I am maybe reading this at the moment? Finding it a wee bit confusing in the initial pages, but that could just be my current head space. I really loved Three Bags Full, though and probably found it a little confusing at first as well.

I've been meaning to reread this for ages, so I'm glad that the #pemberlittens #hashtagparade finally motivated to do so. It certainly hits differently as a adult than it did when I was a high schooler. 😅

Interesting to see what I'd forgotten (what a timid wet noodle our narrator is for so much of the book; how much she lives in her head; how many problems would've been avoided with some good old communication) and what stuck. Still loved it!

A solid collection of short stories, featuring authors I am very fond of or who I have been meaning to read. Not all of them were new to me, alas, but I enjoyed almost all of them.

I think maybe this has sent me down more Wikipedia rabbit holes than any other novel I've ever read. It's truly a masterpiece, but also *a lot* and it's taken me an age to read. So I'm not going to be sorry to finish it (maybe today?).

Does it seem contradictory to can this one warm and prickly? Maybe, but it's what I'm going with to summarize this found family story. I really liked it.

This was a warm, easy, and engaging read, as practically all D.E. Stevenson books are, but I wouldn't say it was her most satisfying! There were lots of bits that I loved and a lot of bits that I found very frustrating (details in comments). Overall, I'd say pleasant but uneven, I think. #FurrowedMiddleBrowClub
p.s. having tons of trouble tagging today, so will try to add them later

Finally getting around to this, on my recent work lunches and breaks. I am very much enjoying it.

Lazy, rainy Saturday. 🙂

What a compelling, engrossing book! And yet another I probably wouldn't have read on my own, given the grim subject matter. The time and place are so wonderfully evoked and I appreciate how complex Gutcheon's characters and storytelling are.

#PersephoneClub

@Aimeesue @LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @Caryl @sisilia @Tamra @Ruthiella @CarolynM @Gissy @elkeOriginal @daena @Cathythoughts @andrew61 @jlhammar @Karons1 @julieclair @willaful

No Macdonald in this one, but still a very clever and enjoyable mystery from Lorac.

I ultimately quite liked this one, although there were definitely times when it was iffy. A little bit to read and relatable perhaps?

I find Hallett's books so addictive! Wanted to read this straight through once I started, but had to, like, with and do life stuff. But now it's the weekend, so diving in and not looking up until it's over 😅.

A stunner, suffused with pulsing life and love, in all their messy glory. And beautiful sentences that will break your heart.

Excellent. I suspect I will be thinking about this one for a long time.

I appreciated this more contemporary look at nun life, which attempts to grapple with some of the darker aspects of the modern day Catholic Church and, life in general. It's not a title that would've otherwise come my way, so I'm glad it was a #nunlit selection. It did sometimes feel a little didactic, but it's a small quibble and as a whole it was still very moving.

A typical Susan Scarlett book - complete with an early meet-cute, a sweet romance, and a cheery, lovable heroine - mashed up with a domestic thriller - complete with sinister off-hand comments, a disturbing child, heaps of tension, and murder. It is rather incongruous, but somehow works. As is usually the case with Scarlett, you know all the bits from the beginning, but there's pleasure in how exactly it all plays out.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

I love Wahl's picture books and art, so am glad to finally make time for this. It's very relatable, even about aspects of high school I've happily blocked out 😅.

Did yesterday's post put me in the mood for Stevenson? Maybe it was a factor, although not the only one. In any case, this was the perfect choice for this moment.

Nothing brings out the dysfunction like the holidays! I don't think it quite reaches the heights of Pym, etc., but it's still pretty great and Farrell seems like a fascinating person.

FYI #furrowedmiddlebrowclub and other fans of FMB and Dean Street Press. From the Facebook group.

The description of this one as a "hipster cozy" made me roll my eyes, but I actually really liked it! There's a whole lot going on (maybe too much?), but I liked the characters and the setting. I'll definitely read other books in the series.

#litsycloakanddagger @Ruthiella

Thank you so much, @Bren912 - this #jolabokaflod is great! I am super excited to try these candies (which sound perfect) and looking forward to finally reading Lissa Evans. Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Thanks for making it happen, @MaleficentBookDragon #jolabokaflodswap

Going to finish this #cloakanddagger read whilst in transit. 🤞

This has made for delightful lunch/break reading lately, although I'm constantly reminding myself that it was not published as a) YA or b) a take-off on Pride and Prejudice, as it kinda feels like both of those things.

This was a solid three-star read.

It's not bad and was a perfectly fine way to spend a few hours, but there isn't anything particularly noteworthy about it and I probably won't remember it too long.

It works for a couple of #cloakanddaggerchristmas prompts, but I will likely count it for Happy Christmas. The presence of the American forces at a nearby base and their impact on the local village was probably the most interesting aspect.

My #jolabokaflodswap package is in the mail (expected by Thursday), as are my #naturalitsycardswap cards (expected 🤷‍♀️)

@MaleficentBookDragon
@TheBookHippie @AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit @jenniferw88

Not sure if I read this one way back when, but it was a nice and seasonal way to fill the Christmas Song (classic mystery) #cloakanddaggerchristmas prompt. It's full of the usual elements (country house, locked room, a family full of secrets and animosity, a will soon to be changed) and reads quickly and easily.

This arrived today! No idea who is from, but thank you!

#jolabokaflodswap @MaleficentBookDragon

How about something on the lighter(ish?) side for June, #PersephoneClub readers?

Catalog links in the comments.

@LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @andrew61 @jlhammar @Cathythoughts

A fun book to kick-off my #cloakanddaggerchristmas, with a central character who is two-thirds Wodehouse heroine and one-third Amelia Bedelia. Not the most complex of mysteries - I tagged the culprit pretty much from the beginning - but a very amusing ensemble and look at village life.

It qualifies for a couple of prompts, but counting it for All I Want for Christmas Is You. @ruthiella

This was pretty great, if rather sobering and a bit sad. But very honest and true, even as these qualities are not ones Joan can embrace for herself. Christie's pride in this one is, I think, entirely justified.

#LMWBR #MaryWestmacottBuddyRead #westmakittens

Maybe not the ideal lunch break reading? But here we are. 😆

I am so impressed with the decisiveness of my fellow #cloakanddaggerchristmas readers! I have a spreadsheet of what I might possibly read and how the titles fit the prompts. But, it will just be my starting place and I'll just see where it takes me. 😏

I am grateful that this book exists, and that its choice for #PersephoneClub led me to read it, if somewhat belatedly. It's not easy or comforting reading, especially at this particular moment, but I feel like it will stay with me for a long while.

Perhaps not perfect, but perfectly delightful. Now to watch the movie again!

I am very behind, but! I think I enjoyed this more than other #westmakittens because I read AC's biography fairly recently, so was able to identify the (many) bits (presumably) taken from life. In some ways I suspect it may have been a more truthful portrait of some things (Archie) than her actual autobiography is. Which, incidentally, I very much want to read soon! Anyway - pretty middling as a novel, but excellent as a portrait of the artist.

Such a nice, pleasant read - cozy as a cuppa on a cool Autumn night. Loved the warm family dynamics and the romance was very sweet. And agree that the final scene makes it a lovely way to kick off the holiday season.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub

Finishing up this collection. I really need to prioritize reading more short stories and collections.

Thank you, @LocalTxLibrarian for my #hhs #hauntedhollowswap package! So much cute-spooky goodness! I'm seriously contemplating a midday bath, just so I can use one my bath bombs and the books are great choices. Also, that tumbler is so huge that I didn't even come close to fitting in my original picture 😂.

Thank you @wanderinglynn for another great year of hallow-swapping.

Enjoying some seasonal reading, and revisiting this for the first time since I was a teenager. I picked it up so I could follow along with the online reading lead by Ruth Franklin, but as is usually the case, I just couldn't stick to the schedule. 🫤🤷‍♀️

#hhs #hauntedhollowswap package is in the mail, and should arrive in D.C. on Wednesday 🎃
@wanderinglynn @AlizaApp

Got a slightly belated start, but thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and am already anticipating the next book.
#pemberlittens #janeadjacent

Nice to come home to my #hhs box, @wanderinglynn. Thank you so much, @LocalTXLibrarian - looking forward to opening it! #hauntedhollowswap

Making the most of my day off. This has been my commute book lately, but time to finish it - *not* whilst on the bus!

Hey, Tom. I'm ready to be heartbroken.

#pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade

Happy #fffs day! Thank you so much for my package, @amiable! I very much appreciate the sock hunt you went on, as these are absolutely adorable! Perfect choices all around. 🙂'

Thanks to @chrissyreadit and @avanders for hosting. #fallingforfallswap

Also finished this one up last night - great, in a totally different way. The parallel lines of WW2 Spy Craft and Early Days of the BBC were solidly in my wheelhouse.

I understand how this book isn't for everyone, but I thought it was extremely readable and pretty brilliant.

Spent the rainy afternoon curled up with our #lmwbr #marywestmacottbuddyread - rather cozy and perfect. Still sitting out my thoughts on that book, so going to peek at the discussion now!

Hoping to finish up this mystery with lunch 🤞