banter and word play) The Church Cracked Open (lots to think about in this one) and volume 3 of Kristin Lavransdatter (vivid depictions of medieval Norway.)
Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView Want to play @Lynnsoprano @TheBookHippie ?

Between a pick and a so-so, this seemed almost like a therapy assignment for the author. But there were places of insight and others of sparkling prose, so I‘ll go with a pick. #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

Starting my.#doublespin on a rainy morning at the beach. The rainbow was brighter than this makes it look. @TheAromaofBooks

I basically sat out here all day and read this charming little novel. Pym is like a post-war Austen and a perfect vacation read. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

A quiet morning, watching the sun rise over the ocean and starting my #bookspin for October. What better way to start a #vacation. @TheAromaofBooks

Anyone in the #whartonbuddyread who is buying ahead, this is on sale.

(Pic is of a recreation of Jørundgård for the shooting of a movie version.) This section made me think of a line from a Weird Al song “I‘ll have to get medieval on your hiney.” Everyone piles on Kristin, her boys act the way teenage boys raised by a man who‘d rather fight than farm would act, and Erlend comes back too late, and dies the way he lived - arrow to the groin. K is still being immature, nursing her own grief and pushing aside ??

#cozy #quotsyoct21 @TK-421

My parish did a book study on this last month, but I was unable to participate. So I‘m going it alone now.

I‘ve read a lot of Dickens, but this is my first time for Pickwick, and I‘m getting the feeling he was exploring many of the themes he would expound on in later novels. I‘m getting heavy Bleak House vibes in this section, where Pickwick is in the law courts! #whatthedickens @BarkingMadRun @quietjenn

My eBook version of the Complete Edith Wharton has this illustration at the beginning of Sanctuary. #whartonbuddyread @Graywacke

Too true not to share.

Earth and insects; art and nuclear war; men and women and children; Atwood covers all this and more with her inimitable prose, and her unique way of looking at the world that acknowledges the harsh realities without stooping to despair or giving in to sentimentality. You can see the twinkle in those blue eyes through every sentence. Highly recommended.

So much loss in this section! There‘s a hint of a hope of reconciliation and then Simon dies. Points to ponder: Did Simon do the right thing in keeping his secret from K? For himself or for her? Why did the priest chastise K. when it was E who ran off in a snit? Why can‘t K & E talk to each other after 15 years and 7 sons? When E showed up at the bridge should he have expected a public reunion & once again, run off when he didn‘t get it? #kristinl

October #bookspin list - Kindle edition. I need to clear off some of those oh so tempting deals I have succumbed to! And yes, I‘m posting early, but I‘ll be traveling on October2nd.@TheAromaofBooks