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CarolynM

CarolynM

Joined May 2016

blurb
CarolynM
Santa Koala | Colin Buchanan
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How are we going #AussieSecretSanta participants? Everyone on track to get their parcels sent out at the end of the week? Don‘t forget to post a photo and tag me when you send and receive your parcels.

Rissreads Yep. Mine will be out by Friday 🙂 5h
MrsMalaprop Oops! Just posted mine but forgot to take any pics 🤦🏻‍♀️. Happy to say it‘s on its way though…📚🎄🧑‍🎄 5h
LeeRHarry Will be in the post tomorrow 😊 4h
LapReader Early next week. Waiting on a couple of bits to arrive. 3h
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Almost ready to post ☺️ 1h
17 likes5 comments
review
CarolynM
Seeing Other People | Diana Reid
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Pickpick

The love lives of a pair of sisters put their sibling relationship to the test over the course of a steamy Sydney summer. Although there is plenty of 20 something angst, it‘s intelligently rendered & there are some interesting takes on self awareness & social/romantic manipulation. #ozfiction

41 likes2 stack adds
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CarolynM
Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton
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#PersephoneClub

Here are my two suggestions for next year‘s February read. The first is tagged, I‘ll tag the second one in the comments.

Cathythoughts I‘m liking the look of the tagged book. It gets my vote 👍🏻 2d
LeahBergen Nice choices! I‘ve read (and really enjoyed) Family Roundabout so I‘ll vote for (edited) 2d
See All 9 Comments
elkeOriginal I have been wanting to read Good Evening! 2d
rubyslippersreads I‘d be happy with either, but I‘ve been wanting to read 2d
quietjenn I've read the short stories, so vote for 1d
Bookbuyingaddict Oohh again two great choices and I‘d be happy with either but think 🤔 il vote for Family Roundabout 👍😀 1d
37 likes9 comments
review
CarolynM
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Pickpick

I often think that time shifts are used in novels that don‘t have a strong enough story to sustain them without it, but that is not the case here. The history of these characters & their interactions would have worked fine with a straightforward timeline, but allowing the relevant pieces of the past to come out as the story in the present progressed intensified my understanding & sympathy for them. I really loved this one.

sarahbarnes I loved this one too. 😊 4d
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4d
squirrelbrain I loved this one as well! ❤️ 4d
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB Me too! 4d
thegreensofa And a beautiful cover! 🩷 4d
Rissreads I have this on my shelf waiting. Your cat is adorable! We are getting a kitten on Sunday. My son has wanted one all year and he finally got me at a weak moment 🤣 so we will have three cats! They bring you such joy ♥️ 2d
58 likes2 stack adds6 comments
review
CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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Pickpick

Northern Soul fanatics track down Bucky Bronco, the long forgotten (by everyone else) singer of some very rare singles, & fly him from his home in Chicago to Scarborough to perform at a festival. Suffering from jet lag, culture shock & opioid withdrawal & grieving his late wife, Bucky isn‘t what the fans expected & his story is truly heartbreaking. The English characters are doing it tough too, but there are glimmers of hope through the gloom.

LeahBergen I‘m intrigued! 1w
LeeRHarry Glad this was a pick for you! 😊 1w
CarolynM @LeahBergen It‘s sad but not devastating and very well written. 1w
See All 6 Comments
CarolynM @LeeRHarry Hope you like it too 1w
squirrelbrain I got a digital ARC of this, but still haven‘t read it. 🙄 1w
CarolynM @squirrelbrain I think it‘s worth your time. 1w
54 likes6 comments
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

An interesting and insightful exploration of the mental health world, particularly as it relates to psychopathy. I read this for my IRL book group in preparation for seeing Jon Ronson talking about it last night. He was an entertaining presenter, and having a couple of the people whose stories he told in the book joining in by Zoom on a big screen was inspired.

LeahBergen I liked this one, too. 2w
Suet624 That‘s so cool! 2w
62 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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#10BeforeTheEnd

Halfway there!

Centique Well done! 2w
Ruthiella Nice work! 👍 2w
LeeRHarry Great progress! 2w
See All 6 Comments
sarahbarnes Nice work! 😃 2w
DogMomIrene Way to go! 🙌🏼 2w
BookmarkTavern Woohoo! You can do it! 2w
60 likes6 comments
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CarolynM
The Summer Book | Tove Jansson
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Pickpick

I‘ve been hearing huge praise for this book for about 15 years so I think my reading experience suffered a bit from sky high expectations. But it is charming, with some lovely nature writing and the relationship between the little girl and her elderly grandmother is touching. Sophia Jansson‘s delightful afterword underlined the strength of the connection, both to the people and place. The photo is an outer island in the Stockholm archipelago.

LeahBergen I really enjoyed it but it‘s a very quiet sort of book, isn‘t it? (edited) 2w
Tamra It‘s my kind of reading balm. 😌 2w
Bookwomble @Tamra I love this book, and "balm" is just the right word. I felt more relaxed just seeing @CarolynM 's post ? 7d
71 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
CarolynM
Harlequin House | MARGERY. SHARP
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Pickpick

I had a jolly good time with this book. What a hoot! I hope Mr Partridge finds his new flat mates as worthy of his stewardship as Lisbeth and Ronny🤣

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella Awesome. I‘m looking forward to finishing. I could do with a little gentle comedy. 3w
LeahBergen I think I might need another book about his time with the pastry chef family. 😆 3w
CarolynM @Ruthiella You‘ll certainly get that with this one😊 3w
See All 6 Comments
CarolynM @LeahBergen Maybe they‘ll turn their hands to Dundee cake😆 3w
Kimzey Thanks for the review. And the cake looks delicious! 😋 3w
Jeg Is she the same person who wrote the Rescuers? 2w
73 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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CarolynM
A Footman for the Peacock | Rachel Ferguson
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#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Here are my suggestions for July.

kwmg40 I‘ll vote for Family Ties. 3w
See All 13 Comments
Ruthiella I‘ll vote for the author I‘ve not yet read 3w
willaful This sounds fun. 3w
LeahBergen Hmm… let‘s see… I haven‘t read any Celia Buckmaster yet so I‘ll vote for 3w
Kimzey Hmmm, I haven‘t read either author yet, but will choose 3w
julieclair I think I‘ll go with 3w
elkeOriginal Peacock gets my vote! 3w
LeahBergen That was a close one … the winner is Family Ties! 1w
53 likes13 comments
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CarolynM
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It‘s back! #AussieSecretSanta is back for 2024.

Sharni is away so, with her approval, I have taken it on this year. I don‘t know what I‘m doing, but I will do my best.

Sign ups open until 20th November at:

https://forms.gle/eyeWVXPV6unMqjWa8 (I hope)

I will try to send matches on 21st November.

If you have an Australian postal address you are welcome to join the fun!

MrsMalaprop Oh yay 🎉 🎄📚. Thank you for taking it on! 3w
Freespirit Count me in Carolyn. And thanks for organising! 3w
LeeRHarry Thanks for doing this Carolyn. Look forward to it every year. 😊 3w
See All 9 Comments
Rissreads Thanks for accepting the challenge, I‘m in! 3w
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Woohoo! Filling the form in on a train heading to Toronto ☺️ Thanks for hosting @CarolynM 3w
Jhullie I missed it! Enjoy everyone! 1w
CarolynM @Jhullie I can still squeeze you in if you want. Let me know and fill in the form🙂 1w
Jhullie I filled in the form. Thank you for squeezing me in 1w
CarolynM @Jhullie No worries😊 1w
40 likes9 comments
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CarolynM
Harlequin House | MARGERY. SHARP
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No wonder I wear reading glasses 🤣🤣🤣

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Tamra 🤣🤣 3w
Jeg 😂 3w
LeahBergen I just read this bit yesterday and laughed! 😆 3w
See All 8 Comments
willaful Can't have women reading! They might start thinking, and getting ideas... 3w
Ruthiella 😂😂😂 3w
Kimzey Oh, well, so glad someone‘s protecting women‘s eyesight (whether they want it or not.) 🤷🏼‍♀️😆 (edited) 3w
julieclair Haven‘t gotten to that bit yet, but so far this book is cracking me up! 😆 3w
rubyslippersreads My mom always felt kind of bad about my poor eyesight; she worried it might have been caused by her letting me read too much. I pointed out that (a) she couldn‘t have stopped me, and (b) I learned the habit of reading constantly from her. 😂 3w
56 likes8 comments
review
CarolynM
Arabella | Georgette Heyer
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Pickpick

Delightful! Up there with The Masqueraders as my favourite Heyer. Mr Beaumarisis definitely my favourite Heyer hero.

Amiable What a gorgeous kitty! 😍 3w
RaeLovesToRead Give kitty a big kiss from me! 💕💕 3w
Freespirit Hi Carolyn I haven‘t read one of her books but I need to remedy that I think!!! 3w
See All 17 Comments
rubyslippersreads If it‘s kitty-approved, I definitely need to read it. 😸 3w
Ruthiella 😻😻😻 3w
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3w
mabell Oh I‘ll have to move this one up the list too! 3w
CarolynM @Amiable @RaeLovesToRead He‘s very old (20 years) and arthritic which means he‘s pretty scruffy these days, so I don‘t think I will kiss him 🥴 3w
CarolynM @rubyslippersreads I don‘t think he did approve, he kept trying to bite me while I took the photo😆 3w
CarolynM @Freespirit 👋 Hi Sally. One of my book group friends is a big fan and is drip feeding me her copies from her teenage years🥰 Heyer‘s mysteries are also fun if you‘re not fond of romance. 3w
CarolynM @mabell I think you‘ll like it🙂 3w
Leftcoastzen Beautiful senior 😻 3w
LeahBergen Oh, I liked this one, too! 👏👏 And Old Mr Puss is very sweet. 🥰 3w
TheLudicReader That kitty! ❤️ 3w
Mimi28 Aaaawww those eyes!! 😻😻😻😻😻😻😻 3w
Gissy 😻🖤🖤🖤 3w
Jeg Great book cover and what a beautiful cat. 3w
78 likes17 comments
review
CarolynM
This Bird Has Flown | Susanna Hoffs
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Pickpick

If this was a standard romance I would have been annoyed by the lack of communication being the sticking point between the lovers, but I‘m prepared to let that go here because I enjoyed all the musical references, the insiders knowledge of the music industry and the fun of guessing who inspired the characters. I‘m also wondering how many incidents were inspired by Susanna‘s real life experiences.

Prairiegirl_reading I didn‘t know she had written a book! Is this a debut? 3w
CarolynM @Prairiegirl_reading Yes, it seems to be. 3w
68 likes1 stack add2 comments
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CarolynM
The Hotel Avocado | Bob Mortimer
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Mehso-so

This is a direct sequel to The Satsuma Complex which I enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, Bob‘s shtick didn‘t work so well for me here. A smile or two, but no laughs and the story wasn‘t strong enough to make up for it. Not bad, but definitely disappointing.

squirrelbrain Yes, I read reviews that said it wasn‘t anywhere near as good as the first one - but hubby still seemed to enjoy it. (I‘ve read the first but I‘m not desperate to jump into this one!) 1mo
51 likes1 comment
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CarolynM
The Far Cry | Emma Smith
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Mehso-so

I can‘t say I enjoyed this. It‘s a sad little story populated with unhappy, unlikeable characters. Even though I felt sorry for Therese, who everyone treated so badly, I found her hard to like, mostly because the author kept telling me she was charmless. I was surprised at how much the author claimed to have enjoyed her experiences in India - I didn‘t feel any of that from the descriptions in the book.
#PersephoneClub
2nd down for #10BeforeTheEnd

ChaoticMissAdventures ✅✅ great job! 1mo
LeahBergen You‘re definitely right about all the unlikeable characters! I did like Miss Spooner, though. 1mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen She was the best of them, but her reserve was so extreme I wasn‘t sure until right at the end that she wasn‘t only being polite. 1mo
67 likes3 comments
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CarolynM
The Wedding Forecast | Nina Kenwood
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Pickpick

Although this is billed as a romcom I didn‘t find it at all funny, but I also didn‘t feel like it was trying to be. Rather it was a romance with a bit more substance than most and, as the author says in her acknowledgment, “something of a love letter to bookshops and bookselling”. Most enjoyable. #ozfiction

First one down for #10BeforeTheEnd

ChaoticMissAdventures What a great start! 🍀 2mo
LeahBergen Pretty vase! 😄 2mo
65 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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I‘m jumping on the #10BeforeTheEnd train. I need some encouragement to get these books read!

Thanks for such a great idea @ChaoticMissAdventures

LeahBergen I‘m just 40 pages in to The Far Cry! 2mo
Ruthiella I‘ll be curious to read what you think of The Summer Book. It‘s so beloved but it failed to charm me. 2mo
Lindy Is this your first read of the Summer Book? I love it so much! 2mo
See All 9 Comments
ChaoticMissAdventures Flamingo is on my list too! How random. Good luck 🍀 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Hey! Just wondering if your address has changed? I got a Christmas card I sent you in December back today!! 2mo
CarolynM 👋 No, same address. That‘s very odd 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thank you for thinking of me, anyway 😘 2mo
CarolynM @Ruthiella @Lindy It will be my first time reading it. I‘ve been hearing about it for a long time so when a lovely bookseller recommended it when I was in Sweden recently I felt I really should buy it. I intended to read it while I was there, but it didn‘t happen. I want to read it while my memories are fresh. 2mo
Lindy @CarolynM Oh, you were in Sweden! I hope you had a lovely time. 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CarolynM I couldn‘t believe it made it there and back! Only took 10 months!! 1mo
50 likes9 comments
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CarolynM
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Mehso-so

I‘m a fan of Steven Carroll‘s Eliot Quartet and I really wanted to like this book which features a character introduced in the 4th of that series, but, although I enjoyed his writing as much as ever, I was left wondering what this story was actually about. I know I‘m not at my sharpest right now so I may have to try this one again one day.
#ozfiction

LeahBergen But a lovely photo nonetheless! 😄 2mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen Thank you! We‘re feeling chuffed to have finally got a clematis to flower! 2mo
57 likes2 comments
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CarolynM
Hospital | Sanya Rushdi
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Pickpick

A young woman of fragile mental health suffers a crisis & is admitted to a psychiatric ward where she gradually recovers. This is a difficult book to rate because it doesn't really have much by way of characters or plot & the writing is very ordinary but I think its first person narration is effective in communicating the experience of a mental health crisis. #ozfiction

Centique And that looks like a very good coffee to go with it! Hope you are doing well 😘 2mo
CarolynM @Centique I‘ve been meaning to email you. I‘ll try to do it this week. 😘 2mo
58 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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CarolynM
Spam Tomorrow | VERILY. ANDERSON
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed that romp through one woman‘s WWII experiences and I appreciated the “jolly hockey sticks” tone. It may seem flippant to present war time like that, but I think it was representative of the way the British, particularly Londoners, maintained morale on the home front both during the war & in its aftermath. The descriptions of air raids were very evocative, I almost felt like I was there.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella She definitely seemed to be the kind of person who sees the humor in life, rather than dwell on the negative. 2mo
LeahBergen I enjoyed it, too! Now I just have to get around to posting about it. 😆 2mo
willaful @Ruthiella I suspect she would never have had the large family she did, if she didn\'t! 2mo
kwmg40 I\'m almost finished and I too liked the upbeat tone of the book. 2mo
75 likes1 stack add4 comments
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

A quick, fun read. Not as strong as the Thursday Murder Club series, but entertaining nonetheless.

Ruthiella I think the first Thursday Murder Club novel is its weakest, so hopefully this new series will get better and better also. 2mo
CarolynM @Ruthiella Yes, you may be right. I‘m certainly prepared to give the next one a go😀 2mo
bthegood I\\\'m stacking this - the TMC series was so good that unfortunately for me I think there will be a comparison (at least at first) - hoping this series will be just as good- I miss the TMC characters I liked it so much!🙂 (edited) 2mo
See All 6 Comments
elkeOriginal @Ruthiella I did not like the 1st Thurs Murder bk so your comment makes me think I need to give book 2 a try? Because I did like We Solve Murders quite a bit! 2mo
Ruthiella @elkeOriginal I‘d say give it a try if your TBR has room! Also, if you enjoy and have access to audio, I listened to the last two and thought they were really well done. 👍 2mo
squirrelbrain I agree - I liked it (a lot) but not as much as TMC. 2mo
68 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

What an absolute joy! I loved it. I loved the way it played with the tropes and conventions of fictional crime as rendered by the British and I loved the returning characters, of course, but what I loved most were all the little asides - the nods and winks at so many things real and fictional. I snort-laughed at “the Milton‘s were very much not a racist family”.

I‘ve been absent & not reading much over the last few months. Glad to be back now😊

Amiable Welcome back! 2mo
CarolynM @Amiable Thanks Amy😀 2mo
Centique Welcome back Carolyn! I hope the trip was fantastic 😍💕 2mo
See All 22 Comments
Bookwomble 🤗 2mo
CarolynM @Centique Thanks Paula💕 2mo
squirrelbrain Nice to see you back! 👋 2mo
CarolynM @squirrelbrain Thanks Helen💕 2mo
BarbaraBB So good to see you. Have thing calmed down a bit for you? I hope so ❤️❤️ 2mo
Ruthiella Welcome back! I preordered this one and am really looking forward to being back with Brodie. 2mo
mabell Welcome back! ❤️ 2mo
LeahBergen Hello again! I‘ve been a bit absent myself. 😄 2mo
Jeg I loved this. Her writing is so good. And so many words that were new to me. Also it has given me the push to read a Dorothy Sayers. Hope you are doing ok? 2mo
Freespirit Oh I shall put this on the reading list! 2mo
CarolynM @BarbaraBB Thanks Barbara💕 I‘m feeling a lot better 🙂 2mo
CarolynM @Ruthiella Thanks Ruth💕 The tone of this one is quite different from the previous Brodie books, but I was fine with that🙂 2mo
CarolynM @mabell Thank you 💕 2mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen Hello to you too 👋 Hope all is well💕 2mo
CarolynM @Jeg I‘m doing a lot better than I have for a while. Hope all is well with you, too💕 2mo
CarolynM @Freespirit Do! It‘s a lot of fun 😀 How are things with you? 2mo
BarbaraBB I am so happy to hear that! 2mo
Freespirit I‘m good Carolyn. Just don‘t get on Litsy much at the moment. I bought the book after your review so I‘m ready to start it. I‘ll let you know how it goes! Xxxx @CarolynM 2mo
69 likes1 stack add22 comments
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

Well, this wasn‘t the fun adventure I was expecting. It was all rather grim really. Poor Susan! No wonder she went on strike. I‘d like to think there was a little subversive intention behind the way that turned out, but probably not😆
I was glad to see the dastardly DV thwarted and I hope the Pearls got more than warm thanks. Had anyone heard of a hay-box or Solomon‘s rabbit cooking method?

#PersephoneClub

julieclair I‘m just starting this, and expecting a fun adventure! 🥴 Thanks for the heads up! 4mo
quietjenn I'm definitely shifting my expectations, based on this and other comments! 4mo
elkeOriginal Susan going on strike was the best. She sure was MVP and carried quite a load while the parents were gone. Agreed about the Pearls! 4mo
See All 14 Comments
elkeOriginal ‘dastardly DV‘ 😆 4mo
LeahBergen I need to pick this up soon! 🫣 4mo
Teresereading I remember the hatbox from Duchess of Duke Street 4mo
CarolynM @Teresereading Did you mean “haybox”? Did they use one in the hotel kitchen in DoDS? I remember the series, but not many details about it. 4mo
jlhammar Poor Susan for sure! I‘m about halfway through. I‘d not heard of a haybox before this—pretty neat. 4mo
rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @julieclair I picked this book precisely because I thought it would be it would be a fun adventure. 😟 4mo
rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen I haven‘t started yet either, and I‘m the one who picked it. 😏 4mo
Cathythoughts Not what I was expecting from the title! I havnt started yet … 👍🏻😁 4mo
Aimeesue I‘d heard of hatboxes. They had a bit of a revival during the pandemic, actually. People make similar ones with fabric covers. 4mo
Bookwomble A haybox oven was a pre-electric method of low-energy slow cooking. https://www.cottagesmallholder.com/haybox-cooking-how-to-make-a-haybox-and-save-... 2mo
70 likes14 comments
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CarolynM
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the first part of this one, got a bit bored through the middle section, then started enjoying it again towards the end. It was a good choice for #CampLitsy24 I loved reading all the campers‘ takes on it. Thanks camp leaders!

Megabooks Glad you enjoyed it!! 4mo
BarbaraBB What Meg says ❤️ 4mo
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome! ☺️ Glad you liked it. 4mo
64 likes1 stack add3 comments
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

Fascinating overview of the history of Scandinavia from the Vikings to the present day. There was an awful lot I knew nothing about. A great preparation for my trip to Denmark and Sweden which starts on Saturday 🛫🇩🇰🇸🇪

LeahBergen Saturday!? Lucky you! 👏👏 4mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen I‘m feeling more overwhelmed and anxious than excited at the moment but I am looking forward to being there. 4mo
LeeRHarry Safe travels Carolyn! 💕 4mo
See All 19 Comments
rabbitprincess I was just in Denmark and Sweden this June! Have a great time! 4mo
sarahbarnes Have a great trip! 4mo
Centique Wow!! Have a wonderful time 💕 And thank you again for your lovely gift 🎁 4mo
CarolynM @LeeRHarry Thanks Lee 💕 4mo
CarolynM @rabbitprincess Any tips to pass on? Thanks for your good wishes. 4mo
CarolynM @Centique Thank you, Paula💕 and you are very welcome 😘 4mo
rabbitprincess @CarolynM I loved the Museum of Copenhagen and Kronborg Castle, aka Hamlet‘s castle ? the beach at Amager Strand is nice too! In Sweden I saw Malmö, Ystad and Lund. Lund is BEAUTIFUL and a real university town. Ystad is a must if you like Kurt Wallander ? As for food, be sure to go to Sct Peders Bageri in Copenhagen 4mo
rabbitprincess also, smørrebrød, aka open-face sandwiches ? 4mo
CarolynM @rabbitprincess Thanks! I visited Copenhagen in 2018 so I'm familiar with some of that. I'm looking forward to Kronborg Cadtle very much & I'll put Amager Strand on the must visit list🙂 4mo
Rissreads I‘ve missed all this! Are you still away or back home now? Anyway I hope it was fabulous! X 3mo
CarolynM @Rissreads Hi Nerissa👋 Still away, in Aalborg today, quietly apologising to Jorn Utzon for the behaviour of the NSW government 😬 🫤 We have one more week away. When do you leave for your trip? 3mo
Rissreads I leave on the 18th. It‘s getting close now! 3mo
Centique Hi Carolyn. I sent you a wee “thinking of you” gift from a local retailer - but forgot to get a message attached - so a package from a shop called Top 3 should turn up! And just to say you are in my thoughts and wishing you better times ahead 💕 1mo
CarolynM @Centique Thank you, that is very thoughtful. Thank you for your very kind email message too😘 1mo
Centique Hi @CarolynM just checking if the gift turned up? Australia Post said it was delivered but i thought id better check 🤞🤞xxx 1mo
65 likes19 comments
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CarolynM
The Mastermind | Amy Lane
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Pickpick

Some fun elements in the set up of the con, but the romantic angst was a bit too contrived for my taste. A low pick.

review
CarolynM
Golden Touch | Sarina Bowen
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Mehso-so

Not a bad romance objectively, but not my cup of tea. The heroine-in-danger trope is rarely a winner for me and I didn‘t like the hero‘s attitude in this one either.

blurb
CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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In response to the New York Times list, Readings bookshop got appropriate people to nominate their favourite Australian books of this century and compiled a top 30. Here's the first 10.

https://www.readings.com.au/news/best-australian-books-of-the-21st-century

Chelsea.Poole Thanks for sharing! 4mo
MrsMalaprop Thanks for sharing. I‘ve read 9 of them 😁 4mo
Ruthiella Awesome. I love any list making discussion these kind of things engender. 4mo
See All 18 Comments
Centique Oooh exciting! I hope for a high placing for Too Much Lip 🤞❤️ 4mo
Jeg That‘s a great list. Only one I haven‘t read. 4mo
CarolynM @MrsMalaprop @Jeg I‘ve read 6. I‘d put Foal‘s Bread a lot higher than 28! 4mo
Jeg Definitely 4mo
CarolynM @Centique I hope so too. I think it would be my number 1. I‘m looking forward to seeing the rest of the list. 4mo
MrsMalaprop @jeg How The Light Gets In is the only one I haven‘t read. How about you? 4mo
BarbaraBB Thanks this is so cool! 4mo
Rissreads I‘ve read 19. 4mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag 😂 1 for me! Same as the other list. 4mo
Amiable Thanks for posting this! I‘ve read 5. Which ones are your favorites? 4mo
CarolynM @Amiable I‘ve read a total of 13 across the full list of 30. For me the 2 absolute standouts are Too Much Lip and Foal‘s Bread. I‘ve never read The Slap, but since they‘ve given it top billing I think I will have to. Which ones did you like? 4mo
Amiable @CarolynM Ironically enough, “The Slap” is one I‘ve read —and I thought it was just meh. But I loved “Year of Wonders” and “The Book Thief.” 4mo
LeeRHarry How did I miss this post?! I‘ve read 16. 4mo
LeeRHarry My top 5 would be - in no particular order - Stasiland, Year of Wonders, The Tall Man, Too Much Lip and Burial Rites. 4mo
42 likes18 comments
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

This has been my handbag book for the last few weeks. Bull Durham is one of my favourite films. Sheldon‘s background as a minor league baseball player was really interesting, and so was his description of the process of making the film, but what I most enjoyed was the insight into how and why he wrote it in the first place.

Leftcoastzen I enjoyed this too! 4mo
57 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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Bailedbailed

I used to enjoy L A Witt‘s books, but the more recent ones haven‘t done it for me. I feel like she‘s not trying with the character development - there‘s just a lot of repetitive blather about whatever angst she‘s ascribed to them - so the romance falls flat. I went back and reread an early one - it‘s not just my recent mood. I‘ve bailed on the last few I‘ve read and not bothered with a review. I think I‘ll pass on her in future. Not in database.

xicanti That‘s disappointing. I‘ve loved everything I‘ve read from her, but I don‘t think I‘ve tried anything published more recently than three or four years ago. Guess I‘ll stick to her backlist. 4mo
CarolynM @xicanti Yes, it is disappointing. Of course, you may not have the same reaction I‘ve had. 4mo
bthegood I've been feeling this way about recent Stephen King books I've started (and not finished) - I think my tastes have changed or maybe after reading so many books by the same author the stories start to feel flat - anyhoo glad you shared this, not glad you did not the book but it is good to know I am not the only one with this issue 🙂 4mo
dabbe #allhailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 4mo
46 likes5 comments
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CarolynM
All Fours | Miranda July
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Panpan

Ugh!

I‘m retitling this one Diary of a Narcissist. What an insufferable, self obsessed pain in the neck she was from beginning to end. Maybe I‘m missing something, but most of her inner monologue seemed to me to be just a load of pretentious twaddle.

I‘m looking forward to the discussion.

#CampLitsy24

dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 5mo
Ruthiella Great review! 😂👏👏👏 5mo
squirrelbrain Love it! ❤️🤪 5mo
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BarbaraBB Love your review 🤣🤣 5mo
TrishB Yes, all of those words! 5mo
TheBookHippie Narcissistic garbage 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😵‍💫😵‍💫 5mo
Centique I love that i can confidently remove this from my stacked list now! 😂 4mo
75 likes1 stack add7 comments
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CarolynM
The Native Heath | Elizabeth Fair
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Pickpick

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Not much story, but what an entertaining collection of characters! I loved Harriet & her Aunt Finch (I could just imagine Aunt Finch as a Suffragette, yelling slogans while chained to the railings at the Palace of Westminster😆) & I liked Robert for seeing her charms. The interactions between Mrs Prentice and Mrs Minnis were a hoot, but as for the Popes… oh dear.

Ruthiella I loved this character rich novel. It could have gone on and on, as far as I was concerned. 😃 It wasn‘t the Popes that got me, but the family Minnis or should I say MENACE! 😂 Guard your vacuum and borrowed tools! 5mo
LeahBergen I‘m hoping to get to it soon (and then I‘ll come back to comment 😄). 5mo
Jess_Read_This I hope to start this one tonight. I need some entertaining characters in my life at the moment 😂 5mo
jlhammar Planning to enjoy this over the weekend! 5mo
jlhammar Agree, such great quirky characters! 5mo
79 likes5 comments
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CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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#ReadYourKindle list for July. Thanks Cydney😘

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CarolynM
The Sweet Dove Died | Barbara Pym
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#BookReport

Lots of comfort reading in June. It‘s hard to pick a favourite. The Sweet Dove Died or The Masqueraders, I think.

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CarolynM
The Masqueraders | Georgette Heyer
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Pickpick

Well, I adored this! So much fun. My favourite Heyer so far. Thank you again @LeahBergen for the gift of this book.

LeahBergen Oh, I‘m so glad! And now I‘ll have to remember to read it for my next Heyer, seeing as it‘s your favourite so far! 5mo
Cathythoughts ♥️♥️♥️ 5mo
Rissreads I still haven‘t read one of hers. I will eventually! 5mo
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CarolynM
The Blue Castle | L. M. Montgomery
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Pickpick

Delightful! I loved Valency and Barney and hated the appalling Stirlings. The descriptions of the landscape were sublime. Thank you to @LeahBergen for the gift of the book and to @thegirlwiththelibrarybag for reminding me to read it.

bookandbedandtea My absolute favorite LMM! I reread it every couple of years because I adore Valancy and Barney and because the nature descriptions are delicious! 5mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Glad you enjoyed it! 5mo
Jas16 This is my favorite comfort read. 5mo
LeahBergen I‘m so glad you liked it! 😘 5mo
Centique I have heard so many good things about this book, i must get to it. Currently have 12 library holds that came in at once though 😂 5mo
59 likes5 comments
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CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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Pickpick

I wouldn‘t have thought it possible to set a convincing romance against the background of a bunch of civil servants trying to get a piece of legislation through the House of Lords, but this lovely novella proved me quite wrong. It also gave me a little bit of PTSD from the pressures and frustrations of my time doing that kind of work. And I just loved that it described one of the MCs as a “policy wonk” 😆
Not in the database ☹️
#ReadYourKindle

TrishB The policy update website we have for higher education is WonkHE. You have to say it out loud ofc, with silent H. 😁 5mo
CarolynM @TrishB 🤣 Love it! 5mo
CBee @TrishB 😂😂😂 5mo
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

I love an m/m sports romance - this trilogy delivered plenty of warm & fuzzies with a touch of spice plus I learned a lot about baseball. Rather than the usual stories about stars & their successes, these are about the players on the fringes of the big league & their struggles with injuries, form slumps, the uncertainty of being traded or sent down to the minors & the resultant mental health issues. Better writing than your average romance too.

Jeg I love that you love romances. I get to see some amazing covers. One day I might try one. 5mo
CarolynM @Jeg Pretty much all romances this month, I fear😬 5mo
Jeg Your escape? 5mo
CarolynM @Jeg Yes, absolutely. And I like them for bedtime reading because they‘re undemanding. 5mo
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CarolynM
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Pickpick

So sweet and charming. It evoked memories of my newlywed days, although I don‘t think I was ever quite such a goose as Felicity or my husband as ineffectual as Ian, and of our first house where we were very happily childless for a lot longer than the first year! But I can‘t imagine how we managed without a cook and a maid🤣🤣🤣

#PersephoneClub

Centique So difficult! We‘ll just have to have a local woman in a few mornings a week to do for us 😂😂 5mo
Tamra How did/do we manage?? 😅 I was thinking the same thing. Though I also don‘t relish the idea of managing “staff” either. 5mo
LeahBergen And we didn‘t have an allowance from my father, either. How did we survive?? 😆 Lovely review! 5mo
See All 6 Comments
Cathythoughts Great review ❤️ How did we ever do it 😳😂 5mo
willaful The image that best sums up my husband and I is from an underground comic in which someone exclaims, “At last! Someone as wishy-washy as I am!“ 😂 So I definitely related. (edited) 5mo
quietjenn Modern life is so hard! At least you never had to worry about the servants drinking all your whiskey. 5mo
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CarolynM
Clear: A Novel | Carys Davies
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Pickpick

This is an extraordinarily atmospheric book. The writing was unobtrusive but incredibly effective -I felt the primness of the place and time, the harshness of the weather, the rugged emptiness of the landscape, the rough expanse of the sea and the claustrophobic interiors. The story was simple but engaging and offered plenty to think about. Thanks to the #CampLitsy24 hosts and participants for the discussions which added to my enjoyment.

squirrelbrain Fabulous review - glad you enjoyed it so much! 6mo
BarbaraBB So glad you enjoyed it. We‘ve had a good start camping! 6mo
Megabooks Love this review! Glad to have you at camp. 🏕️😃🫶🏻 6mo
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dabbe Lovely review. 💚💙💚 6mo
Centique What a great review - very keen to get to this one 😍 6mo
youneverarrived Fab review! 6mo
Rissreads I‘ve never heard of this one! 5mo
Suet624 Great review. This book is so good. 5mo
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CarolynM
The Sweet Dove Died | Barbara Pym
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Pickpick

Barbara Pym joins the permissive society😳 No anthropologists, Anglicans or excellent women in this one, and the entanglements between the characters are as much sexual as romantic. Pym‘s wit is as entertaining as ever, but I have to take issue with her on one point. “Books as presents were somehow lacking in excitement and romance.” What rot!

Tamra Totally agree! 6mo
Ruthiella I‘ve not read this title yet. I do want to be a Pym completist. 🤞 6mo
rwmg The first time I read it, I was James's age and thought it would be marvellous to have a friend like Leonora. Last time I read it I was a bit older than Leonora and had to admire Pym's skill in evoking sympathy for Leonora despite how self-centred and unlikeable she is. (edited) 6mo
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LeahBergen Sexual?? My goodness! 😆 I haven‘t made it this far forward in my chronological read of her works. 6mo
CarolynM @Tamra 🙌 6mo
CarolynM @Ruthiella Me too😊 6mo
CarolynM @rwmg Leonora is a great character, I can see the attraction and I agree she is sympathetic in spite of her less than generous behaviour. 6mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen I was surprised. This is definitely one for you to look forward to. 6mo
Cathythoughts Cosy picture 🥰 6mo
Leftcoastzen 😻 6mo
Rissreads What Poppycock indeed! 🤣 5mo
71 likes11 comments
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CarolynM
The Sweet Dove Died | Barbara Pym
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How could I resist adding this bag to my #bookhaul?

Hooked_on_books That bag is perfection! 🤩 6mo
Kristy_K Love this bag! 6mo
Reggie That‘s how I feel walking past library displays. Those orphaned books call to me. 6mo
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LeahBergen What a great little shopping spree! 6mo
willaful Awwww! 6mo
Centique That is adorable! 6mo
Freespirit Lots of reading pleasure ahead!! 6mo
erzascarletbookgasm Nice haul, love the bag! 6mo
Amiable Love that bag! The Scandinavia book looks really interesting. Can‘t wait to hear what you think of it. 6mo
Tamra Love it! 6mo
Rissreads 🤣 Classic! ♥️ 5mo
75 likes11 comments
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CarolynM
Edenglassie | Melissa Lucashenko
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#BookReport for May.

Edenglassie and Caledonian Road are my favourites for the month, and possibly for the year so far.

Cathythoughts That‘s a great month ❤️👏🏻👏🏻 6mo
Rissreads Yes I‘ve heard good things about Caledonian road. I‘m going to read it on my kindle in Melbourne. 5mo
50 likes2 comments
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CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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#ReadYourKindle list for June. I‘ll go look at the numbers drawn now🙂 Thanks Cydney.

I‘ve been out of action for a few days so coming in late with these end of month posts.

CBee Looks good 😊 6mo
Rissreads Excellent work! My reading has suffered this month. I have way too much going on with family etc so I just can‘t get to my book, or when I do I can‘t concentrate because I have a million other things circulating in my brain. Or I fall asleep. It‘s so annoying! 5mo
44 likes2 comments
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CarolynM
Prove It | Stephanie Hoyt
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Pickpick

Very slow burn m/m hockey romance that was most enjoyable for the soul baring and supportive group chats between the players. I‘d love to believe that a bunch of hockey bros had conversations like these but something tells me it‘s not very likely. And I claim I don‘t read fantasy😉😆

LeahBergen 😆😆 6mo
Centique 😂😂 Fantasy indeed! 6mo
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CarolynM
Best Supporting Actor | Sally Malcolm, Joanna Chambers
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Pickpick

This final book in the trilogy was just as enjoyable as the first 2. This time the romance was set against the background of rehearsals for a play about the relationship between Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. I enjoyed the glimpse of backstage life and I wish the play was real because I would love to see it. I hope these 2 authors will write together again sometime.
#ReadYourKindle

CBee Yay 😀 6mo
47 likes1 comment
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CarolynM
The In-Between | Christos Tsiolkas
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Pickpick

Explores the developing relationship between 2 men in their 50s, largely through the lens of their previous significant relationships & their interactions with others. Tsioklas‘s writing is not for those with delicate sensibilities, he is brutal with his characters‘ psychologies & seems to glory in their animal essence, particularly their smells. My favourite part of the book was a dinner party argument covering a lot of topical issues. A low pick

BarbaraBB Interesting. I always like this author. 6mo
MrsMalaprop Ha! Brett told me I need to read this, just for the dinner party scene. Haven‘t read it yet & not sure I will… 6mo
CarolynM @MrsMalaprop You could just read the dinner party scene, I reckon it would work on its own as a short story 6mo
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CarolynM
Untitled | Untitled
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1. Caught up with a friend from out of town
2. Finally got rid of a cold
3. IRL book group
4. Play-off hockey
5. Dinner at my favourite restaurant with my husband and daughter

#5JoySFriday

Thanks for the tag @DebinHawaii

LeahBergen As in NHL hockey? Who are you cheering for?? 6mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 6mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen Of course. Florida against NY, the zebras in the west. Is that a saying in hockey? When I used to follow Australian Rules Football if we disliked both teams we would say we were “barracking for the umpire” (there was only one in those days🤣) 6mo
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LeahBergen Ha! I don‘t know that phrase! We‘re cheering for Florida over NY and (even though it‘s a bit rude) we‘re halfway cheering on Dallas over Edmonton. Edmonton is our DEADLY rival but they‘re 3 hours up the road and in our same province. Our saying here is “ABE” : Anyone But Edmonton. 😆 It would be nice to see a Canadian team win the Stanley Cup again after almost 30 years, though! 6mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen Yeah, I really don‘t like Edmonton but I would generally support a Canadian against an American 😆 6mo
LeahBergen See? You get me! You‘re a Canadian at heart. 😆 6mo
Suet624 @leahbergen @CarolynM I‘m a Bruins fan, so I really dislike Florida. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6mo
CarolynM @LeahBergen Commonwealth solidarity😆 6mo
LeahBergen @Suet624 I do like Boston! 6mo
LeahBergen @CarolynM Yesss! 😆 6mo
CarolynM @Suet624 @LeahBergen I‘ve racked my brains, but there‘s no way of being polite about this. I hate the Bruins. Sorry. Just to confuse you, to the extent that I follow basketball (not much any more) I support the Celtics. (edited) 6mo
LeahBergen @CarolynM 🤣🤣 The “hate” is a deeply personal thing, isn‘t it? I have that for quite a few teams. 6mo
DebinHawaii A happy list of joys! 💛💛💛 Yay to friends & food & hockey & especially getting over a cold! 🎉 Thanks for joining in & spreading the joy! 🤗 6mo
Suet624 Awww, that‘s okay. I love them enough for both of us. 6mo
50 likes14 comments
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CarolynM
The Nonesuch | Georgette Heyer
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Pickpick

This has been my handbag book for the last few weeks & I‘ve enjoyed it in a quite a few places. It took me a little while to warm up to Waldo, but I loved Ancilla from the start and I got plenty of laughs from the dreadful Tiffany. Among my favourite Heyer‘s so far @mabell @willaful

willaful Yay! 6mo
mabell So glad you enjoyed it! It‘s been quite a few years since I read it (in fact the only name I remembered was Tiffany 😆) - I‘ll have to revisit! 6mo
LeahBergen I liked this one, too! 6mo
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