Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m usually not a fan of child protagonists, so I wasn‘t sure how I‘d respond to this. I ended up really liking Janet, no doubt because she has a healthy slug of Ramona Quimby in her, and I really related to Ramona as a kid. We know at the start she has a tragic fate, which tinges the whole story, but she‘s such an exuberant presence, it was still a bit of a shock at the end.

Janet is misunderstood, dismissed, and made to feel “other” by her family, peers, and teachers in her girls‘ school in Scotland. She wanders her family‘s dark, crumbling, rambling castle. Janet feels deeply, especially affected by animal suffering, and feels at peace in nature. She grates on the nerves of those around her with her ‘know it all‘ ways. It‘s an atmospheric read with excellent writing and striking imagery. Short but feels long. ⬇️

Another #auldlangspine pick from @CBee

This was so unexpected and intense. I loved it and definitely see myself revisiting it in the future. A haunting story of an odd little family in post-WWII Scotland, and a bright and sensitive young girl who is deeply unconventional and frequently misunderstood. Richly drawn and evocative portrait of a unique time and place. The writing is spare yet poetic. 4.5⭐️

#ReadingBracket #BookBracket2025

Starting strong with a clear winner for January slipping in just under the wire before the month‘s end. This is a book I already know I‘ll re-read because it‘s full of gorgeous description and characterization. By turns hilarious, poignant, bleak, heartbreaking. #auldlangspine

Moody, gothic, and beautifully written. It‘s an unhappy book, but it was really great.

I felt clever when I realized that O Caledonia is like a twisted & tragic “I Capture the Castle,” as seen through a funhouse mirror, with Wednesday Addams as the protagonist. Then, I read Maggie O‘Farrell‘s introduction, which I saved for last to avoid spoilers, and saw that she made the same literary comparison. Despite its short length, I didn‘t find this a fast read. It is, however, witty & darkly atmospheric with a keen attention to language.

“The wonderful words were almost enough to make Janet believe in God. At Christmas, too, the starry sky and the beauty of language and music caused a great surge of mystic yearning in her; then Mr. McConochie would harangue them, remind them of their unworthiness and guilt, the innocent babe born to die on their behalf. “Sighing, crying, / Bleeding, dying”…they sang, and the glory faded to heartbreak and desolation, the bleak light of afternoon.”

The tornado sirens went off. The sky turned so very grey and windy. My dog is cuddled on my lap. It was the perfect setting to receive back my gothic novel #LMPBC book. Thanks for the treat, @JackOBotts and I‘m excited to flip through and read all your thoughts!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ Wrapping up the final, final round of #LMPBC with this pick for #GroupG. Such rich writing and visual imagery played against such pain for our MC. I just wanted her to feel happy and be loved. (I did not enjoy the ending)

Thank you, @KateReadsYA @JamieArc & @suvata for such a lovely #LMPBC finale…it‘s been a pleasure. 💜The book will head home soon within the next week.

FYI:

#LMPBC Round 20 Group G

@KateReadsYA @jamiearc

@suvata has mailed a book to @jackobotts

Enjoy!

Read in May 2024 for Litsy Markup Postal Book Club #LMPBC Round 20 - Group G (Gothic Horror)

• Dark and atmospheric • 5 Stars • This book reminded me of Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle which is one of my absolute favorites.

I won‘t say much since this is being passed along for #LMPBC Our group chose gothic literature and this story is brimming with gothic atmosphere. The descriptions were rich, Janet was an interesting and complex character, and I loved the juxtapositions in the story: kindness and cruelty, beauty and horror, etc. Also, how fabulous is this cover with the placement of the crow‘s eye???

I am so suprised. All my peers loved this book and I was just bored by it. It took me a lot of willpower just to finish it. It‘s me, I am sure. Normally I love a good gothic novel but here the setting did nothing for me, neither did all the animals or even Janet. And that ending, really?

#pop24 - Someone dies in the first chapter

(Photo: Centraal Museum, Utrecht)

My February favorite (also tagged)! #readingbracket2024 @CSeydel

This will be a favorite of the year, without a doubt. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the setting was a character in itself (the kind where you can almost feel it whilst reading), and Janet…..poor Janet. I loved her, could relate to her in certain ways, even rooted for her despite knowing the outcome. What a book. #blameitonlitsy

Absolutely adored this. Gloriously gothic. Brilliant writing. Look forward to discussing with my book club next week!

I finally got around to reading this one , Leah. I loved the beginning and the wild drama of the ending. What a tale! Poor Janet. A rich and dense book that I will read again. Set in Edinburgh, bringing up memories of older times. Thank you @LeahBergen ♥️

A very under-appreciated novel which I am so glad came to my attention. O Caledonia is an excellent work of characterisation. Although it begins with a murder, it‘s not a mystery, rather a precisely constructed portrait of its central character, Janet- a young girl who is misunderstood and who struggles to fit in with her family and peer group. Janet is so complexly drawn, and the prose is thoughtful and measured. An excellent character study.

In the opening of this novel, we find 16 yr old Janet murdered at the bottom of the stairs in her family's rambling Scottish home. As we read on, we learn about her short life in which this unique, eccentric, and misunderstood character faces innumerable challenges from those she meets, incl her family, save for the equally strange aunt lila. Knowing the fate of a character I loved made the impending finale more poignant. Grt storytelling, grt bk

Masterful. Barker may have written the best unlikable character I‘ve ever had the pleasure of spending time with. Right off the bat, you learn that Janet was murdered—that‘s how the story starts. But it‘s not a whodunit, it‘s a story that details Janet‘s life from when she was young until her death at 16. Adolescence with all its challenges, individuality, nonconformity, sibling relationships, expectations, jealousy & more are explored. Excellent.

Today‘s on the go reading…

#ReadingOnTheTrain #OutAndAbout

“Many are the Fates which Zeus in Olympus dispenses;
Many matters the Gods bring to surprising ends.
The things we thought would happen do not happen…”

“The gods whom Janet had chosen played tricks on mortals for their pleasure; this she had not considered. She believed she could control her destiny.”

Poor Janet. 😢 Perfect foreshadowing.

I got lots of course prep done this morning and running around this afternoon, so finally some guilt free reading. ☺️

I realized after getting into this story I‘ve read it before, but it was so long ago it‘s fresh. #readingproblem 🤪

I loved this tale of a misunderstood young girl growing up in her family's dark and dreary manor house turned boys school in Scotland. Janet is a fabulous Gothic heroine who refuses to play by the rules set for Gothic heroines or any other sort of young girl of her time. The writing is tragic and delicious, my only regret is that I did not read it on a dark and stormy day to match the atmosphere.

Thankyou Leah ! I love this present. The book looks so good. The leather bookmark is divine. The coaster for my morning coffee👌🏻 and I love this cut out lady you stuck onto the wrapping paper. What a lovely touch 😁, she is great fun and made me laugh. Thankyou! This is all so thoughtful ♥️😘

Currently reading.

A little odd, a lot of wonderful.

Halfway up the great stone staircase which rises from the dim and vaulting hall of Auchnasaugh, there is a tall stained-glass window. #Firstlinefridays

To be able to write like Elspeth Barker-wow. A gothic, Scottish tale, starting with the murder of a teenage girl.

Quirky, sort of funny, sort of dark novel about a girl living in a castle in 1950s Scotland. Janet, 16, has just been murdered but this isn‘t a whodunnit as much as a who was she, this Janet? Turns out she was moody, aloof, sensitive, bookish, sometimes cruel and sometimes selfless. https://cannonballread.com/2022/10/o-caledonia-a-novel-elcicco/

While this is a coming of age story about a young girl I couldn‘t help but feel that Janet would have been my soul friend as she doesn‘t fit in with the norm, but is instead a romantic dreamer, poetry and language lover especially Latin & Greek and familiar with mythology, a lover of animals and nature, is moved emotionally by her surroundings and sorely misunderstood. Exquisite writing in this modern gothic novella. Loved it!

What a treat! I didn‘t realise at first that this book is actually from the early 90s. Loved it!!!

"People in these parts did not use the word 'spring'. They said 'the end of winter's or 'the beginning of summer' or they used the month's name"
She's talking about Scotland but she could easily be describing the Canadian Maritimes where it's April and definitely NOT spring.

Trying to squeeze in one more book before month's end. Sun is shining but a chilly wind's a-blowing.

Some #bookmail arrived. A scandalous memoir from the 90s and "the best least-known novel of the 20th century."

How can a book that begins with a murdered teenage girl be so delightful? When it is about the short life of the marvelously endearing misfit, Janet. Janet grows up in a decaying castle on the northern coast of Scotland following WWII. She is often unable to engage with people, but feels deeply and passionately about the natural and ancient worlds. Wonderful prose, wonderful character, and just a pleasure to read. 5⭐️

Based on the Litsy reviews it sounds like Janet has a #sweetdisposition - though not because she's nice to everyone. When I hear that a character loves animals, rightfully distrusts many people, and has a unique sense of humor, this sounds like someone I'd like to meet.
#MayMovieMadness @rohit-sawant @Cinfhen

Janet might be my all time favorite #heroine 🙌🏻 one of the few books where I underlined something on almost every page.
#maylovesclassics
#litsyclassics

Janet is born into a dark & dreary #cruelworld where she is unwelcome and for the most part, ignored. She finds comfort and a sense of humor in the form of nature and animals, but has a distaste for most humans...I highly recommend this beautifully written gothic tale 🖤
#aprella

A #blameitonlitsy purchase! Thanks to those of you who posted and put this on my radar!

Love this description ❄️
#snow
#quotsydec17

I love a character that makes me laugh. That's why Gus, Janet, and Ove are three of my #newfavoritecharacters

#allthebooksof2017

#desire
#quotsydec17

This book is quickly moving up on my list of favorites ❤️
#study
#quotsydec17

#FirstNovel of December is 🙌🏻 The first book in a while that has prompted me to underline something on almost every page.
#decktheshelves

Congrats to you, @Booksandcooks for 7777 followers!

I had to check Goodreads to see what the last book was that I actually awarded 5⭐️ and this was it. The excerpt above gives you a little taste of its delightful oddness (and this is page one, so "no spoilers" ?).

Thanks for the #7777Giveaway!

I started this last night and within the first few pages I was already chortling in delight at the author's brilliant humour and evocative writing. I'm in LOVE.

Thanks to @shawnmooney and @Lindy for bringing this gem to my attention (and to the rest of you, too ... @saresmoore @DeborahSmall @TrishB ).