The best thing about a tie-in edition is that I don't mind if it gets beat up in my bag, has did it drink dropped on it, or suffers any other sort of damages.

Started in on this #furrowedmiddlebrowclub read, and am just burning my way through it. I'm pleased to find it just as delightful as the second time around, but with lots of things I don't at all remember. Such plucky gals!

It feels a bit sacreligius to say it, but I think this is my favorite children's book by L.M. Montgomery - and it alternates with The Blue Castle for overall favorite. Once I started this read, I just couldn't stop. 💙 #kindredspiritsbuddyread

Gathered up all of my group/buddy reads for May. I think I might need to rearrange the nightstand to make room for everything!

For this #pemberlittens selection, I'll mostly be reading this edition, although I'm sure I'll download the ebook for nighttime and/or commuting. I've never read this or any other Anne Bronte, so it will be good to finally do so.

Revisiting this with the #pemberlittens should be fun! I remember quite enjoying it the first time around, and now I can expect memes 😄

This is definitely not a book I would've picked up or finished without #nyrbbookclub, but I'm glad I read it. There's some wonderful turn of phrase and wordplay and it was best when I could immerse myself and just go with it. That said, I could've done with more narrative and/or more bits like Now, when we weren't cloistered in the protagonist's head. It was challenging much of the time and I definitely didn't get all the references 😏🤷‍♀️

Sometimes, you just need to sit on the futon and read a book pretty much straight through. No big surprises in this one, but altogether quite satisfying.

Lunch! Very much enjoying this library ebook.

Ah excellent novel that vividly portrays the limited and stifling options available to women of a certain class, in the years surrounding the Great War. I was sometimes rather frustrated by Muriel and her passivity, even though it rang very true. It was wonderful to see her come into her own and learn to choose herself, rather than presumed duty and obligation. A terrific #persephonepick to read with the #persephoneclub.

I am 100% here for crimefighting nuns.

I am so not ready for the weekend to be over. Still, hoping to finish this before it is.

So different from what I thought it would be, but so good. If I were an underliner, there's so much I would have underlined in this one! And so affirming. We're all walking around with rich interior lives. We're all fixated by the oddest notions. Our existence echoes others in ways we can't imagine. We all need to connect and be a part of something, although when we do it will be weird and awkward and unexpected. #nyrbbookclub

I've loved revisiting this, as it's one of my favorite Montgomerys. I think it's interesting that, as her official Adult Book, it's the one that feels most like a fairy tale to me. In the best possible way. 💙
#kindredspiritsbuddyread

It was a long, sightly annoying week for no particular reason, so finishing up a Kerry Winfrey book a just the balm I needed this afternoon. I love her imperfect characters, figuring out their messy lives and finding community together. And I'm ok with them making me feel slightly homesick.

A quiet, unassuming book, centered on the modest and respectable Caroline and her quiet, unassuming life. Deceptively simple and straightforward, it's also smart and witty. Without pretension, but full of insight into class and the various roles and relationships Caroline navigated throughout her life.

#furrowedmiddlebrowclub
@CarolynM @LeahBergen @batsy @Ruthiella @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads @erzascarletbookgasm @tamra @catebutler

Turns out, I find short stories by Pilcher just as cozy and comforting as her gigantic novels.

I'm not usually big on variations and adaptations, but so glad I decided to read this with the #pemberlittens. I found it super absorbing (if a wee bit too long) and an so glad the slighted Mary got the chance to be her own heroine and make her own happiness in this accomplished book.

The title is better than the book itself, which was a little tedious and middling. I was expecting more spunk from our elderly sleuth, but maybe in the next one in the series? Which I'll probably read because I bought like three of them on sale, but I won't rush to get to it.

I've long loved the movie version of Auntie Mame, but even though I've had the book for years, didn't get around to reading it until now. I think part of me worried that I might not find Mame equally enchanting on the page. But, I need not have been concerned! Super enjoyable and funny. I'm glad I finally took it off the shelf.

Lunch reading very much #blameitonlitsy today. Great fun so far.

A quiet, simple story, told in lovely, evocative language. Very much in the same spirit of Fortnight in September. Looking forward to hearing what the rest of the #persephoneclub thought and chatting about it! #persephonepick for February.

Compelling and beautifully written, with deep things to say about the nature of life - how we are shaped and defined by our memories of experiences as much as the events themselves. Bleak, but not hopeless, just matter of fact. I'll definitely be seeking out more by Szabo. #nyrbbookclub

A low pick. Finished last night, for the #kindredspirits discussion today. I'm glad to have read this - and reread The Story Girl - but I didn't love them. While some of the exploits were enjoyable, the charm and balance found in other Montgomery books was missing. I was annoyed by both Felicity and TSG and liked an the other kids better. Hated all the Cecily Will Die Young foreshadowing. But that scene with the Governor's wife was classic 🤣

Didn't write realize that what I wanted to do with my Saturday was read this pretty much straight through in one during, but so be it. 🤷‍♀️💜

My copy of our inaugural #PersephoneClub title arrived today. I thought I'd just read the first page or two, to get a sense of things, and had to *make* myself stop about ten minutes later. I think we're in for a good time, friends!

@LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal

Started this as office lunch reading. Short pieces seen pretty ideal for that!

I'm a sucker for an epistolary novel (recs accepted in the comments!) and have heard great things about this one. 1/3 of the way through and am completely hooked!

I loved this one, even though it's added oodles of books to the tbr pile. Part memoir, part meditation, part recommended reading lists - Rentenbrink's writing is so warm, chatty, and honest. Would love to sit with her over a coffee!

Finished Wuthering Heights last night, when I couldn't sleep. I quite enjoyed this reread, but sort of the same way I sometimes enjoy terrible reality television: for the chance to think "You are all* awful people. And real stupid. When the bad things that are most definitely going to happen finally occur, you will deserve them." I don't get how anyone reads this as a great love story, but it was a fun ride

*except poor Hareton

Thoroughly enjoying this #nyrbbookclub selection. Gossipy academic shenanigans and big personalities in a field I have no vested interest in makes for a compelling and entertaining read.

Shades of Mary Stewart and Helen Macinnes in this one, means I've found another series to binge 🙂. Not a bad way to spend a frosty Saturday.

It's not at all difficult to understand why this #persephonepick is such a popular one. What a charming, effervescent tale of a dowdy governess accidentally falling in with a Bohemian crowd and having the most extraordinary, life-changing of days.

And now, for something completely different! Sometimes timing is everything. I‘d tried this one a few times in the past and never made it very far. But now I‘m whizzing through it and enjoying immensely.

Well then! There are possessive mothers - in literature and real life - and then there's Lady Guthrie, who takes things to a whole other level! Definitely darker and a bit more unsettling than I was expecting, I found this somewhat ambiguous tale falling closer to tragedy than comedy and leaving me with lots to ponder.

And now to go read all of the posts from our #furrowedmiddlebrowclub, as I've been avoiding until I finished.

As I read Christmas Pudding over the holiday, figured I should also finally get to Pigeon Pie now, before putting this volume back on the shelf.

After being on the library waiting list for ages, this came in (and then expired) while I was out of town/ not coming in to the office. And I'm too impatient to just wait my turn again, so here we are.

Oh, @JamieArc - what a wonderful #littlechristmasswap #lcs package. This book is so beautiful. You absolutely should not worry that I generally prefer paperbacks. If all HCs were this gorgeous, that wouldn't be the case. And all snacks that I love! Thank you so much and best wishes for you and yours in 2022. 💜

Thanks for hosting and organizing, @bookish_wookish

Additionally, not sure if any #whatthedickens stragglers are interested, but I'm planning to continue working my way through Dickens. Joined a GR group just starting Little Dorrit, so I'll be reading this over the next few months, if anyone is inclined. @Lcsmcat @BarkingMadRun

Opting not to do Sense and Sensibility again, but an looking forward to both #WanderingThroughWutheringHeights and exploring Austen's impact with both of these #pemberlittens reads.

Well, I didn't manage to finish this until tonight, but I'm looking forward to checking out the comments on the #nyrbbookclub discussion. I think I liked it a bit more than many, but my expectations were somewhat tempered. That said, not sure how much of it will really stay with me?

Spent some time last night finishing this one up! O. Douglas was recommended to me as a readalike for D.E. Stevenson and I can certainly see the comparison.

What a lovely #Bestof2021 swap package, @AmyG - thank you so much for everything! I've been meaning to read all of these books for ages, but am most especially excited about the tagged. And I didn't realize how much I needed a stationary tray (and all these cute things!) until I read your note, but it's ideal. And today is perfect for putting in cosy sucks and having a cuppa, so plans for the day sorted! Thanks so much and happy 2022.

Finally, my GR synopsis, as I don't see anything getting finished tonight! Happy New Year, friends! Thanks for being a part of my 2021.

And now, finally my #Top21of21 (thanks for the tag, @merelybookish and @CarolynM). It was very much a year of a) re-reading old favorites, b) delving into some classics, and c) retro comfort reading. Which I entirely embrace, although next year I would like to add some newer books. Or, you know, more published in this century. Lots of Litsy action represented! I did limit myself to one book per author, so it wasn't entirely Dickens/Montgomery.

Now that is officially the last of the year, doing some wrap-up posts, like many others! First up is my #cloakanddaggerchristmas finale! What a fun challenge! Thank so much to @merelybookish for bringing it over to Litsy. I read a lot of mysteries anyway, but this was a fun way to be a little more deliberate about the ones I choose and to finally check out (or re-visit) some authors/titles I've been meaning to. I enjoyed pretty much all of them!

Cheers for a bookish read, when your flight looks to be slightly (🤞) delayed.

Ah, thank you so, so much @erank58 - my #jolabokaflod package is perfection! This feels like the ideal book to read right now and I'm oh so fond of these truffles. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Thanks for making it all happen, @MaleficentBookDragon

I've done pretty much *no* seasonal reading this year. But in a year that saw me spending a lot of time with Boz, thanks to #whatthedickens, I just have to make time for this tonight!

Pretty satisfying! I associate Parker with Sue Grafton and Ed McBain - authors I read lots of when I was working my way through the mystery section as a teen in the late 80s/early 90s, but haven't read much of since. This is the first Spenser novel and I loved the hard-boiled, wry narration. It's definitely of it's time, but progressive for it in some ways, too. I might just read some more of the series (and maybe Kinsey & the 87th precinct, too).