Orkney | Litsy

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

I wanted to take a few days after reading this to think about my feelings and after an entire month, I'm still not sure. Huge age gap between our newlyweds, but they seem to be in two different places. He's usually inside looking out at her as she is outside contemplating the sea. She didn't open up much and he was obsessed with his bride. I did get a feel for the harsh temperature of Orkney, but otherwise, I'm not quite sure what I was ⬇️

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick supposed to get from the unreliable, creepy narrator and his young bride connecting to the sea. Points for leaving out the sexual details! #holidayescape super late @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB and this was on June's #bookspinbingo board @TheAromaofBooks #readtheworld #Scotland

3y

TheBookHippie I agree!!! So ODD. And creepy. But I do think she is back at sea. 3y

BarbaraBB Points for leaving out the sexual details 😂 3y

Cinfhen Wonderful review!!! Thanks for tagging us. I think your feelings aligned with the majority of the group/ most were #MoreMehThanYeah 3y

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 3y

48 likes5 comments

Billypar

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

I'm a week late to getting to this #HolidayEscape pick, and after reading the discussions, I'm in agreement with the consensus viewpoint. Even though Sackville's prose casts a mysterious spell that could have worked well for the subject matter, it wasn't enough to compensate for the lack of any real plot development. We're just left with a creepy narrator's obsessive behavior and no way to contextualize it, besides an offstage fantasy theme.

Billypar It was still unique enough to be memorable though - thanks for organizing @Cinfhen and @BarbaraBB My Litsy time has taken a hit in recent months - I hope to be back talking books with everyone before long! 3y

Cinfhen Thanks for joining us!!! Miss seeing your posts but glad to know you‘re busy and well ☺️ 3y

BarbaraBB Your review might best describe my feelings about the book - and what it lacked! I too hope you‘ll be back talking books soon. Take care 🍀💚 3y

Suet624 Nice seeing you again. 3y

45 likes4 comments

AnneCecilie

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

A couple is on the honeymoon. Apart from the age difference, they don‘t seem to know each other that well. He‘s just looking at the through the window as she‘s looking at the sea.

I didn‘t connect with this story or characters.

#HolidayEscape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cathythoughts Great review! That sums it up. A so-so for me too (edited) 3y

Cinfhen Yes/ it‘s a hard book to connect too!! That‘s a perfect description. Oh well/ hopefully our next read will be better 3y

johncadams Loved my visit to the Orkneys. Wasn't long enough. So beautiful. 3y

51 likes3 comments

Librarybelle

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pick

An odd tale of obsession and the sea. An older professor marries an otherworldly young student and honeymoons with her at the sea.

This was odd enough for me to be engaged in the story, though parts of it became rather repetitive…except maybe that‘s because of the obsession part??? I felt the writing style suited the narrative.

This is one I would not have picked up on my own, so thanks to #HolidayEscape for giving me the chance to read it.

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Excellent review, Jess!!{ 3y

Librarybelle Thanks, @Cinfhen ! 3y

Cinfhen I didn‘t mind this book as I was reading but after discussion I feel like it had some serious flaws 😫 3y

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BarbaraBB I loved the setting and the plot but the way it was worked out didn‘t really work for me. 3y

Librarybelle @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB It definitely had flaws, and upon reading the discussions, they really shine through for me. I still didn‘t mind it - I guess I don‘t mind flawed books 🤷🏻‍♀️. I also read it when I was half asleep most of the time, so maybe that helped! 😂 3y

BarbaraBB That is probably the right state of mind 😉 3y

Librarybelle @BarbaraBB 😂 3y

79 likes7 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Question 5
Do you want to visit the Orkney‘s? If you were going for a long weekend and could only bring one book; which would you bring?

BarbaraBB

TrishB I would love to go. Maybe Outlander 😁 3y

BookwormAHN I would love to and I agree @TrishB possibly Outlander or some folktales. 3y

Megabooks @TrishB nice choice!! 3y

See All 47 Comments

TheBookHippie I‘d go not high on my personal list but I‘d go, this book reminded me a little of the movie The Secret of Roan Inish based on the book I‘d bring along

Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry

DebinHawaii Sorry (maybe not sorry) that I didn‘t end up buying & reading the book for this one but thanks for letting me party with you, @BarbaraBB & the group anyway with pics & music! 😉 I look forward to the next gathering! 🤗 3y

Cinfhen I have ZERO INTEREST in visiting the Orkney‘s - it felt too remote, cold and depressing 3y

TrishB @Megabooks it would last the weekend too 😁 3y

Deblovestoread Scotland is on my list but I have no clue what book I‘d bring. 3y

Cinfhen I love your book choices @TrishB @TheBookHippie 💚 3y

TrishB @Cinfhen it is remote and probably cold a lot of the time. But the air would be clear and beautiful and the sky would be full of light and deceptive colours. The sky is very wonderful up north! 3y

jenniferw88 My Capricorn Rising sign suggests that they would suit me, but maybe in the summer and not in October when they went! 😂😂😂 I'd probably take some classic Scottish stories that I haven't got round to yet, so maybe

Complete Stories of Robert Louis Stevenson: Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Nineteen Other Tales

BarbaraBB I‘d love to go there for a weekend. Just me and the elements. In fact I am planning a trip to Scotland in the fall but not to Orkney. 3y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii I can send you mine!! 😂😂😂 I‘m all done 😝 3y

Cinfhen You ALMOST changed my mind @TrishB but I don‘t like the cold 🥶 3y

Cinfhen Scotland seems cool @BarbaraBB but it‘s not high up on my bucketlist @Kdgordon88 🤷🏼‍♀️ (edited) 3y

Cinfhen I forgot about your horoscope @jenniferw88 😂😂 3y

DebinHawaii @TheBookHippie Hah! I am almost tempted (FOMO) but I fear I won‘t read it based on all I have heard! 🤣🤣🤣 3y

TrishB 😉 I don‘t really like the hot! You just need a big coat 🧥😘 3y

AnneCecilie I can‘t see myself ever visiting Orkney. 3y

jenniferw88 @Cinfhen haha! My horoscope is fascinating to me - so much of my personality and background can be explained by it - and even some of my medical conditions! 3y

Deblovestoread @TrishB you‘ve sold me on Orkney. You description sounds marvelous and I love the sea. 3y

Cinfhen That‘s fascinating about your medical conditions linked to horoscope @jenniferw88 3y

Cinfhen I think I‘d need WAY MORE than a heavy coat @TrishB 3y

Cinfhen I kind of imagine Norway‘s climate similar to the Orkney‘s @AnneCecilie am I way off??? 3y

Megabooks @TrishB I‘m not a fan of the heat either…I live in the wrong part of the world. I would probably visit if I were able, but it‘s not a high priority. 3y

TheBookHippie @DebinHawaii 😂😂😂 mine came with a newspaper article all for 5 bucks 😂 3y

jenniferw88 @Cinfhen Taurus Sun, Virgo Moon & Capricorn Rising here. For example, Saturn is in my first house, and the tagged book says that 'Saturn can point to a long, slow or difficult birth', which is exactly what happened with me! I was due on 2/5 but arrived 4/5 after 2 epidurals - I was eventually delivered by caesarian. And I love having my neck rubbed, a part of the body associated with Taurus!

The Astrology Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Zodiac

TrishB @Megabooks it‘s only really hot for about a week a year here! 3y

TrishB @Cinfhen and thermals! 3y

TrishB @Kdgordon88 😁👍🏻 3y

Cinfhen @jenniferw88 wow!! Very cool…thanks for tagging the book…I think I‘d like to pick it up 💜🙌🏻 3y

Cinfhen And mittens, gloves, hat, scarf, boots @TrishB xxx 3y

AnneCecilie @Cinfhen I think so. Also I‘m not much of a sea person. But would love to visit Edinburg sometime, the castle and Bookstores. 3y

TrishB 😂😂 3y

jenniferw88 @Cinfhen it's very interesting but will work best if you know the time of your birth. That way you can get a natal chart online (I used https://astro-charts.com/tools/new/birthchart/) with all the planet placements etc. 3y

Cinfhen Me too @AnneCecilie Edinburg does sound amazing 💚 3y

jenniferw88 I promise to go back to talking about Orkney now! 😂😂😂 3y

Cinfhen @jenniferw88 👍🏻I‘ll have to ask my mom, if she remembers/ knows my time of birth (edited) 3y

Cinfhen Haha @jenniferw88 I think the horoscopes is more interesting 😜 3y

jenniferw88 @Cinfhen I'm an email away if you do get a birth chart - I'd be happy to type up some notes from the book for you. Email is irene_gulliver@yahoo.co.uk. I could do the whole chart (except aspects - I haven't got my head round those yet! 😂) or just the main 3 - Sun, Moon and Rising (otherwise known as the Ascendant). 3y

peaKnit I‘m a beach person, a warm weather beach lover that is. Orkney sounds interesting but uncomfortable, haunting and damp…while I work in the bureaucracy I need recharge vacations. Once I move to a beach I might dream of Orkney 😂 3y

rubyslippersreads It‘s not a travel destination that appeals to me (except for the shop, which sounded almost enchanted). 3y

Hooked_on_books I adore Scotland and would love to visit the Orkneys! I actually have a necklace I love that I bought in Edinburgh which was made by an artist on one of the islands. 3y

erzascarletbookgasm I love the beach, the warm weather ones. But Scotland is on my bucket list. I don‘t mind spending a weekend in Orkney for experience. Or Shetland Islands. 😊 Don‘t know about the books, though. 3y

Cinfhen I‘m a beach person too @peaknit and the Orkney‘s doesn‘t align with my mental image of beach holiday but that shop did sound enchanting @rubyslippersreads I‘m with you @erzascarletbookgasm yes to Shetlands no to Orkney‘s 3y

Cinfhen I‘m totally up for Edinburgh @Hooked_on_books and I love buying local artisan crafts when I travel/ I think they make the best gifts/ memories/ souvenirs 3y

Librarybelle I‘m very curious about the desolate nature of the Orkney‘s…remote. I‘d probably bring a #Chunster to read…a reread of Outlander seems to fit, for some reason. 3y

42 likes47 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Question 4
You work in a bookshop, where would you shelve this book? Does this book remind you of other stories?

BarbaraBB

Megabooks Probably in folklore and myth but maybe literary. I can definitely see it in a hotel shop in the Orkneys! (edited) 3y

TrishB Probably literary. Or folk lore. It would definitely be in local tourist places in Orkney! 3y

Megabooks Also I changed my answer because I though it said would you…as opposed to where would you! Whoops! (And the answer to the first question is no, I probably wouldn‘t stock this book. 😜) 3y

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TheBookHippie Forklore -Myths 3y

BookwormAHN Probably literary fiction 3y

jenniferw88 Well both Amazon and StoryGraph categorise it as 'contemporary' but I would personally shelve it as 'folkore'! 3y

jenniferw88 That should read 'folkLore'! 😂😂😂 3y

Cinfhen This felt like folklore to me too @TheBookHippie @Megabooks @TrishB although it fits literary fiction too @BookwormAHN 3y

Cinfhen So weird!!! In my opinion DEFINITELY NOT CONTEMPORARY @jenniferw88 it felt almost like a twisted fairytale 3y

BarbaraBB It reminds me a bit of The Collector but it wasn‘t half as good. I‘d categorize it under Literary Fiction. 3y

Cinfhen I‘m leaning more towards myth/ folklore @BarbaraBB 3y

peaKnit Lit fiction or Folklore, depends on the store. 3y

rubyslippersreads Fiction, between Lolita and

The Shape of Water

erzascarletbookgasm Literary fiction probably. 3y

Cinfhen Hahaha @rubyslippersreads 🤪 3y

Librarybelle Fiction! Maybe speculative fiction. 3y

29 likes16 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

This post contains spoilers

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Question 3

What do you think happened to the wife? Did she commit suicide, return to the sea? Did her husband kill her? Is she still alive??

BarbaraBB

Megabooks I‘m leaning that she was a selkie, although part of me would like to think one of the people she was talking to on the island helped her set up a new life. But I think that wishful thinking on my part. 3y

TrishB I didn‘t read enough of the second half to really offer an opinion here. 3y

jenniferw88 I think she found her seal skin and returned to the sea. I know she was frightened of drowning, but the amount of time she spent by it implies to me that her subconscious was telling her something! 3y

See All 21 Comments

Deblovestoread My original thought was selkie returned to the sea but we would have to assume she found her original skin. 3y

TheBookHippie I think she returned to the sea 🌊 3y

BookwormAHN I'm not sure the fact that her body wasn't found was curious. 3y

Cinfhen I tend to think she found her skin and swam away @BookwormAHN @TheBookHippie @Kdgordon88 @jenniferw88 @Megabooks @TrishB I don‘t think she was murdered and I didn‘t think suicide but the professor was definitely jealous enough and obsessive enough to kill her. He didn‘t like all the island people talking to her. 3y

Megabooks @Cinfhen while he was jealous/controlling, I don‘t think he would‘ve stuck around (like he did) if he had killed her 3y

Deblovestoread @Megabooks good point! 3y

BarbaraBB I don‘t think he was in the state of mind to murder her. Nor was she suicidal as far as I could judge so her being a Selkie and returning to sea was kind of the only possible outcome in my opinion. A weakness of the book I think. (edited) 3y

Cinfhen Yes, the book gave way to many clues EARLY ON that she was a selkie @BarbaraBB specifically her webbed feet and hands 🦭 🦭 (edited) 3y

AnneCecilie I think she‘s a selkie that returned to the sea. 3y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen agree. It was obvious enough to make the conclusion foregone 3y

Cinfhen A weakness by the author @Megabooks / it‘s like she didn‘t trust the reader to deduce the outcome on their own😉 3y

peaKnit I hadn‘t considered any option other than suicide, but then finding her skin seems reasonable in this book. 3y

rubyslippersreads I didn‘t finish the book, so I can‘t comment on what happened, but I can say I was hoping the young fishwife was going to turn into a sea monster and eat the creepy professor. 🤣 3y

erzascarletbookgasm @rubyslippersreads 😂. With so many clues leading to the young wife not being ‘human‘, I thought she was going to turn into a mermaid or selkie right in front of his eyes. 🤣 3y

erzascarletbookgasm @Cinfhen I definitely think she returned home (to sea). Not suicide or murder. 3y

Cinfhen I‘m with you @erzascarletbookgasm but I like @rubyslippersreads creativity 3y

Librarybelle I think she went into the sea, back “home.” 3y

Cinfhen Me too @Librarybelle 3y

14 likes21 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

This post contains spoilers

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Question 2

Did you think the young wife was a mermaid or selkie? Was her father a finfolk who left her behind?

BarbaraBB

jenniferw88 A selkie - it's specific to Scottish folklore. 3y

Cinfhen @Debinhawaii @Cuilin @Simona @Thebookhippie @Vlwelser @Jennym @Peaknit @Kimberlone @Vansa @Cathythoughts @Tanisha_A @Cupcake12 @Reviewsbylola @Britt_brooke @LauraBrooke @Vivastory @Billypar @Jaclynw @Kelly_the_bookish_sidekick
3y

Cinfhen @AnneCecilie @Hooked_on_books @Librarybelle @Leerharry @Leahbergen @Erzascarletbookgasm @Trishb @Squirrelbrain @Emilyhaldi @Megabooks @CarolynM @Rubyslippersreads @Bookandcat @Bookwormahn @ @I.be.stef 3y

See All 33 Comments

jenniferw88 From: https://www.thelovelyredfox.com/2020/08/mermaids-selkies-and-sirens.html?m=1 In many of these tales, a seal woman may marry a human man that has stolen and hidden her seal skin, and upon finding it years later quickly return to the sea.... In many cases where the selkie is forced to marry a human man, they may end up having multiple children, and these offspring may take on seal like features such as webbed toes. 3y

TrishB A selkie, agree with @jenniferw88 3y

Cinfhen Agreed @jenniferw88 3y

Cinfhen What about her father?? @jenniferw88 @TrishB 3y

Megabooks thank you for that link @jenniferw88 👍🏻 I definitely agree with you! 3y

rubyslippersreads Selkie came to mind as soon as I started the book. (edited) 3y

Deblovestoread Agree, Selkie. 3y

TheBookHippie Selkie … I thought mermaid at first .. 3y

jenniferw88 Was the old man smelling of fish her Dad, and she found her seal skin in his cottage? Or did she find it in the place they were staying? 3y

BookwormAHN A selkie came to mind but crazy also seemed relevant. Or maybe the child of a selkie. 3y

Megabooks @jenniferw88 another good point. I hadn‘t considered whether he would be her father. 3y

Cinfhen I too, felt she was the child of a selkie @BookwormAHN and she kept telling tales of her fisherman father ~ this book was strange - come to think of it, they both were unreliable 3y

Cinfhen That is an interesting theory @jenniferw88 it would add up to her disappearance @Megabooks 3y

peaKnit It felt like the snow queen fable, she lived in a semi dream like state but also in the world. I‘m not sure what she was, a drifting hippy comes to mind, high on life…🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y

peaKnit @jenniferw88 interesting, thanks for sharing! 3y

BarbaraBB Insightful point of view @jenniferw88 I hadn‘t thought of that but it can very well be true. 3y

AnneCecilie Selkie. She kept on telling tales about selkies. That‘s an interesting thought @jenniferw88 maybe that‘s why she wanted to go to Orkney for their honeymoon. 3y

Cinfhen I think so too @AnneCecilie she choose the Orkney‘s as it was her original home 3y

Cinfhen I think I wrote in my review @peaknit that this book gave me Snow Child vibes - totally agree - she wasn‘t human

The Snow Child

peaKnit @Cinfhen yes! Snow child! 3y

CarolynM I think this was trying to be a retelling of the selkie myths but didn't really succeed (at least not for me). 3y

i.besteph @jenniferw88 Raises some really good points! I didn‘t even venture to think that ahead. Although it does make sense (a bit). Thanks for sharing! 3y

i.besteph @CarolynM I completely agree. The narration was very vague and all over the place. I couldn‘t pinpoint one moment that spoke of the selkie theory clearly, except when the wife told the story. 3y

i.besteph For anyone reading, was she actually talking to a seal? There‘s a quote that Richard says, “That sly pup. I knew he was keeping secrets.” (Something like that) this may suggest that the wife may have found a kin on the beach she was talking to for hours. Who else would risk the cold weather and stand alone on the beach ALL DAY?!? Either that or she was trying to get away from Richard (who I don‘t like at all!) 😡😬 3y

erzascarletbookgasm A mermaid or selkie at first. Later, I suspected a selkie. Like the others commented on the first question, I think the professor was her ticket to Orkney. She needed to get ‘home‘. 3y

Cinfhen I forgot the seal part @I.be.Stef this book really was all over the place but not in a good way 3y

Cinfhen @CarolynM agreed, author tried to write a modern retelling of myth but it fell VERY SHORT 3y

Librarybelle Selkie. I thought selkie right from the beginning - his description of her seemed to mesh with my very limited understanding of the selkie legends. 3y

emilyhaldi The selkie theory is so fascinating!!! I love it. And I wish the author had maybe given us more from the wife‘s perspective as she sat on the beach all day… would have liked to gain a better understanding of her mindset. (Ps. Sorry I‘m so late to the party 🤪) 3y

Cinfhen Thanks for stopping by @emilyhaldi xx 3y

15 likes33 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

This post contains spoilers

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I‘ll be posting 5 questions total and then the announcement of our next #BuddyRead theme🎵🎉📸📚❄️
@BarbaraBB & I hope you‘ll join us for another fun filled party weekend ‼️

Question 1
* How do you consider the relationship between the professor & his young bride?
Is the professor a reliable narrator?

Cinfhen @AnneCecilie @Hooked_on_books @Librarybelle @Leerharry @Kvanread @Leahbergen @Erzascarletbookgasm @Trishb @Squirrelbrain @Emilyhaldi @Megabooks @CarolynM @Batsy @Rubyslippersreads @Bookandcat @Bookwormahn @Mitch @Centique @I.be.stef 3y

Megabooks Gosh! What a creeper! His obsession with the angles of her body, her body hair. Just weird. She was so vague in his life that I don‘t think his impressions of her are reliable at all! 3y

See All 57 Comments

TrishB @Megabooks agree! He had me going ewww all the time. Totally unreliable. 3y

Cinfhen He seems to have invented memories @Megabooks and the way he obsessively watches her from the window. He made me very uncomfortable @TrishB (edited) 3y

BookwormAHN They don't seem to really know each other, which makes me uncomfortable and then their's the weird obsession he has with her body. 3y

jenniferw88 Definitely unreliable! 3y

Cinfhen What do you think she saw in the professor @Megabooks @TrishB @BookwormAHN @jenniferw88 ?? Do you think the book needed her perspective too? 3y

Megabooks I don‘t think I liked the book to care enough about her perspective 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y

TrishB I think she probably saw security? Maybe she liked the worship? 3y

Deblovestoread He is obsessed and his constant vigilance is creepy but her spending 24/7 staring out to sea is weird, too. (edited) 3y

TheBookHippie He is CREEPY and totally unreliable ….. 3y

Deblovestoread Or did she just need a ride to Orkney? 3y

rubyslippersreads He‘s such a creep and so unreliable, I‘m not even sure his wife is real (I bailed, so I‘m only guessing about this). Does she even have a name? 3y

TheBookHippie As for her 🤷🏻‍♀️was he a means to an end ? 3y

TheBookHippie I think the book needed her perspective -yes. 3y

TheBookHippie @Megabooks 😂😬😝 3y

jenniferw88 Definitely needed her perspective! Maybe a father figure? 3y

BookwormAHN I think her lack of perspective was to keep her more mysterious which just made him seem nuttier. 3y

Cinfhen I was wondering too if she was a fantasy @rubyslippersreads but there was that other family with the 2 young boys and the shopkeeper who were all aware of her. (edited) 3y

Cinfhen I think the book needed her perspective too, and yes, I think she was a selkie and he was a way for her to get her “skin” back. She stares at the sea longing to return “home” @Kdgordon88 ?? 3y

rubyslippersreads @Cinfhen I forgot that other people saw them together (usually with disapproval). 3y

Cinfhen Agreed @BookwormAHN and yet we ALL got fed up and bored by the repetitiveness of the “mystery” so I‘m not sure the author accomplished her goal🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y

Cinfhen I like the idea that the professor was a father figure @jenniferw88 3y

Cinfhen I do think he was some type of escape for her @TheBookHippie (edited) 3y

Cinfhen I DID care for her @Megabooks did ya‘ll @BookwormAHN @Kdgordon88 @jenniferw88 @TheBookHippie @TrishB @rubyslippersreads 3y

Deblovestoread We can guess her reason for staring out to sea is a longing to return home but he did not. From his perspective it would be odd behavior. Plus it is same old trope older man young wife let the jealousy and controlling behavior begin. 3y

rubyslippersreads @Cinfhen I didn‘t care very much, probably because I just didn‘t care about the book. 3y

BookwormAHN I cared for her enough to at times want to suggest she get a divorce and maybe a restraining order. 3y

Deblovestoread I wanted to care to care for her but didn‘t quite get there. 3y

TheBookHippie @Cinfhen Yes I did care for her I wanted her to be able to go “home” and be at peace. 3y

jenniferw88 The idea of a father figure came to me as if I were in her shoes - if I didn't have mine around I would want someone to look up to and love me unconditionally, so I guess I did care for her. 3y

Deblovestoread @BookwormAHN 😂 3y

rubyslippersreads @BookwormAHN That was about my level of caring too. 😏 3y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I felt sorry for her (although I could think she used him to get back to the Orkney‘s) but I didn‘t enjoy the book enough to care whether there was another perspective. I‘m not sure it would‘ve made the book stronger/more enjoyable, but I think anything in literature depends on how well done it is. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y

peaKnit He seemed to be losing it at the end, very obsessive like she was a trophy for him through the book, seemed a little pathetic maybe? 3y

Megabooks @BookwormAHN 😂😂😂😂 3y

Deblovestoread I didn‘t get the father figure vibe. He was more a means to an end. 3y

peaKnit I feel like he got less reliable but she, her personality, even her physical self, seemed fluid to fit in whatever space her gave her. 3y

TrishB I did care for her, in the sense that I wanted her to do whatever was going to make her happy. 3y

BarbaraBB I did care for her too but agree that the book needed her perspective too. I started out liking the setting of this weird marriage but when nothing happened it lost its moment. 3y

rubyslippersreads @Kdgordon88 I would certainly prefer that, just a ticket to Orkney. 3y

AnneCecilie I didn‘t think she was fleshed out enough so I didn‘t care much about what happened to her. She was just a figure in the background, something for him to watch. 3y

Cinfhen Hahaha @BookwormAHN although I sensed SHE was PLAYING him THE WHOLE TIME @Kdgordon88 @TheBookHippie @Megabooks @peaknit @rubyslippersreads @AnneCecilie @TrishB I think she KNEW he was easy prey…the ticket to Orkney 3y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Professor Father Figure was a creep and totally unreliable. Early on, I expected her to be a figment of his imagination inspired by his book. Once the others actually seemed to see her, I figured then he was her ticket to Orkney. Maybe she had some affection for him, but it felt very one-sided. Without her perspective it allowed her & her motivations to remain a mystery. 3y

Cinfhen Total creep @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick he made me feel squirmy 3y

peaKnit Oh yes, ticket to Orkney but worth acting loving? Ew. 😂 3y

CarolynM Unreliable narrator, hmm, not sure. How reliable are any of our memories, really? The disagreements about what colour jumper she wore, who kissed who etc struck me as the usual kinds of differing memories couples might have. I was more bothered by their lack of connection. They only seemed to talk to one another about the myths and stories. Initially I wondered if she had an agenda besides getting to Orkney. At the end I wasn't sure she was real👇 3y

CarolynM 🖕Maybe he wasn't on sabbatical at all, but on suspension after inappropriate behaviour towards a female student & this was all his way of justifying himself in his own mind (or something like that). The other people they encountered may not have been real either, or may not have really interacted with the nonexistent wife, it was just how he thought it might have gone. Interesting that the cleaning lady also disappeared.👇 3y

CarolynM ?Either way, I didn't care very much. It was all to much of a sad old man / "mysterious" young woman, who is exploiting who series of clichés that's been well and truly done before. It could have been interesting to retell the selkie myths, but the characters, particularly her, needed a lot more originality and a lot more flesh and blood. 3y

rubyslippersreads @CarolynM I like this theory. 3y

Cinfhen Yeah, I wondered about that cleaning lady @CarolynM The more I‘m reading people‘s comments and ideas the less I‘m appreciating this book. It was weak 😕 3y

i.besteph I missed the discussion cuz I fell asleep. Guess I‘ll just post my thoughts on this😂🤷🏽‍♀️I think he‘s a total creep and a very unreliable narrator. First I was all like “oh what a doting husband!” Then when he kept watching her from his little window ALL THE FREAKING TIME, it just went downhill.📉😬 (edited) 3y

erzascarletbookgasm That‘s interesting @CarolynM about he wasn‘t on sabbatical and all that happened was just his imagination. The story could take on a different direction from there. 3y

erzascarletbookgasm Totally an unreliable narrator @Cinfhen ..At one point I did think the wife doesn‘t exist at all, but others saw her. So she should be real 😆. 3y

Cinfhen This book and discussion leaves me more frustrated than assured @erzascarletbookgasm @I.be.Stef I might have to change my book from weak peak to so-so / Pan 😛 3y

Librarybelle Like several others, I felt the relationship to be a bit on the creepy level - Richard is clearly obsessed. Our young heroine…not so much, though I like @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick thought that he was her ticket to Orkney. All of that discussion about going up North; her childhood up North. Richard is an unreliable narrator, IMO. He‘s too obsessed; he‘s clouded by this obsession. 3y

16 likes57 comments

jenniferw88

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pick

4 ⭐ and just in time for #holidayescape @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen ! 😂

Low pick/high so-so

Cinfhen Agreed!! High so-so / low pick 😉but I didn‘t HATE it. Looking forward to discussion in a few hours 3y

43 likes1 comment

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

⚠️ REMINDER ⚠️
#HolidayEscape DISCUSSION TODAY 2pmEST, 7pmUK, 8pm CE
Questions posted by @Cinfhen
Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts….

BarbaraBB

Cinfhen
@Thekidupstairs @AnneCecilie @Hooked_on_books @Kalalalatja @Librarybelle @Leerharry @Kvanread @Leahbergen @Erzascarletbookgasm @Trishb @Squirrelbrain @Emilyhaldi @Megabooks @CarolynM @Batsy @Rubyslippersreads @Bookandcat @Bookwormahn @Mitch @Centique @I.be.stef
3y

CarolynM I'll catch up with the discussion in the morning🙂 3y

See All 11 Comments

TheBookHippie I‘m ready 🤐 3y

BarbaraBB I‘ll join as soon as I can! This discussion will be great! 3y

erzascarletbookgasm 👌 if I‘m still awake. Otherwise I‘ll catch up in the morning. 3y

Cinfhen I know…..the time difference is complicated @erzascarletbookgasm @CarolynM Look forward to reading your comments 3y

Cinfhen Good luck tonight @BarbaraBB ⚽️⚽️⚽️ 3y

Cinfhen Yay @TheBookHippie 🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🧜🏼‍♀️🧜🧜🏼‍♀️🧜 3y

Megabooks Looking forward to it!! 3y

rubyslippersreads Now I‘ll find out the mysterious ending. 😏 3y

57 likes11 comments

TrishB

Orkney | Amy Sackville

bailed

Read to page 111, skim read the end. I have a day off today and don‘t want to spend hate reading this later.
Can‘t wait for the discussion though 😁
#holidayescape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

CarolynM Good call. Life's too short. (edited) 3y

BarbaraBB Ha! I expected that. And I completely understand 😂 3y

Cinfhen Yay you!!! Enjoy your day XX 3y

See All 11 Comments

rubyslippersreads I bailed too, but maybe I‘ll read the end. 3y

Cathythoughts 👍🏻 3y

LeahBergen I‘m so glad I skipped this one. 🤣 3y

TrishB @CarolynM @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen life is definitely too short! 3y

emilyhaldi Don‘t blame you for this decision 👍🏻 3y

Megabooks You read the best part. The second half was 💩 3y

britt_brooke I bailed, too. 3y

TrishB @emilyhaldi @Megabooks @britt_brooke so glad I left it! 3y

79 likes11 comments

TrishB

Orkney | Amy Sackville

We‘re hovering on a bail….is it just me that finds the professor so bloody creepy!!
#holidayescape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

TrishB Just read some of the reviews and thankfully it‘s not just me! 3y

Cinfhen Ha!! He‘s a total creep 3y

squirrelbrain Nope, he was definitely creepy! 3y

See All 12 Comments

TrishB @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain he‘s definitely making me squirm! 3y

erzascarletbookgasm Totally a creep! 3y

BarbaraBB He is super creepy! 3y

rubyslippersreads He‘s so creepy, I can‘t read anymore. 😠 3y

Cathythoughts Creep times a million 3y

i.besteph I found him very creepy to the point I was frustrated with him! I had to keep telling myself it‘s just a book. 🤦🏽‍♀️😂 (edited) 3y

TrishB @erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB @rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts well we all agree on that question then! 3y

TrishB @I.be.Stef I love that! I suppose the author would say that was her intention( well I hope so anyway!) 3y

i.besteph @TrishB Exactly! That‘s why I raised my rating of the book from a pan to a so-so 3y

66 likes12 comments

TrishB

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Mother/daughter read. I‘m thinking hers is probably a bit more exciting.

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Ooo! Been curious about Orkney! Let me know what you think! 3y

julesG I liked King of Scars! It's certainly more exciting than your choice. 😬 3y

squirrelbrain Hers is bigger too! Do you have book envy?! 😘 3y

See All 9 Comments

BarbaraBB I love how much you read with Charlotte. So cool!! 3y

TrishB @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled tbh nothing much has happened but the writing is good so far. 3y

TrishB @julesG I concur and I haven‘t read King of Scars! 3y

TrishB @squirrelbrain I definitely do, it‘s one you want to stroke 😁 3y

TrishB @BarbaraBB I love it ❤️ the funniest thing is when one of us starts crying! 3y

LeahBergen 😆😆 I bet it is! 3y

93 likes9 comments

emilyhaldi

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

This started with such promise, especially as I read it during a rainstorm, befitting the mood of the book better than if I had been on a sunny beach 🌧 However, the writing quickly became repetitive and lagged on far too long. I am eager to discuss the mysterious ending though 🧐
#holidayescape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen I think everyone had similar feelings about this one/ at least it was short 😉 3y

Reviewsbylola I‘m officially skipping it. 😬 3y

62 likes2 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

It‘s nearly time for our #BuddyRead
Before we escape to the Orkneys we have some packing to do:
Friday, June 25 find your favorite #HolidayEscape photos & mementos & share your best memories 📸
Saturday 6/26 Do you have a summer playlist that sings long, hot, lazy days? Or maybe you have some favorite beach tunes or pool playlist?? Share🎶
On Sunday 6/27 we‘ll discuss Orkney 2pmEST, 7pmUK, 8pm CE
NEW👇🏼
**Questions posted by @Cinfhen **

Cinfhen @BarbaraBB 3y

Cinfhen @Megabooks @JaclynW @Simona @Cathythoughts @mitch @squirrelbrain @karenuk @Kalalalatja @CarolynM @kgordon88 @Cupcake12 @JennyM @jenniferw88
@erzascarletbookgasm @peaknit @vivastory @Billypar @Cuilin @Reviewsbylola @Librarybelle @TheBookHippie @lizpixie @Crazeedi 3y

Cinfhen @debinhawaii @BookwormAHN @TrishB @Centique @vlwelser @LeahBergen @emilyhaldi @I.be.Stef @hooked_on_books @RubySlippersReads @thekidupstairs @AnneCecile @leeRHarry
3y

See All 15 Comments

Cinfhen If I tagged you by mistake or if I forgot to tag you, my apologies 💓💓💓I‘m all 🤪🤪🤪today 3y

Librarybelle Yay! 3y

BookwormAHN Looking forward to it 😺 3y

LeahBergen I ended up not buying this one after the first couple of bad reviews by the group. 😆 3y

DebinHawaii @LeahBergen I did the same. I tried to order a cheap copy from e-bay but couldn‘t find one that was at the right price & delivered to Hawaii & I just couldn‘t make my finger press “buy now” for $13 for the Kindle one after the reviews.😔 3y

Cinfhen Good call @LeahBergen @DebinHawaii it‘s definitely a #BorrowNot Buy or #BuyCheap / hopefully you‘ll join us for #DecemberChill xx 3y

Cinfhen Yay is right @Librarybelle @BookwormAHN Excited for the discussion and party weekend 🎊🎶📸🤳 3y

DebinHawaii @Cinfhen For sure, I‘ll join in for December. I may still pop by with a playlist & vacay photos if I can this weekend. 3y

Cinfhen Yay!!! I‘d love that @DebinHawaii 💜💜💜 3y

BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii That would be awesome 😎 3y

Centique I didn‘t read it either sorry. But I will dig out some holiday snaps! 3y

Cinfhen Looking forward to your snaps @Centique LOVE THAT terminology ❤️❤️❤️ 3y

59 likes15 comments

i.besteph

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

#holidayescape
A solid so-so. I was going to pan it but changed my mind as I finished the book.
(I have a theory about the ending) Full review is in the comments ⬇️
TLDR; it‘s a good read if you have the patience to get through it. Personally though, I don‘t think I‘ll read it again. :/

Next time can we go to a summery place for the #buddyread please?? 😂
Rating: 3/5
Book description ⬇️

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

i.besteph My review: First of all, I couldn‘t get past the mundane, almost monotonous days (chapters). Initially it was poetic and almost dreamlike. But then it began to be repetitive to a point where I got frustrated with his obsession. I skipped a few chapters to get ahead. 🤷🏽‍♀️
(contd…) 3y

i.besteph (contd…) Secondly, I couldn‘t digest the whole 40 year gap. Richard lives in his head throughout the book. And it‘s clear that he remembers things wrong. I can‘t shake the feeling that he‘s forced himself on his “little wife” rather than the other way around. There‘s a part that says she has a headache but relents….🤢 3y

i.besteph (contd…) Besides that, it‘s beyond creepy how he‘s always watching her like a hawk from his window. Little kids I understand, wife I don‘t get.

Thirdly, the reason why I gave this book a so-so is because of the author‘s writing. The POV of the creepy husband is spot on.
3y

See All 11 Comments

i.besteph (contd…) And lastly, for my theory about the ending. Based on the mysterious disappearance of his wife, either one of the below 3 could‘ve happened: 3y

i.besteph 1. She really was a selkie and found her home. (And lived happily ever after)
2. She ran away in the middle of the night because she understood that life with Richard would be hard. He‘s a creepy stalker and would never leave her alone
3. Richard could‘ve killed her and not know it since he lived in his head a lot. He could‘ve mixed up reality with fantasy.
(edited) 3y

Cinfhen I agree with your ENTIRE review!! You hit on almost all of our discussion questions 🤓Discussion is this Sunday 2pmEST 3y

Cinfhen And yes, not my idea of a summer vacation/ at all 🤪 3y

i.besteph @Cinfhen Awesome! I‘ll get my list on Sunday! 😂🙌🏽 3y

BarbaraBB Wonderful review! Looking forward to the weekend! 3y

i.besteph @BarbaraBB thank you! Can‘t wait for Sunday. ☺️😆 3y

erzascarletbookgasm Aye for a summery place vacation! 😁 3y

22 likes11 comments

TrishB

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Thank you Helen 😘 I shall do my best to read before the weekend now!

squirrelbrain

squirrelbrain Yay - glad it arrived quickly. It won‘t take long to read at all either. 😘 4y

charl08 I love that chai. Good choice! 4y

BarbaraBB Uh oh, no avoiding now 😉 3y

TrishB @charl08 good to know 👍🏻 3y

TrishB @BarbaraBB exactly! 3y

83 likes5 comments

i.besteph

Orkney | Amy Sackville

This post contains spoilers

show me

“And Thomas told the crofter that the ladies he had seen were the daughters of the King of Lochlann, from beyond the sea‘s brim, and explained what the crofter must do if he wished to capture a sea-princess, when the selkie women came back.”

What are the odds that I found this post on Instagram about selkies and the Statue of Kopakonan- ‘The seal woman‘?!

To read check comments/ click:https://www.instagram.com/p/CQAIv3Br2DA/?utm_medium=copy_link

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

i.besteph What is this photo about? The Statue of Kopakonan. ‘The Seal woman‘. Faroe Islands.
_

The legend of Kópakonan (the Seal Woman) is one of the best-known folktales in the Faroe Islands.
(edited) 4y

i.besteph (contd…) The myth goes: Seals were believed to be former human beings who voluntarily sought death in the ocean. Once a year, on the Thirteenth night, they were allowed to come on land, strip off their skins and amuse themselves as human beings, dancing and enjoying themselves. 4y

i.besteph (Contd…) If their seal skin is hidden or stolen, they are unable to return to the sea.

The Seal Woman commemorates a particularly well known story about a beautiful Selkie (Selkies are a variation on the mermaid concept in Scottish, Irish, Icelandic and Faroese folklore) trapped by a fisherman on the island of Kalsoy, who hides her seal skin while she is on land one night. Trapped, she becomes his wife and they have 2 children.
4y

See All 11 Comments

i.besteph (Contd…) One day however, he goes fishing and she finds her seal skin hidden in a chest in their home. She escapes back to her Selkie family after ensuring the children are cared for until the fisherman's return.

She leaves behind a message to not follow her and to not harm her Selkie family. The fishermen however ignore the warning and end up killing both her Selkie husband and Selkie children. 4y

i.besteph (Contd…) In revenge she curses the men of the island to die in frequent accidents until as many have perished as can link arms around the whole island.

The 9 ft bronze and stainless steel statue of Kópakonan (The Seal Wife) was created by Hans Pauli Olsen and was installed in the Mikladalur Harbor on Kalsoy, one of the Faroe Islands, on August 1st, 2014. 4y

Cinfhen How unbelievable!!! The underworld is calling to us…And now I‘m thinking of the soundtrack from The Little Mermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️ Thanks for sharing 🥰 4y

i.besteph @Cinfhen hahaha I can see that! You‘re welcome :) 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thanks so much for sharing! 4y

BarbaraBB Fantastic picture. And indeed what are the odds? 4y

i.besteph @Riveted_Reader_Melissa You‘re welcome! 💖 4y

i.besteph @BarbaraBB I agree! 🙌🏽💯 4y

5 likes11 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

It‘s nearly time for our #BuddyRead
Before we escape to the Orkneys we have some packing to do:
On Friday, June 25 find your favorite #HolidayEscape photos & mementos & share your best memories 📸
Saturday 6/26 Do you have a summer playlist that sings long, hot, lazy days? Or maybe you have some favorite beach tunes or pool playlist?? Share with us🎶
On Sunday 6/27 we‘ll discuss Orkney 2pmEST, 7pmUK, 8pm CE
Questions posted by @BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Tagging those who expressed interest but all are welcome to join in : ) @JaclynW @Simona @Cathythoughts @mitch @squirrelbrain @Kalalalatja @CarolynM @AmyG @Megabooks 4y

TrishB My book never arrived 😞 4y

Cinfhen @kgordon88 @Cupcake12 @JennyM @jenniferw88
@erzascarletbookgasm @peaknit @vivastory @Billypar @Cuilin @Reviewsbylola @Librarybelle @batsy @TheBookHippie @lizpixie @Crazeedi @debinhawaii @BookwormAHN @TrishB @Centique @vlwelser @LeahBergen @emilyhaldi @I.be.Stef @hooked_on_books @RubySlippersReads @thekidupstairs @AnneCecile @LeeRHarry

4y

See All 27 Comments

Cinfhen @KarenUK @JaclynW @Simona @Cathythoughts @mitch @squirrelbrain @karenuk @Kalalalatja @CarolynM @AmyG 4y

Cinfhen Apologies if I forgot anyone ❤️ 4y

Cinfhen I‘m sorry @TrishB I‘m happy to send you my copy if you‘re still interested xx 4y

Librarybelle Yay!! 4y

TheBookHippie I‘m ready!!! 4y

AmyG I will catch you all for the next book. Babysitting through end of July....I have no time to read much of anything. Thank you for tagging me. (edited) 4y

Cupcake12 I have so much college work to do, will have to give this a miss. Enjoy everyone x 4y

TrishB Thank you 😘 still hoping it turns up, but it‘s ok I shall just read all the comments anyway! 4y

Cinfhen We‘ll miss you @AmyG @Cupcake12 4y

Cinfhen Join in for the other festivities @TrishB 🕺🏾💃🏾🎶 4y

batsy Thank you for the tag! But I might have to pull out of this one because I haven't read it yet and just don't have the time to finish it by this weekend. I hope you have a good discussion! I might come back to it later if I can get to this next week 🙂 4y

Cinfhen It‘s a very quick read if you find the time @batsy 😘otherwise we hope you‘ll pop in if possible 4y

squirrelbrain Shall I send you mine @trishb? You‘d have it by Weds then…. 4y

i.besteph I‘m still catching up 😅 4y

Cinfhen No pressure. @I.be.Stef 😉 4y

Megabooks So curious about this discussion!! 4y

JennyM @TrishB I‘m the same as you Trish - my book seems to be on its own summer holiday and hasn‘t arrived yet. I‘ll also read the comments - so curious as there are lots of mixed reviews 😘 4y

TrishB @squirrelbrain only if it‘s no bother! Don‘t make a special journey if not near the PO. 4y

TrishB @JennyM they want me to sign a legal declaration that I haven‘t reviewed it and I only paid Qa! 4y

squirrelbrain I already parcelled it up for you @trishb and hubby will post it at work tomorrow. They send out sacks of post each day so it‘s no trouble (for me!) 😘 4y

JennyM @TrishB 😬😬😬 4y

TrishB @squirrelbrain oh thank you and hubby 😘 4y

Cinfhen So sweet @squirrelbrain !!! I think you can easily read this in one sitting @TrishB 🥰I would send you my copy @JennyM but it won‘t get to you until Halloween 👻 and it‘s not a good enough book to justify the crazy postage 🙊 4y

JennyM @Cinfhen ah thank you for even thinking of it, but our post is literally 🐌 pace! I look forward to seeing everyone‘s discussion through x 4y

71 likes27 comments

erzascarletbookgasm

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pick

Great #HolidayEscape with this book! 🌊🌬🌨
Nothing unusual if an elderly professor marries a young woman, his former student. But it‘s very strange if he‘s so obsessed with her, watches her, fantasises about her, day in day out during their honeymoon. I was frustrated with him & his mysterious wife! After halfway of the book, I got a suspicion how it‘s going to end. Though the writing is mostly ‘too, too much‘, it‘s undeniably lyrical. ⬇️

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

erzascarletbookgasm .. The atmospheric setting is fantastic. How the folklores come into play, the foreshadowing, my doubt of what is real and what is imaginary..they worked for me. For that, this book leans towards a Pick. 4y

BookwormAHN I kind of had a feeling how the book was going to end as well. 4y

JennyM Great review, Jessie. A rare pick amidst the pans and so-so‘s 👍 It is looking less likely that my copy will arrive in time for the discussion, which is a shame as I‘m curious as to where I would fall with it. I love the cover regardless! 💫 4y

See All 15 Comments

BarbaraBB Great review Jessie! 4y

Cinfhen Yay, another pick and another fabulous review!! 4y

erzascarletbookgasm @JennyM Thanks. I hope your copy arrives soon. I‘ll be curious how this bodes with you. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Thanks @BarbaraBB @Cinfhen I look forward to the discussion. It was not easy deciding if I liked or hated it. 😆 The repetition was exhausting but overall a Pick because of the later part of the story. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm @BookwormAHN I thought she was going to turn into a mermaid right in front of him! 😂 4y

Cinfhen It was definitely repetitive but I wasn‘t frustrated by that like many others 4y

youneverarrived Great review! I am intrigued by this one. 4y

i.besteph Great review! I‘m among the pans and so-sos atm but let‘s see how it goes. 😅 (edited) 4y

TrishB @JennyM mines been lost in transit since 3 May! 4y

Crazeedi I DNF , unfortunately I couldn't even get into it 4y

JennyM @TrishB the post is doing it‘s own thing during this pandemic 🙃 (edited) 4y

TrishB @JennyM definitely 😁 4y

71 likes15 comments

BookwormAHN

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pick

This was just a weird book. A college professor marries his favorite student and they honeymoon on the remote Scottish Orkney Island. They don't really seem to know each other and the ending which was the most interesting part was just nuts 🤷🏼‍♀️
It did however make want to pack and head for Scotland.
#HolidayEscape @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Exactly!!! I know must people didn‘t like this book but I thought it was engaging. A bit repetitive but easy to follow. Looking forward to our discussion 🤓 4y

63 likes1 comment

CarolynM

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pan

Nope. I really did not like that at all. Clichéd, over written, repetitive and just not very interesting. Initially I liked the descriptions of the island, the sea and weather, but they got old very fast. If you're going to write a modern take on old legends you need to give the story and the characters a lot more colour and freshness than this.
#HolidayEscape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Fair assessment 💖😘 4y

BarbaraBB Totally agree though I really liked the atmosphere. 4y

LeahBergen And now I‘m even more glad that I didn‘t buy this one. 😆 4y

Cathythoughts I agree with you 👍🏻 4y

erzascarletbookgasm I liked the description of the island and sea too. I‘m halfway through the book, ..and day after day, nothing is happening except his obsessive observations & reminiscences! I am very curious where this is leading to! 4y

53 likes5 comments

peaKnit

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

Finished this as close to the beach as im@going to get today. My review is : ethereal at times, magical times but mostly odd for me. I think this would appeal to someone who really appreciates poetry somehow.

Cinfhen Fair assessment 😆 4y

27 likes1 comment

peaKnit

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Doctors office read as I prep for #BuddyRead #HolidayEscape. I really look forward to the fun posts with this quarterly group! Contemplating a beach playlist, however this read is more solemn and detailed - more Jack Johnson than Beach Boys…🤔

BarbaraBB This book is definitely not the usual idea of a #HolidayEscape 😀 4y

CarolynM I'm about halfway through and wondering if it's going to escape from the string of clichés it has started with. 4y

rubyslippersreads @CarolynM 😂😂😂 3y

24 likes3 comments

BookwormAHN

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Late night reading with Druzy 😺
#CatsofLitsy

74 likes

BarbaraBB

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

He is 40 years her senior and while they honeymoon on an Orkney island he obsessively watches her every move while she‘s standing by the sea and he pretends to work. Each day seems the same. Waiting for something inevitable to happen, waiting for the storm.

This book could have been so good and I LOVED the setting. Yet I can‘t rate it higher than a so-so.
There will be things to discuss though, during #HolidayEscape

(Pic: Vaccination hall!!)

Cinfhen

TrishB I was wondering where you were! Mine still hasn‘t arrived. 4y

vivastory Happy to hear you got your vaccine! 👏 👏 4y

BarbaraBB @TrishB I‘ve been so busy working, meh! I wonder what you‘ll think. The proze is wonderful, the plot a bit repetitive 4y

See All 15 Comments

BarbaraBB @vivastory Thanks ! It actually felt a bit emotional 😀 4y

vivastory I agree! I recall feeling very emotional when I received mine as well. 4y

Megabooks Congratulations on your vaccine! Hope you‘re feeling well. I still feel weird not wearing a mask. (edited) 4y

Megabooks What do you think happened to the wife? Is she a selkie? Did she commit suicide? Did one of the people on the island help her escape? (And why the fuck did she marry him???) 4y

Cinfhen Congrats on your vaccine 🙌🏻💕this book was pretty pointless but the setting was very atmospheric 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Wonderful news on your vaccine. 👍💕 I‘m still waiting for my turn (the vaccine) 😞 4y

Liz_M Woohoo! 4y

emilyhaldi I wish I was reading this one on the beach but alas, starting it today! 4y

Simona Congratulations for 💉🦠 I got my second dose today and I feel so tired ... 4y

Simona ... and about the book ... I feel the same - loved the setting, but the content is so repetitive. 4y

CarolynM Glad you've had the vaccine, I hope you won't have any side effects💕 I'm not feeling much enthusiasm to start this book with all the so-so reviews! 4y

BarbaraBB @CarolynM Thanks! I feel fine, no side effects. I am ready for the world to open up! I know what you mean about this book but it is written very well. And it‘s short 😉 4y

76 likes15 comments

Librarybelle

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Look what arrived in the mail today…my copy of Orkney for #HolidayEscape , which I see has drawn a lot of mixed reviews.

And Barbara, thank you for the postcard! I love it! ❤️

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB I loved it too, it was a gift by another Litten and I thought it suited you well ❤️. Happy birthday - way too late! Sorry it took so long! 4y

Cinfhen Yay!!! So glad you received your copy!!! Curious to hear your thoughts 4y

89 likes1 stack add2 comments

Simona

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

I loved the setting and the gloomy atmosphere on that island ... and well, that‘s it. I finished the book yesterday and I can already tell, that I will soon forget it. Usually I like quite, pondering novels, but something in the Sackville writing style was very annoying for me. I don‘t know what was that, but maybe I'll figure out what that might be till the discussion time. #HolidayEscape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cathythoughts I was a ‘so-so‘ too ... yes something about the writing getting repetitive.. interested to hear what everyone thinks (edited) 4y

Cinfhen Awesome graphics and on point review! I didn‘t mind this book, but like you said #NotMemorable and sort of predictable 4y

squirrelbrain Love your graphic! 4y

See All 8 Comments

BarbaraBB I am starting it now. I can hardly imagine it will be a pick for me after reviews like yours! 4y

vivastory I just requested this from the library, but all of these so-so reviews don't bode well! 4y

Simona @vivastory @BarbaraBB Maybe you will find some aspect we've missed ...🤞 4y

Simona @squirrelbrain @Cinfhen Ebooks are so terrible unphotogenic, that is almost necessary to add something 😁 4y

Simona @Cathythoughts I hope that the book gets some strong advocate, or the debate could be quite prone in one direction ... 4y

48 likes8 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pick

Need to read everyone‘s spoilers now that I finished this book. It strange, atmospheric and definitely dreamy. I liked it - parts reminded me of The Snow Child. #HolidayEscape

BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB I‘ll start it once I finish my current read! 4y

Cinfhen I found it very readable but not at all “relatable” - can‘t wait to hear your thoughts. I think you‘ll like the setting @BarbaraBB now to think of discussion questions 4y

Megabooks So glad it was a pick for you! 4y

See All 7 Comments

Cathythoughts That‘s great you enjoyed it 👍🏻❤️ 4y

Cinfhen It‘s not going to be a favorite read @Cathythoughts @Megabooks but it was easy to get through and I‘m hoping we can have a good discussion. And I believe it was definitely a #HolidayEscape 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Yeah, the first Pick I see! I‘ve just started it, enjoying the writing but I fear it‘ll be repetitive, as others commented. 4y

Cinfhen It‘s definitely repetitive @erzascarletbookgasm but I didn‘t hate it 😉❣️ (edited) 4y

75 likes2 stack adds7 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Im on page 67 and I‘m quite enjoying this atmospheric book @KarenUK @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @britt_brooke #HolidayEscape

Cathythoughts Oh good 👍🏻❤️ I hope you enjoy all of it ! 4y

emilyhaldi I almost forgot it was time for Orkney!! 🤭 gotta get into it this week! 4y

TrishB Mine still hasn‘t arrived yet! 4y

See All 11 Comments

Megabooks 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 4y

squirrelbrain Shall I send you mine?! @TrishB 4y

TrishB @squirrelbrain I‘ve just checked order info and it now says Tuesday! If it doesn‘t arrive by then, I may take you up on that 😘 4y

squirrelbrain Let me know as hubby can post it from his work any day.... 4y

KarenUK I loved the atmosphere... it‘s really ethereal and dreamy.... 💕 4y

britt_brooke Hope you continue enjoying! 🤞🏼 4y

britt_brooke Cool photo, btw. 💕 4y

Crazeedi That's good that you're enjoying 4y

71 likes11 comments

squirrelbrain

Orkney | Amy Sackville

pick

Just a soft pick from me, but I didn‘t mind it. (Damning with faint praise there!) I was worried after the bails and so-sos but I was rather intrigued. It felt a bit like an unreliable narrator book to me; who was actually misremembering things, him or her?

I‘m glad it was only a short book though as it did get a bit same-y after a while.

Looking forward to the #holidayescape discussions. Tagging all Littens from other posts (I think!)

KarenUK, Megabooks, Cinfhen, britt_brooke, Crazeedi, erzascarletbookgasm, Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick, TrishB, Cathythoughts, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain The Prof was rather vile though - seemingly having (sometimes rough) sex with her when she was semi-conscious or asleep. Urgh. 4y

TrishB Mine said arrive by today, so expecting tomorrow! 4y

Cinfhen Hope to start tomorrow ❤️glad you made it to the end 4y

See All 11 Comments

Cathythoughts I found it intriguing at the start too ... but it went down hill after that. Yes the Prof was a bit creepy with his obsession of her ... off putting 4y

britt_brooke Thanks for tagging me! Even though I bailed, I‘m looking forward to the discussion. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Finally a(soft) Pick! The discussion‘s going to be interesting! I hope to start this soon. 4y

BarbaraBB I must start soon too, I become more intrigued by the review! 4y

Hooked_on_books I think this may be one of favorite reviews ever. “I didn‘t mind it.” 😂🤣 4y

Megabooks @squirrelbrain Omg he was so weird. Quit talking about her shoulder blades and pubic hair!! As I‘ve said, such bizarre things to fixate on! @cathythoughts I‘ve kind of thought of a third possibility to her suicide or being a selkie: what if one of the people she talked to helped her escape? She had so many private conversations; could she have faked her death?? (edited) 4y

squirrelbrain Thanks @Hooked_on_books - I do try my hardest to give considered, intelligent reviews! 🤣 4y

squirrelbrain Interesting thought @Megabooks - at the moment I‘m leaning towards suicide but I need to know more about selkies as the being afraid of the sea just didn‘t fit for me. 4y

81 likes11 comments

Megabooks

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

What a strange book! Odd details, the obsession he had with her body parts, her angularity, that he married her without having her email address?! It was obvious by 50 pages where it was going. Still, the first half moved quickly and was fairly enjoyable. The second half was trite and a slog. The setting didn‘t disappoint, though. Perhaps someday I‘ll have a #HolidayEscape to the Orkney Islands? A 2⭐️ so-so.

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Megabooks @britt_brooke she was a selkie. I called it. So obvious! 4y

Megabooks @cathythoughts I generally agree with your assessment. 👍🏻💜 It will be interesting to see what the rest of the group thinks! 4y

Cinfhen Gorgeous photo but yikes...this book has me WORRIED 😱 @BarbaraBB 4y

See All 26 Comments

squirrelbrain Me too @Cinfhen ! 🤣 I‘ll give it a go this weekend though.... 4y

Cinfhen I‘m going to pick it up this weekend too @squirrelbrain 🤞🏼🤞🏼 4y

Crazeedi @Megabooks oh no, I keep reading so-so reviews, I have it on kindle to get to but... 4y

Cathythoughts Yes you called it Meg 👍🏻 🐠 , the webbed hands & feet @britt_brooke .... such a great setting ... there was something very off-putting about him & his obsession... be interesting to see what everyone thinks .. 4y

AudiobookingWithLeah The Cover is beautiful... 4y

britt_brooke @Megabooks Oh jeez. You sure did! 😂😂 4y

Megabooks @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain @Crazeedi I hope y‘all enjoy it more!! 😬😬 4y

Megabooks @AUDIOBOOKINGWITHLEAH it is lovely! 4y

Megabooks @Cathythoughts I‘m excited to read more reviews and have the discussion. That‘s the best part of getting through this! 4y

Cathythoughts I think she was a selkie, or maybe just the slightly webbed fingers & toes .... it felt like a suicide too ? Do you think ? 4y

Megabooks @Cathythoughts idk. She just seemed more strange than suicidal. I think all the poetry, mythology, and stories points to this not being “real”. The only thing that points to suicide is that she couldn‘t swim, but I also think that‘s in the selkie stories?? I haven‘t read enough of them to say for sure though. 4y

Cathythoughts Idk either , she was following her father back to the sea - their home. Or by suicide ... it‘s just been niggling at me ... be interesting to hear other‘s thoughts now .... yes does point to not bring “ real “ 4y

BarbaraBB I guess we didn‘t make the best choice for our buddyread 🤦🏻‍♀️😉 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB Eh. I think it will make an interesting discussion, which is probably more important than liking it for a situation like this! 4y

BarbaraBB You‘re right about that of course! I didn‘t like any of our buddy reads much - to be honest 😂 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB I think I gave Bunny over 4⭐️, but yeah, a lot of books have sounded better in the blurbs! 😂😂 4y

KarenUK @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB I loved it, but maybe it‘s just me! 🤷‍♀️😂 4y

Megabooks @KarenUK I love all the different opinions and reviews of large buddy reads! So interesting to read them. 👍🏻 4y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'll try to go into this positively. Sometimes I like weird. 🤞 4y

Megabooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I really enjoyed the first half, so maybe you‘ll enjoy both halves! 🤞🏻 4y

Cinfhen I‘m willing to take my chances @KarenUK 😘like Meg said, varying opinions leads to better discussions ♥️ 4y

Crazeedi @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @Cinfhen @KarenUK @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I think different opinions and such are better than everyone agreeing 4y

Cathythoughts @Crazeedi Absolutely agree 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y

108 likes1 stack add26 comments

Cathythoughts

Orkney | Amy Sackville

so-so

Such a beautiful cover , This started off really promising ... then came the cliches , and I could see where she was going .. sadly this didn‘t work for me. I loved the sea & Orkney & the romance.. but , I found it very ‘ light weight‘ where there might have been depth. Looking forward to discussion later this month. #HolidayEscape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen I plan on reading this weekend/ thanks for your honest review 😁 4y

squirrelbrain Ooh, interesting review! I‘ll be reading shortly.... 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Oh no..very curious about this now..I hope to start on it next week. 4y

See All 14 Comments

Cathythoughts @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain @erzascarletbookgasm I look forward to your reviews ... I hope ye will like it 🤞🏻❤️ 4y

Crazeedi Oh no, I am ready to read... 4y

Cathythoughts @Crazeedi I hope you like it 👍🏻😁... I‘m probably #unpopularopinion 🙄 4y

britt_brooke This make me feel a bit better about bailing. 😅 4y

Cathythoughts @britt_brooke I know ! I felt better about my ‘ so-so ‘ after your review too 😁 4y

britt_brooke @Cathythoughts ☺️ 4y

BarbaraBB Oh my, I am so curious to see where this is heading! (edited) 4y

TrishB Mine hasn‘t arrived yet! 4y

Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB I predict an interesting discussion 👍🏻 4y

Cathythoughts @TrishB oh no ! I hope you get it soon... you‘ll have it read ( or not 😬😁) in no time ... #fastestreaderIknow 😘 4y

BarbaraBB I am so curious about this one. Reviews are so mixed! We‘ll have a great discussion! (edited) 4y

68 likes14 comments

britt_brooke

Orkney | Amy Sackville

bailed

So. Many. Semicolons. I gave it about 30 pages. This style is not for me at all. Overwritten and pretentious. If I‘d been able to get my ears on an audio version, maybe I could‘ve powered through, but no dice. I sincerely hope the rest of the #HolidayEscape crew has a better experience. 🤞🏼 Still love that cover, though. #coverlove

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Megabooks I‘m really enjoying it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y

britt_brooke @Megabooks I hope you continue enjoying it. 🤞🏼 It‘s the only booked I‘ve bailed on this year. 😅 4y

Megabooks I‘m on page 99 and still liking it. I think it‘s also a case of right book, right time. 4y

See All 16 Comments

Megabooks It does have very Lolita vibes to me. He keeps on obsessing over her age and (even stranger) the angularity of her body. It‘s definitely different. I think she‘s going to turn out to be a selkie (or a murderer). 😂😂 (edited) 4y

britt_brooke @Megabooks 😂 There‘s def something going on with her. I‘ll be watching for your review! 4y

Cinfhen Oh no!!!! Now im worried 🙈 4y

BarbaraBB Oh no! 4y

Cathythoughts Interesting! I found the first half good , but the second half ... I agree with all you say 4y

Cathythoughts @Megabooks it does have Lolita vibes & he started to really annoy me .. so did she 😬. Just wasn‘t believable for me. Such a beautiful setting though 4y

Megabooks @Cathythoughts Yeah, I‘m exactly at the halfway point now. We‘ll see. 🤔 I‘ll read your review after I‘m done. 4y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB Sorry to be such a downer. 😅 Hope y‘all have a better go! 🤞🏼 4y

britt_brooke @Cathythoughts Oof! I was hoping maybe the story was better as it progressed. At least you got through it! 4y

Cinfhen Not looking good @BarbaraBB 😳 4y

Cathythoughts I did ! I wanted to see what happened.. but the second half was underwhelming all round 😬😬 4y

BarbaraBB You‘re no downer Britt, I can see why you don‘t like it! I still hope I‘ll like it @Cinfhen , I know @KarenUK loved it and @Megabooks was enjoy it too - the first half 😱. We‘ll see! 4y

britt_brooke @BarbaraBB 😚😚 4y

74 likes16 comments

Cathythoughts

Orkney | Amy Sackville

I‘ve started ! Sorry now I didn‘t order the book with the beautiful cover ... I have my kindle out in the weather though ...
“SHE is Protean, a Thetis, a daughter of the sea , a shape-shifting goddess who must be subdued; I hold her fast and she changes, changes in my grasp...”

Off to a great start .. Orkney & sea & mystery.. it‘s all good so far ✨ #HolidayEscape

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Yeah!!!! Our first glimpse of #HolidayEscape #BuddyRead 💕💕💕💕 4y

Cathythoughts @Cinfhen oh it‘s off to a great start !!! ✨ 4y

Lindy Oooh! I like the sound of this. 4y

See All 8 Comments

Cathythoughts @Lindy I‘ve only begun ... it‘s promising 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Glad to hear it‘s starting off great! 👍 4y

Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I think it is 👍🏻❤️ 4y

Cathythoughts @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB Oops! I thought the buddy read was for the June holiday weekend ( first weekend in June here ... Bank holiday weekend. But I see it‘s for the last weekend.... I‘ll slow down 😁 4y

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts You‘ll finish in time 😀. Looking forward to it! 4y

69 likes1 stack add8 comments

squirrelbrain

Orkney | Amy Sackville

The post by @Megabooks reminded me that my copy of Orkney arrived this week too, ready for our #holidayescape buddy read in June.

This was a used copy, only 67p on Amazon. I did have a slight panic when it arrived as it was shipped from Germany so I thought for a moment I‘d ordered a German translation! But no, all is good and I can still join in the buddy read - very much looking forward to it.

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

Megabooks Sweet that you got such a great deal, and I love that shelfie! 4y

squirrelbrain Always need a 🐧 shelfie now and again @Megabooks 😁 4y

Cathythoughts Gorgeous! 4y

64 likes3 comments

Megabooks

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Look what arrived yesterday for #HolidayEscape!! 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB Exciting! I am looking forward to start it! 4y

Cinfhen Yay♥️ 4y

Lucy_Anywhere Such a cool place to visit - although the ferry crossing was a little rough 🤢 4y

See All 17 Comments

Cathythoughts Oh that looks nice 💫 4y

squirrelbrain Mine came recently too... I forgot to post about it on here... 😳 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB @cinfhen I‘m very much looking forward to reading this next month! 👍🏻 4y

Megabooks @Lucy_Anywhere I have not been to that part of Scotland, but I would like to visit. It‘s cool that you‘ve been there! 4y

Megabooks @Cathythoughts It‘s such a neat cover! 4y

Megabooks @squirrelbrain I just love posting shelfies...any excuse! 😉😁 4y

squirrelbrain Exactly Meg - any excuse to post pictures of books, shelves and books on shelves! 4y

BarbaraBB I am happy you decided to join the buddy read! The setting of the books seems awesome! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB I really enjoyed Scotland when I visited, so I‘m excited to read about a different part! (edited) 4y

BarbaraBB I hope to go there in the fall. Where did you go? 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB so far I‘ve only been to Edinburgh with dad. We traveled to there and London with some day trips to other places around England for his 60th and my 30th birthday. 👍🏻 It was a nice trip! 4y

BarbaraBB That sounds amazing. I only hear good things about Edinburgh and London of course is quite special too. 4y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB We were there in the spring when all the azaleas and rhododendrons were blooming in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and it was so beautiful. They have one of the largest collections of them in the world, and it truly made an impression! Just hit it at the exact right time. 4y

BarbaraBB I can imagine! What a fortunate coincidence! And lovely to go there with your dad. 4y

80 likes1 stack add17 comments

britt_brooke

Orkney | Amy Sackville

When you match your #bookmail! 🤩 All set for #HolidayEscape next month. And, it turns out, I‘ll literally be on vacation at that time. ⛱

Cinfhen, BarbaraBB

TheBookHippie Mine should be here soon!! How fun that you‘ll be on vacation! 4y

britt_brooke @TheBookHippie We just booked the trip. Fun coincidence! 4y

Cinfhen Awesomeness!!! It‘s a fabulous cover, don‘t you think?? 4y

britt_brooke @Cinfhen Total #coverlove! 4y

82 likes1 stack add4 comments

Mitch

Orkney | Amy Sackville

All set for the #holidayescape #buddyread in June 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Cinfhen

Cinfhen Oh wow!! It‘s a gorgeous cover/ excited you‘re joining us♥️ 4y

BarbaraBB So good to have you joining us! 4y

Mitch @Cinfhen It's a part of the world I love and would move there in heart beat! So excited to be there in print if not in person! 4y

See All 8 Comments

DGRachel That cover is gorgeous! 4y

Mitch @DGRachel it is isn‘t it - very atmospheric! 4y

Erika.M.Moody Would love to visit there someday! 4y

Mitch @Erika.M.Moody it‘s truly a magical place 4y

TheBookHippie I cannot wait for my book to arrive ! 4y

96 likes1 stack add8 comments

Cinfhen

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Excited to announce our next #BuddyRead #HolidayEscape
Join us June 25-27 as we plan our next escape to Orkney, an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
We‘ll share photos of past vacations, reminisce about the days when we could unmask and of course jam to our favorite vacation playlists 🎶🥳❤️And yes...we‘ll discuss Orkney by Amy Sackville 📚
Pick up your copy and join the fun
Open to all ❣️

BarbaraBB

Cinfhen Tagging those who expressed an interest
@JaclynW @Simona @Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @Kalalalatja @CarolynM @AmyG @Megabooks @KarenUK @catebutler @kimberlone @Tanisha_A @britt_brooke (edited) 4y

Cinfhen @KVanRead @kgordon88 @Cupcake12 @JennyM @jenniferw88
@rubyslippersreads @erzascarletbookgasm @peaknit @vivastory @Billypar @Cuilin @Reviewsbylola @Librarybelle @batsy @TheBookHippie @lizpixie @Crazeedi @debinhawaii 4y

Cinfhen @BookwormAHN @TrishB @Centique @vlwelser @LeahBergen @emilyhaldi @I.be.Stef 4y

See All 31 Comments

Cinfhen @Hooked_on_books @rubyslippersreads 4y

Cinfhen If you want to be added to the list tag me or @BarbaraBB looking forward 💕 4y

Mitch Yeah - love to join you for this one. 👍🏼 4y

Megabooks Love Scotland! 4y

Cathythoughts Excellent! I will order the book 👍🏻💫 4y

Cinfhen Excited to add you @Mitch Great @Cathythoughts @Megabooks 😍I just ordered my copy😉 4y

Crazeedi Yes! I'm in it's one of my favorite places to visit through books!! 4y

Cinfhen Excellent @Crazeedi 🎶 4y

Crazeedi @Cinfhen I found it from my library so I'll hope I can borrow at the right time 4y

TheKidUpstairs Sounds fun! Can you add me to the tag list? 4y

AnneCecilie The library has the book, and it sounds great so I‘ll be joining in. 4y

Hooked_on_books I don‘t know about this one for me. I adore Scotland and think the location is amazing as a setting, but the description turns me off. I‘m rankled by the whole 40 year age difference. Plus my library doesn‘t have it. So I‘ll have to see how I‘m feeling about it as time gets closer. 4y

Cinfhen Yay! Happy to welcome both of you @AnneCecilie @TheKidUpstairs 💜I‘ll keep you on the list @Hooked_on_books and you can decide if it‘s a good fit or not 4y

Kalalalatja So exciting! Can‘t wait to see all the photos and have my wanderlust go crazy 😅🙌 4y

Librarybelle Yay! Looking forward to it 4y

Cinfhen I‘m actually hoping we‘ll be able to go back to traveling for leisure come summer @Kalalalatja but just in case this will be JUST AS FUN and a whole lot more affordable xx 4y

Cinfhen Great @Librarybelle 🥰 4y

LeeRHarry I‘m onboard for this one 😊 4y

Cinfhen Wonderful @LeeRHarry looking forward to discussing Orkney with you and the others ❣️ 4y

KVanRead 🤩 Fun! 4y

LeahBergen I‘ll add it to my shopping list. 👍🏻 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Scotland! Yay! I‘ll order the book. 👍 4y

Cinfhen When I see Scotland, I think Outlander ( which i haven‘t read) so im excited to visit a new to me country @LeahBergen @erzascarletbookgasm @KVanRead 4y

TrishB Look forward to it 👍🏻 been to Scotland quite few times but never this far up. 4y

squirrelbrain Yay! I will see if I can order this...looking forward to June! 4y

Cinfhen Excited you‘re joining us @squirrelbrain @TrishB 4y

emilyhaldi Fun!! Looking forward to this one 🤗 4y

Cinfhen Woohoo 🎉 @emilyhaldi 4y

76 likes1 stack add31 comments

KarenUK

Orkney | Amy Sackville

#3books #thatmademewanttotravel ......

....to the beautiful Cinque Terre coastline, to the Hawker markets of Singapore and to a remote, windswept Scottish Island.....
A girl can dream!

OriginalCyn620, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

OriginalCyn620 I chose Beautiful Ruins too! 4y

BarbaraBB Orkney sounds great! I have another one by her on my shelves

The Still Point: A Novel

Cathythoughts Orkney ! My husband brought me a silver necklace from Orkney a few years ago .... I think they are famous for their silver ! I love it 4y

See All 8 Comments

Megabooks Oh yes, beautiful ruins!! 4y

KarenUK Orkney is fantastic @BarbaraBB I think you would love it....💕 4y

KarenUK @OriginalCyn620 @Megabooks Beautiful ruins definitely has an idyllic location! 💕 4y

KarenUK How lovely! I had no idea they were known for silver.... @Cathythoughts The book has a lovely ethereal and atmospheric vibe..... 💕 4y

BarbaraBB If you say so 👯‍♀️ #stacked 💚 4y

49 likes8 comments

Andrew65

Orkney | Amy Sackville

Today on the virtual tour we are leaving the mainland on the Ferry and doing a day tour of the Orkneys, from Stromness to the famous Churchill Barrier, the Italian Chapel and on to Skara Brae and the Old Man of Hoy.

The last day of the working well for many of us, hope you had a good day today and are ready to have Easter at home with our household. Tell us how your day has been, the good points and the low points. #DailyCheckin

LiteraryinPA, ValerieAndBooks, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, DieAReader, JacqMac, JanuarieTimewalker13, youneverarrived, Birdsong28, Crewgurl, TorieStorieS, Tove_Reads, IamIamIam, Itchyfeetreader, BookwormM, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks, Velvetfur, InBooksILive, jb72, BeansPage, tracey38, EadieB, gradcat, GHABI4ROSES

GHABI4ROSES Happy Good Friday! I plan to return with my final post for the 27hours💪🏾 5y

Andrew65 @CocoReads @cobwebmoth @Q84 @Ms_T @TrishB @Lizpixie @TheSpineView @kezzlou85 @Texreader @AprilMae @eanderson @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @margreads 5y

Andrew65 @GHABI4ROSES Hope it has gone well, given lockdown I was thinking of setting up a week long Readathon from Easter Sunday where people can set their own targets. Any thoughts? 5y

See All 80 Comments

TheBookHippie I scored QTIPS and an EASTER LILY at grocery pick up! I‘m filling eggs for the grandbaby to come hunt by himself on Sunday. I miss my city of Chicago so much it hurts today. This is the longest I‘ve gone with not being there in my life, it‘s where I go to BREATHE. Tacos for supper tonight! Hope you enjoy time to just set Andrew! Everyone else hugs hope your day was manageable! 5y

IamIamIam What a beautiful chapel for Good Friday! I love sco the coastal views and ancient monuments! 😁 Today has been a good day so far! I got beef & barley soup in the slow cooker and I made chipless cookies but only half a batch. The rest have chocolate and peanut butter chips! I finished this today too! 💓 Love to everyone today!!!

Inkheart

CocoReads Still at work but doing ok. It‘s colder today but I‘m off the weekend which is great. Working on a few surprises to drop off the family over the weekend. 5y

Andrew65 @TheBookHippie well done on the shopping. Like you miss Chicago, I‘m missing the sea! 😒 We will get through this together however and appreciate so much more in the future. 5y

Andrew65 @IamIamIam Yes the timing was good wasn‘t it! Like to say it was planned. 🤔😚 Glad to hear you have had a good day. The cookies sound great, we need pictures! 😂 Well some on finishing the book. 5y

Andrew65 @CocoReads Much warmer here today, and sunny spells. But nice feel outside in he garden today. Got a circuit in the garden here days! Also getting my exercise by trying keep on top of the rogue dandelions. Have a great weekend. 😊 (edited) 5y

CocoReads Oh and we had a peeps potluck in the department today. I‘m not a huge peeps fan but I was a good sport and tried them all. 5y

Andrew65 @CocoReads what are peeps? 5y

CocoReads @Andrew65 basically sugar covered marshmallows. 5y

Andrew65 @CocoReads Thanks, just done some research. Thanks Mr Google! They do look very sweet. 5y

BookwormM Bank holiday with sunshine so of course my first thought was get the washing done 🤣🤣I have turned into my mother. Nice to be able to enjoy the garden 5y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CocoReads I‘m happy you have the weekend off 💕 5y

Andrew65 @BookwormM It is good to at least have the weather to spend some time in the garden. Means don‘t go totally stir crazy! 5y

CocoReads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks we rotate them around—next weekend is my weekend. Hoping for low key and relaxing in an hour when I leave this place 5y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m off for a week and had all these plans to do things in my house, but have had a migraine since midnight 🤯 It‘s a cool, beautiful morning here in Mississippi. I had a nice talk with my mail woman (6 feet apart) and if I see one more “My Pillow” commercial I think I‘ll scream 😱 That‘s probably what caused the migraine!! I posted a Facebook rant addressing the uneducated people who won‘t do the right thing so I‘ll probably be in Facebook jail! 5y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Andrew65 you are my peep Andrew! 💙 5y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CocoReads we rotate also... enjoy your time off ❤️ 5y

Andrew65 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🥰🥰🥰😍😘❤️ 5y

LiteraryinPA I love the idea of a readathon. My day has been pretty good (within the realm of what is now good and bad). I am off from work so I slept in and finished a book. I‘m going to write some letters this afternoon and later do my every-10-days grocery shopping, which always makes me a bit anxious, but I take all the precautions. 5y

Andrew65 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Good luck on the Facebook front, and hope you quickly get over the migraine. 🤯 I‘m meant to be off over the next week and want to do some reading, but with everything going on will find it hard to not keep working. Over these two weeks split the staff into two halves to give everyone a week off, so got someone deputising for me, but all Local Authority emails will still come to me. 5y

Andrew65 @LiteraryinLititz That‘s good to hear, the Readathon. 😊 Sounds a good day. Always good to finish a book. I‘ve got to take on the shopping tomorrow night, most probably do at 9 pm when quieter even if limits some of what I can get hold of. 5y

Birdsong28 I am ok thanks, just been on a street party as an ex dj on our street is playing music and we are all standing on our driveways 🎶😊 5y

Andrew65 @CocoReads Hope you have a quiet lady hour. 😊 5y

Andrew65 @Birdsong28 Social distancing partying. 👍😊👏 5y

CocoReads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks migraines are tough. Hopefully you kick it soon. @Andrew65 I‘m down for a readathon, even with work I usually squeeze in some reading every day, more so now since there‘s nothing else going on. 5y

Ms_T @BookwormM I so relate to this! 😂 5y

Andrew65 @CocoReads That‘s was what I was thinking and give people something to focus on. 5y

Ms_T I was in work today but got to finish a couple of hours early. I‘m looking forward to three days off and some sunshine. I‘m lucky enough to live in a rural area so my husband and I are able to enjoy some lovely local walks. Should just about stop us going stir crazy! Hope all is well with you, Andrew 😃 5y

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick So beautiful. I like the prospect of going 5000 years into the past. Today was going well until I clicked over to Instagram for a couple minutes & found out my favorite internet doggo crossed the rainbow bridge. My own pup gave me some comforting kisses. Had a short talk with my brother who always makes me laugh. Some of my sales efforts got a good lead for some medical crews that need rooms. Now a bit more work before the weekend. 5y

TheSpineView I only worked a few hours this morning. It turned cold again so I have been reading most of the day except for a short nap. I need to start dinner in a little bit. The thing I miss the most is not being able to eat out. I have cooked every day for almost 4 weeks and would love a break. 5y

Andrew65 @Ms_T Should be a good weekend for you looking at the weather forecast.we‘re as well as we can all be at this time. Unfortunately we are all getting used to it! Have a great weekend. 😊😍 5y

Andrew65 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 5000 years, it seems incredible doesn‘t it!oh no that sounds awful. 😢 Do try to have a good weekend when you get there. 5y

Andrew65 @TheSpineView I agree not being able to eat out is a miss, as is driving to the coast on a sunny day and have fish and chips. A break from cooking would be great! Have a good weekend . 🥰 5y

EadieB @Andrew65 Love Italian Chapel. So beautiful! Up at 5 am and read Sebastian St. Cyr and got to 45%. The high is only 47 today. Had a bit of sun but raining now. Spotted a few snow flurries. The mail person took 4 more books away today. Never got my corned beef but did get cabbage so I'm making cabbage rolls tomorrow and using pork sausage and ground beef. Found more great recipes online as long as I can get the ingredients Yeah, Boris is out of ICU 5y

Andrew65 @EadieB Definite good news about Boris. I will be taking on the shopping tomorrow night! See what I can or cannot get hold of.These times are making us have to be creative and flexible. Good to see you are getting back into your reading. 5y

TheSpineView @Andrew65 You have a wonderful weekend too! 😊 5y

Andrew65 @TheSpineView Thanks, will try my best to. 😊 5y

EadieB @Andrew65 Good luck with your shopping & be sure to stay safe! I still haven't got delivery date from my one store. The other store will be delivering Wed April 22. I hope I can get things that I will need. This store sent a survey & I didn't give them high marks as I was so disappointed with only getting 1/2 of my order & no chance of substitutions. I told them about the good service from the other store so maybe change will happen. 5y

Andrew65 @EadieB Although UK strongly recommending no masks in the UK, said again very strongly in the press briefing tonight, I will be wearing my mask and gloves and ensuring my wife stays at home. April 22nd!!! 1/2 order is not very good, last time I went shopping I was far more successful than that. 🤞 the survey makes a difference. 5y

EadieB @Andrew65 They may not like my comments & wipe me off their list. I'm hoping they do better as that is my store that I use mostly. John likes the new store as they were very accommodating. Their prices are higher but he said you get what you pay for. I saw a video today of the police pulling a man off a bus very roughly grabbing him because he was not wearing a mask. He had a good hold of a pole on the bus but they finally pulled him off. Scary! 5y

Andrew65 @EadieB That is ridiculous, the bus incident, and not the way to go. In contrast the daily briefing here almost made you feel guilty if you were wearing a mask! Strange the difference in approach. Hopefully they will listen, don‘t ask the questions if you don‘t want the answers! 5y

EadieB @Andrew65 In regards to the mask, they don't want to take masks away from the health care workers but they want people to make their own. This was our worst week for deaths and they warned us about that, so they said it was time to be safer and wear the masks. Soon we will be on the downside hopefully. 5y

Andrew65 @EadieB Hopefully we will too. Quite frightening the number of deaths each day. I bought our masks from Amazon 6 - 7 weeks ago when I saw it coming. 5y

EadieB @Andrew65 That's great that you had the forethought to buy your masks ahead of the rush. I made ours out of cloth napkins. I used a mask pattern where there was no need for a sewing machine. This one uses old t-shirt but is similar to the one I made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REtQwwRoxuY 5y

Texreader Good holiday today. Cool outside so I gardened two hours this morning and maybe another tonight. Then I made cookies, watched a movie with my daughter, and now reading a bit while enjoying my son‘s guitar lesson. 🐣🌷🌸🌼🌈🌺💐🌻 5y

JanuarieTimewalker13 Beautiful!!!!🌻 5y

Andrew65 @EadieB I‘m impressed! Always been a pre-planner. 5y

Andrew65 @Texreader Sounds a fantastic day. 😊 5y

Andrew65 @JanuarieTimewalker13 Most definitely. 5y

Crewgurl Kind of a dreary windy day, but I‘m excited to relax this weekend. We are going to do some easter crafts with the little one and have an Easter egg hunt. Obviously no family gatherings planned, but I‘m just excited not to work (but still thankful I‘m able to obviously) lol. Hope everyone is doing well and can find some time to recharge! (edited) 5y

Andrew65 @Crewgurl Yes I think a recharge for people this weekend is most definitely needed. Enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt! Time away from work is most definitely good, and a time when we can relax and feel secure in our own houses. 5y

JacqMac Today is a holiday for us, so hubby and I spent some quality time together. Even though he has been home forever, he has been spending most of his time working and taking care of his students. It has been a really good day. We needed it. No internet or news, just lots of talking and some movies. And it‘s been snowing all day. Again. So Scotland looks extra good. (edited) 5y

Andrew65 @JacqMac Sounds a good all round day. 5y

tracey38 I am so glad it's Friday as this has been a long week and I am exhausted. Plus, the mask I wore all day today seemed to have irritated my skin and broken out some parts of my face. I did brave the grocery store to get my mom some groceries that I dropped off for her, then got some for myself. And I did get myself some goodies: a small chocolate Easter bunny, some face masks, some new stickers for Litsy mail. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend! 5y

tracey38 And what a lovely day trip outing in Scotland! Beautiful pictures as always. I imagine Scotland as such a revitalizing environment. 5y

Andrew65 Well done on getting through the week and on getting the groceries in. Now to relax this weekend 👍😊 5y

Andrew65 @tracey38 Does it to me every time. Missing my Easter fix this year. 5y

tracey38 @CocoReads so glad you have the weekend off! Enjoy your time! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I'm so sorry about your migraine. I've been getting them more frequently lately, too. Hope it goes away soon a d you have a wonderful week off. 5y

tracey38 @CocoReads I am not into peeps either but they do seem to have a lot of different flavors this year. Good for you on being a good sport! 5y

tracey38 @EadieB I have seen so many people out with homemade masks now, even a lot of our patients. 5y

tracey38 @Andrew65 I plan to! I tend to get myself an Easter chocolate every year, too. I'm gonna miss seeing my nieces this year though. I'll get to talk to them on the phone, but it's not the same. Can't wait til we can all get together with family we don't live with again! And thanks, I will definitely enjoy relaxing this weekend! 😉 5y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @tracey38 thank you sweetie ❤️ 5y

kezzlou85 Checked in with my brother who is a radiographer but staying well. This is usually his quiet time but not this year. He was laughing with his colleagues that they were all contacting family to see how they were but he and I just send each other random stuff. It keeps us going. Our parents have both died so I'm glad we're both still close. Enjoy your weekend off @Andrew65 5y

DieAReader Today was...a day. Lots of lower back pain & spasms as well as some tailbone pain. 😖Spent most of the day in a weird fog that I just couldn‘t seem to break free of. 🥺 Took a hot shower & sat outside for a bit too, but got little relief unfortunately. High Point: Kevin making blueberry waffles for supper followed by some together time watching tv. This was followed by a late nap that did nothing to help but lasted too long 🤦🏻‍♀️ 5y

DieAReader Took out a big ham from the freezer for Easter Sunday. Just gonna be me & Kev, but we don‘t mind leftovers so it‘s all good. Make some potatoes, veggies, dessert & we‘ll celebrate being HOME after being away from 10 years. I‘m sad that we can‘t be with family right now & I am trying with every ounce of being to be more positive (even if it‘s just my inner dialogue), but wow is it ever getting difficult to do as the days go by. Hugs to everyone 🥰 5y

gradcat @Andrew65 5000 years!?! Have you ever been to Skara Brae? 5y

emmaturi These are all fantastic places! I visited them all last summer! 5y

Crazeedi So beautiful, thank you Andrew ❤❤ 5y

Andrew65 @tracey38 It is a weekend where restrictions will affect contact with families. 5y

Andrew65 @kezzlou85 Family is so important to us all and that is what will make the Easter weekend tougher. Usually a time families get together. Stay strong everybody. 5y

Andrew65 @SquidgetsRoom Sending positive thoughts, these are indeed tough times for all and Some days feel worse than others. Important that we all attempt to distract our mind with other activities but not always possible. Try not to be too tough or hard on yourself. Sending positive thoughts and all my love. 🥰 🌈 (edited) 5y

Andrew65 @gradcat No that was something that we were planning for this Summer but depends if we have the opportunity to go on holiday. 5y

Andrew65 @emmaturi I bet you had a great time. When were you there? 5y

Andrew65 @Crazeedi They are definitely beautiful places 🥰 5y

emmaturi In August last year. Yes they were all beautiful. Especially the Italian Chapel! 5y

Andrew65 @emmaturi We weren‘t in the Orkneys in August but were staying near John O‘Groats during August. 5y

gradcat @Andrew65 I‘m crossing my fingers for your future trip!! 🤞🏼 5y

78 likes80 comments

KarenUK

Orkney | Amy Sackville

#LilithJuly #thecoast

These four novels, their settings spanning the whole length of the UK, really capture the gorgeous wind-swept, rugged coastline that I love so much...
Each story features a crumbling home, a woman, drawn to the isolation and beauty of the coastline, seeking solace or escape, or finding a connection with the sea...💕🌊

Today‘s song choice 🎧🎶
https://open.spotify.com/track/3SDBgGdsrFT0QtxqOQNwew?si=vH3UKW8IR5u0aJWeKuPrLw

Cinfhen

Cathythoughts Looking forward to reading Marvellous Ways soon for #lpmbc 5y

Suet624 Love this post. 5y

JennyM Read and enjoyed the top 3 - not read Orkney. Maybe I should! 5y

See All 8 Comments

KarenUK @Cathythoughts Sarah Winman is my absolute favorite! Hope you love it 🤞💕 5y

KarenUK @Suet624 🙏💕😊🌊 5y

KarenUK @jennyM I loved it..... So atmospheric 💕... it was one of my top reads in the year I read it... (edited) 5y

Cinfhen Lovely 😍 5y

TrishB Great choices ❤️ 5y

74 likes2 stack adds8 comments

Paus0312

Orkney | Amy Sackville

“But even when she is with me and gives herself wholly, she seems at the same moment to slip free”

1 like1 stack add

Paus0312

Orkney | Amy Sackville

“Come back to me, come up from the deep.And she kissed me fiercely then,the storm still in her; the gale raging without, the waves clutching at the shore empty-handed;close, safe, warm inside.”

1 like

Cuilin

Orkney | Amy Sackville

“I would sometimes think of lighting a cigarette and realize that I already held a lit one in my hand. As if the craving would always far outreach its satisfaction, as if it was only ever a meager substitute, an insufficient means of fulfilling a greater and unknown lack. And this is how it is with her; each single instant can never be commensurate to the constant want of her”

1 like1 stack add

KarenUK

Orkney | Amy Sackville

#allthebooksof2017 #beautifullywrittenbook
I found this novella so captivating... it's a strange, ethereal tale of love and obsession. The setting of the wild and stormy remote Scottish island, is captured by such gorgeous writing.... and the obsessive love of an older professor and his fragile young wife is told with subtlety and care. It's a novel to allow to sweep over you... it's all about the atmosphere... Pretty cover too!

LeahBergen This sounds good! 7y

46 likes3 stack adds1 comment

KarenUK

Orkney | Amy Sackville

#LitsyReadingChallenge update.... 11/25 so far.... so I guess I need to read a "Starts with Z" for my first Bingo line ?.....

jessberk13

LauraBeth You're going to be yelling Bingo soon! 😀 8y

Lola Impressive! And I love your graphic! How do you do that??!! 8y

KarenUK @Lola Thanks! I use 'pic collage' app and screen shots of Goodreads book covers 😊 8y

Lola @KarenUK Fantastic. I just love your posts 😍 8y

KarenUK @Lola thank you! 😍💕 8y

74 likes5 comments

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