Welcome to Litsy!

Farthing, Ha‘penny, and Half A Crown makes up the Small Change trilogy. Alternate history as a coup d‘etat turns Britain into a fascist state, an ally of Hitler who‘s camped across the Channel. This trilogy is a primer perfectly illustrating how excuses made will compromise people just trying to survive, and how those compromises will result in loss of integrity, morality, and actual lives. Tiny fires of resistance vs greed, power, racism. So now.

The author herself warned me off of reading this trilogy a couple of years ago, telling me I might find it too hard to read in the current political climate. I thought I was more ready now, less shocked and helpless, more defiant. Wow. Still a tough read because it‘s not at all difficult to imagine the alternate history of creeping fascism actually coming to pass. Things have to change before we are doomed.

Powerful. It‘s 1949, and Germany is still at war with Russia, but in 1941, young Sir James Thirkie brokered peace for Britain with Hitler. Now, 8 years later, Sir James has been murdered during a country house party and it‘s up to Inspector Carmichael to solve the case. Signs point to David Kahn, the Jewish son-in-law of the house‘s owner, but Carmichael isn‘t convinced. Love Walton‘s style. Powerful subject matter. Highly recommend. 5/5🌟 #2019

I have so many books I need to read.

https://www.thebooksmugglers.com/2019/03/old-school-wednesdays-farthing-small-ch...

Jo Walton explaining maple syrup buying secrets to the American guests at the Scintillation opening dim sum.

Given the current political climate, this was probably not the best book for me to pick up. But it was very good. Jo Walton doesn't abuse her use of alternative history. Nothing is so far from the truth that it seems absurd, which makes the novel effectively chilling. I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this trilogy, though not right away. 😬 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unofficial review of The Scintillation Collection.

The editors chose well, and I have no doubt they chose short stories that Jo would like. The stories converge very tightly. I would say the theme here is displacement and slippages. If it ever becomes an official publication rather than a zine you talk about at a con panel, I strongly recommend it.

For those few rare of you who are wondering what this super secret Scintillation convention anthology is, here is the cover. As I said, you have to be registered to get it. I've read through to Gladstone. Reading Wilde and further tomorrow. All are previously published short stories.

You can't see it, neither can I, but I can feel Igrec's facial muscles twitch as he is dreaming resting on my knee. It's been a long day with little reading. I'm going through the Scintillation Collection, not in the database because not officially a published book.

I'm really looking forward to this writer-centric convention in Montréal. It's the daughter con to the much-missed Farthing Party con* and I cannot wait. I'll be on two panels, including one the convention's anthology, which is not in the database. Right now, a few of us are sorting out who will be bringing which boardgames. Wanna come?

*Originally organized by Jo Walton for the tagged book launch that just went on annually until 2014.

Basically all round heartbreaking after you think it's just a standard murder mystery. I love Carmichael, but damn I hope I'm braver -- brave enough to say no if I'm offered personal safety in exchange for silence about an atrocity.

Everything is so ridiculously busy at the mo, but when it isn't I'm pretty much devouring this. It's a reread -- way back when, it was the first of Jo's books I ever read, and after that I couldn't understand how I hadn't found her work before!

I'm getting to the part of the book that's just emotionally destructive, though. Ugh. Compromising with fascism -- all too relevant to think about, lately.

I was not feeling so patriotic so I read an alternate history about England after "the Farthing Set" brokered a truce with fascism/Hitler rather than winning a war. Mostly it is a murder mystery when the man who led the deal shows up dead and the one Jewish man around is looking to be set up to take the fall. Jo does more with the crime than the alt history, with alternating chapters between Lucy (married to the Jewish man) and the inspector.

First in a trilogy set in an alternate 1949 where England has made peace with Nazi Germany and is sliding into fascism itself. Brilliantly narrated crime novel (the Lucy chapters are particularly well done), often darkly funny and a grim reminder of how easily it could indeed happen here.

Don't give Jacob Rees-Mogg any ideas woman! Lol

Boréal!!! Look at all these (actually very good) Jo Walton translations!

Holy cow. What a book to freak a fellow out. You're just bumbling along, enjoying a friendly, familiar detective story, when a detail reminds you that the state of democracy is at stake. The book takes place in an alternate history where England negotiated a treaty with Hitler so that "The Reich stops at the Channel." Highly recommend this insidious read.

I found a good book quote! We need a hashtag for this. Does anyone know one or have any suggestions? 💖📚

Holy guacamole! Thank you so much @emtobiasz . I absolutely love everything. Your book picks were steller...and the bookish treats are wonderful. The Discworld stickers made me squee more than a little. 💙💜💛💚
Thank you @BookishMarginalia for organizing such a fun project.
#summersantagoespostal #summersolsticebookexchange

Nothing feels as well earned as wine and cheese and a book in the backyard after mowing the lawn.

And this was true of course, there is a sort of comfort in being with people who think exactly as you do because they've been brought up exactly the same way and share all the same jokes. It's a feeble kind of comfort and doesn't last beyond seeing that you've nothing truly in common except that kind of upbringing and background.

GASP!! Even MORE book mail!! I was very bad last week placing a few too many book orders 😬This stack is from Book Outlet and I just couldn't argue with free shipping

#bookhaul #giftstack #surprise #Bookmail
Look what my wonderful son sent to me in today's mail! 📚📚❤️❤️ Just because.

Have had this one in my Audible library for a long while. Part alt history part detective story, set in an England where the Hess mission was successful and England made peace with Germany in 1941. Set years later in 1949 at the country house of the set who forged the peace, where a murder has occurred and suspicion falls on the daughter of the house and her Jewish husband. A tale of deceit, social conventions and betrayal of values.

My #24in48 reading stack. First up will be Farthing, because I've already started reading it, and the intrigue is just beginning! #mightneedagraphicnoveltoo

This week's commuting read. I'm liking it so much I missed my train stop- that has not happened in years! #alternatehistory #murdermystery

Loved this so much, I tore through this and the two sequels in about four days. Who needs sleep, right? Alternate history + post-WWII = WIN. Plus a genuinely interesting murder mystery.

Have you ever loved the first book of a series, but had no desire at all to read the second? Alt-history where Britain signs a peace treaty with Hitler. The tension from the creeping anti-Semitism was so intense that I give the book 5 stars, but can't even imagine starting the next one.

Only 10% into this but am getting a really interesting Gosford Park vibe from it! Intrigue, class drama and race relations amongst the upper crust in preWW2 England.