Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Light Years
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
In the tradition of Evelyn Waugh and E. M. Forster, the first book in this critically acclaimed multigenerational saga about an upper-middle-class family in Britain before, during, and after World War II recreates a vanished world As war clouds gather on the distant horizon, Hugh, Edward, and Rupert Cazalet, along with their wives, children, and loyal servants, prepare to leave London for their annual pilgrimage to the familys Sussex estate. There, they will join their parents, William and Kitty, and sister, Rachel, at Home Place, the sprawling retreat where the three brothers hope to spend an idyllic summer of years gone by. But the First World War has left indelible scars. Hugh, the eldest of his siblings, was wounded in France and is haunted both by recurring nightmares of battle and the prospect of another war. Edward adores his wife, Villy, a former dancer searching for meaning in life, yet hes incapable of remaining faithful to her. Rupert desires only to fulfill his potential as a painter, but finds that love and art cannot coexist. And devoted daughter Rachel discovers the joysand limitationsof intimacy with another woman. A candid portrait of British life in the late 1930s and a sweeping depiction of a world on the brink of war, The Light Years is a must-read for fans of Downton Abbey. Three generations of the Cazalet family come to unforgettable dramatic life in this saga about England during the last centuryand the long-held values and cherished traditions that would soon disappear forever.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Jess_Read_This
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

4⭐️ I‘ve been dipping in and out of this one since early April. So many bookstagrammers highly rate the series. I enjoyed it but I wasn‘t absorbed in it. I could easily put it aside for other books. I enjoyed the summer life in the countryside full of the children‘s antics mixed with the grown ups‘ problems. The threat of war looms and yet life goes on. Eventually, I hope to get around to the others in the series.
Any other thoughts on the book?

Tamra I‘ve been wanting to get around to this….sounds like you maybe have the right approach, dip in & out. (edited) 6mo
Ruthiella I read this in one gulp. I definitely want to continue with the series but haven‘t managed it yet. 6mo
Jess_Read_This @Tamra The only issue I found with that is that I would end up forgetting who‘s who since the cast of characters is a bit larger 😂 But by a few pages in, I‘d be able to sort it out. 6mo
Jess_Read_This @Ruthiella I am wondering if these will be my vacation reads. Chunky enough that it alleviates my anxiety over running out of something to read and then if I don‘t finish on vacation, just chip away at it during the weeks I‘m back. 6mo
41 likes4 comments
review
AnneCecilie
post image
Pickpick

Set during the lead up to the summer vacation of 1937 and the end of the summer of 1938. Meet the Cazalets: the Brig and the Dutch, their children and their children‘s souses and grandchildren. The entire family spends the summer together

You really notice what a year does in society, in the conversation and in the grandchildren

63 likes4 stack adds2 comments
quote
AnneCecilie
post image

The day began at five to seven when the alarm clock (given to Phyllis by her mother when she started service) went off and on and on and on until she quenched it.

#FirstLineFridays

review
quietjenn
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

I have finally begun my journey with the Cazalet family! Not at all surprised to report that once I was able to get a hold of the sprawling cast of characters, I was All About it. Really going to try to pace myself with this series, and make it last in 😏

JenniferP I loved this series so much! Enjoy!
2y
MaureenMc 🙌🎉😁 2y
LeeRHarry I really enjoyed this series, hope you do too! 😊 2y
Ruthiella I need to continue with these books ! 2y
BiblioLitten I have to pick up the second book. I‘m stalling but I loved the first book so much that I know I would be very engrossed even if it takes me a long time. 2y
67 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
shawnmooney
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

https://youtu.be/3-EboIMFzBo

A playlist of all episodes in the Bite-sized Book Chat series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nhf

Chat #1: with Ruth from Southern California
@Ruthiella on Litsy

The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
(Cazalet Chronicles #1)

Chat #2: with David Hebblethwaite from Berkshire

Standing Heavy by Gauz

shawnmooney Chat #3: with Meonicorn, a Chinese BookTuber in the San Francisco Bay Area

This Green and Pleasant Land by Ayisha Malik

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

Chat #4: with James from Adelaide

Portable Magic: The History of Our Love Affair with Books by Emma Smith

The Unpunished Vice: A Life of Reading by Edmund White
2y
LeahBergen @Ruthiella ! I so enjoyed watching you and now I REALLY need to get to The Light Years soon. Shawn and I have buddy read her earlier novels together and the gushing was something else. 😆 2y
Ruthiella Thanks. Shawn told me about the two of you having read her earlier novels. I‘ll be curious to hear from either of you how her later books compare. ☺️ (edited) 2y
24 likes3 comments
quote
EvieBee
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Just now getting around to my book journal, and thought I‘d share a pic. The following is an excerpt from PM Chamberlain‘s war address in September 1939:

“…For it is evil things that we shall be fighting against, brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. And against I am certain that the right will prevail.”

LiteraryinPA How beautiful! 2y
EvieBee @LiteraryinLawrence Thank you, Allison! 💕 2y
JamieArc I love your aesthetic taste. It makes me happy 🌞 2y
See All 10 Comments
Suet624 Wow. That's gorgeous. 2y
BarbaraBB So beautifully done 😍 2y
EvieBee @JamieArc Aww, thank you! ❤️ 2y
EvieBee @Suet624 @BarbaraBB Thank you so much! 💜💜 2y
MaureenMc Gorgeous! 😍 2y
EvieBee @MaureenMc Thank Maureen! 💜 2y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Wow!!! Beautiful creative journaling!! 1y
57 likes10 comments
review
Ruthiella
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

With every positive review on Litsy, I grew more curious. Now I‘ve finally read it! I loved this family saga which concentrates on the lives of the upper class Cazalet family in late 1930s England but also gives insight in to the lives of their servants and factotum. Reminiscent of books like The Forseyth Saga yet in a style all its own. 400 plus pages but it reads fast. Tagging those Littens whose reviews encouraged me to pick this up! Thanks! 😊

squirrelbrain I‘m the same as you were…it‘s so many Littens‘ favourite series but I‘ve yet to read it… (edited) 2y
Cathythoughts That‘s great you enjoyed it. I need to read the next in the series 👍🏻❤️ 2y
quietjenn Yes! I just bought a set of the entire series, inspired by the same Littens. I'm thinking it will be good to sink into and read my way through it as the seasons turn. 2y
See All 25 Comments
Ruthiella @squirrelbrain When Litsy speaks, we listen! 😂 2y
Ruthiella @Cathythoughts I totally want to read all five books. Yet another series to complete. Typical bookworm problem! 😝 2y
Ruthiella @quietjenn It would be a great fall read. Also, knowing what I do of your reading taste, I fairly certain you‘ll love it too. 😀 2y
MaureenMc So glad you enjoyed it! I read the entire series between July and December last year. I *rarely* finish series anymore, especially ones with this many pages 😆, but I found it extremely compelling. 2y
Ruthiella @MaureenMc The way Howard tells their stories, it was hard to stop reading. (edited) 2y
merelybookish Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed the first volume. It really is a good mix of comfort and character study! And the whole series is well worth it! 2y
Ruthiella @merelybookish I‘ll definitely read the rest of the series! 2y
EvieBee Yay! So glad you enjoyed it! I‘ve moved on to book 2 over the weekend. 2y
Ruthiella @EvieBee Excellent! We‘ll see when I manage to pick it up. Hopefully in the next couple months. 2y
CarolynM I‘ve had a copy of this on my shelf for years but I‘ve still not got around to it. Now you‘ve added to the encouragement from all the others you‘ve mentioned. One day…😬😁 2y
batsy Oh man! This has been TBR forever and @merelybookish recent reviews also made me want to read it. So many books... 2y
BookNAround This was one of my all time favorite stumble upon finds when I worked at a bookstore back in the day. I don‘t remember if I shelved it or if I shelved something near it but it made its way home with me and I promptly sped my way through the rest of the series. 2y
Ruthiella @CarolynM It‘s hard to predict just when the urge will strike, right? I‘d owned the copy I read for some time also (though not as long as some of the other unread books I have!🫣) 2y
Ruthiella @batsy I know! One day you will pick it up and love it, I‘m sure. 👍 2y
Ruthiella @BookNAround I love it when favorites fall serendipitously into my hands like that! Somehow it makes the reading experience more that much more memorable! 2y
BiblioLitten Such a wonderful book. Can‘t wait to get to the next in series. 2y
Ruthiella @BiblioLitten Me either. I want to read how the weather the war years! 2y
shawnmooney How about coming on Bite-sized Book Chats to talk about this novel? I would love to have you on as a guest! 2y
Ruthiella @shawnmooney Sure, why not? 2y
Ruthiella @shawnmooney Sure, why not? 2y
Centique @Ruthiella @shawnmooney I would love to hear you talk about this book with Shawn 🙌 2y
shawnmooney @Ruthiella Great! Are we Goodreads friends? You can DM me there or email me shawnmooneyincanada@gmail.com 2y
58 likes4 stack adds25 comments
review
EvieBee
post image
Pickpick

What a great book! I‘ve been in a reading slump or else I think I would have finished this one a long time ago. Instead of a long break in between, I‘m missing the Cazalets and their whole entourage already! I may jump right into the next one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CocoReads Pretty cover 2y
EvieBee @CocoReads Thank you! 2y
Ruthiella Great photo! This series is on my TBR. 2y
See All 8 Comments
Gissy Beautiful edition! 😍I have the old one. It match with the curtains🤗👌 (edited) 2y
EvieBee @Ruthiella Thanks! I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. 2y
EvieBee @Gissy Thank you, Gissy! 2y
MaureenMc Love, love, love this series. 💕 I read the entire series in one year, which I pretty much never do. (I rarely finish series anymore 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
EvieBee @MaureenMc My sentiments exactly—I don‘t usually commit to a series! But like you I‘m pretty sure I‘m going to finish this one this year. 2y
65 likes2 stack adds8 comments
blurb
EvieBee
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Finally making some good progress in this one. It‘s so good!! Hoping to finish this weekend.

review
emmaturi
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

This is the first book in the Cazalet Chronicles, there are four more to go. Starting in 1937, it tells about the life of yes you guessed the Cazalets. The parents, then there children all married Edward, Hugh, Rupert and Rachel. Then we also meet their kids. Lots of family dramatic. I enjoyed and will eventually get round to getting the next book.

MaureenMc Loved this series! 2y
BookNAround I discovered this series decades ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe I should revisit sometime. 2y
27 likes2 comments
blurb
emmaturi
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

I am currently about half way through the Cazalet family story and enjoying it.

Cathythoughts I really enjoyed this. It‘s been awhile though , I‘d probably need to have a look through it before going on to the 2d book. 3y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
JillR
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

The first book in the Cazalet Chronicles introduces us to a huge cast of characters, but the beautifully written vignettes of each one means you feel you know them in no time. Perfect comfort reading with four more books awaiting me 📚

Cinfhen Sound like my type of book! #stacked 3y
JillR @cinfhen a friend recommended this series and I enjoyed this first one, nice and easy! 3y
Cinfhen I‘m excited to give it a try 😄thanks for posting & sharing ♥️ 3y
See All 11 Comments
TrishB I started this one this week! It‘s in hibernation at the moment as I wasn‘t feeling it because I was having a really bad week. I do intend to go back to it though. Timing! 3y
LeeRHarry I read this series last year and loved it - hope you continue to enjoy it 😊 3y
emmaturi I have this on my shelves, I will get to it eventually, but it does sound really interesting. 3y
JillR @trishb I admit I felt I was dipping in and out at first and it seemed to take me ages to read unusually, but I think that was a combination of work distractions and a huge character list to figure out! Like you say, it can all be in the timing sometimes. Hope you‘re ok and next week is a better one x 3y
JillR @LeeRHarry that‘s good to hear! A friend recommended the series and I was very lucky that my hints were noted and my husband bought me the set! 3y
JillR @emmaturi I do love an epic family saga I have to say! 3y
TrishB Thanks 😘 work is very distracting isn‘t it! 3y
BookNAround I loved this series. 3y
44 likes2 stack adds11 comments
blurb
BiblioLitten
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

March is going to be a slow reading month for me. I might not be able to read more than one book soooo what better than a long family chronicle to be read at a leisurely pace. 🧡

#currentyreading #blameitonlitsy

EvieBee I'm currently reading this too! 3y
Ruthiella This is on my list! Everybody who reads this series seems to end up loving it! 😃 3y
catebutler This is one my all time favourite series/family sagas. Enjoy!! 3y
41 likes4 comments
review
Minervasbutler
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

First of her Cazalet family saga, set on the eve of World War 2. Some memorable characters but it's the children who steal the show. Very enjoyable.

Ruthiella I‘m hoping to start this series next year! 🤞 3y
Cathythoughts I really enjoyed this first one too … I‘ve yet to make it to the second book , but soon I hope 🤞🏻 3y
58 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
MaureenMc
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

First in an historical fiction series following an aristocratic English family. This installment is set in the late 1930s, ending just before the start of WWII. Howard‘s writing is exquisite, & her character development is near perfect. (Photo taken where I finished the book - at a cabin in the Great Smoky Mts.)

mabell 😍😍😍 3y
BookNAround I loved this series when I found it years ago. 3y
Cathythoughts Great review! I‘ve read this one … must move on to the next soon 🤞🏻 3y
See All 7 Comments
MaureenMc @BookNAround I‘m kinda bummed I didn‘t find it sooner! 3y
MaureenMc @Cathythoughts I plan on starting the second soon, too. I need to find out what happens to these characters! 3y
BookNAround @MaureenMc I worked in a bookstore when it was coming out so it was a good discovery purely thanks to proximity. 3y
robinb Gorgeous scenery…love the Smokies! ❤️ 3y
40 likes7 comments
blurb
Ast_Arslan
post image

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
#JulyJourneys

Day 3 - #Seashore

One of my future reading ❤

Eggs Beautiful cover art!! 🐚🌊🏖 3y
Ast_Arslan @Eggs I totally agree with you 🤟🏻 3y
JazzFeathers La maggior parte delle cose che leggo sono ambientate fra gli anni Dieci e gli anni Trenta del Novecento (o sono fantasy), ma non riesco a capire se ho voglia di leggere questa serie 🤔 3y
See All 6 Comments
Ast_Arslan @JazzFeathers un tentativo, prima o poi, non si nega quasi a nessuno... no? 😂 3y
MayJasper Una bellissima copertina 3y
Ast_Arslan @MayJasper thanks ♥️ 3y
28 likes1 stack add6 comments
blurb
Penny_LiteraryHoarders
post image

Bought this today for my Kobo. I'm in the mood for a book to lose myself in, and this also seems like a great summer kind of read. It's the long weekend here in 🇨🇦🍁 coming up and I've made a lovely 4 day weekend for myself.

merelybookish I just finished Book 2 of this series. I'm enjoying! It's a bit like reading a BBC miniseries. 4y
LeahBergen Perfect! 👌 I‘ve been planning this one for a summer read. 4y
See All 6 Comments
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @merelybookish nice! Perfect for what I'm looking for. Have you read Summer Before the War? I'm thinking I'll get those kind of feelings here. 🤞 4y
merelybookish @Penny_LiteraryHoarders No I havent read it. This is multigenerational family saga. Lots of small moments between characters with world events kind of in the background. 4y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @merelybookish perfect! Love those kinds of books! 4y
30 likes6 comments
blurb
TrishB
post image

#kindleoffer remembered Cathy gave this a really good review 👍🏻

Ruthiella Only $2.99 in the US so I bought a copy as well! 😀 Sounds like a series I will enjoy. 4y
Cathythoughts Oh I did Trish , I really enjoyed it 👍🏻❤️ Happy Saturday! The weather is good here today , I hope it‘s nice across the water in Liverpool too 4y
TrishB @Ruthiella oh cool 👍🏻 4y
See All 7 Comments
TrishB @Cathythoughts it is lovely today ❤️ hope you have a lovely weekend. 4y
Crazeedi I really enjoyed this series! 4y
TrishB @Crazeedi oh cool, another good recommendation! 4y
MsMelissa I need to read this one! I‘ve had this first book sitting on a shelf for years. I hope you like it 🤞🏻 4y
81 likes7 comments
blurb
merelybookish
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Loving! ❤️

Kimberlone I recently picked up the whole series as a kindle deal! I‘ve never read any of the series before but it looks really interesting! 4y
Cathythoughts I loved it too ❤️ 4y
merelybookish @Kimberlone It's very Downtown Abbey so far! If that's your kind of thing. 🙂 4y
See All 8 Comments
merelybookish @Cathythoughts It's very easy to read but great character development and movement between characters. Just thoroughly enjoying it! 4y
LeahBergen Dang! Must get to it soon! 4y
umbrellagirl I just bought these too. I look forward to starting the series. 4y
merelybookish @LeahBergen It's a big baggy delight! 4y
merelybookish @umbrellagirl I'll be interested to hear what you think! 4y
69 likes8 comments
blurb
merelybookish
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Diving into the Cazalet Chronicles tonight.
My loose reading goal for 2021 is to read off my own shelves. But I've already hit a snag. Do I go ahead and buy the next four books in this series?

Crazeedi You do have a dilemma!!😬🙄😉 4y
Ruthiella Allow yourself to buy the next four books in the series only after you‘ve read four more books from your shelves. 😀 4y
batsy Yes! @Ruthiella Great suggestion 😁 4y
See All 13 Comments
merelybookish @Ruthiella @batsy Good idea. 🤔 Or maybe I buy the next volume after I read one off my shelf and so on. Break it up a bit. 😄 4y
merelybookish @batsy I definitely have four books on my shelf I should/could/want to read. And yet, why is it so hard? 4y
batsy @merelybookish It is, isn't it? I can't remember the last time I read four books consecutively from my shelf... (Now I see that my new year reading resolutions writes itself 😂) 4y
Cathythoughts I really intended to read the whole Cazalet series .. have only read first one & I loved it ... I have all the others in my possession now. Should you get the whole set ??? Ofcorse 👍🏻 4y
andrew61 I read light years last summer and loved it so have just ordered the second one ,im hoping to reas it sooner than next summer or I will forget the characters! 4y
merelybookish @batsy I'm going to give it a try! 💪😄 4y
merelybookish @Cathythoughts Thanks Cathy! 🙂 I am really enjoying this first volume. Such wonderful character descriptions! 4y
merelybookish @andrew61 There are a lot of characters! My copy has a handy list of who's who at the beginning. 4y
LeahBergen Of course you should buy the whole series. I did (and I‘ve yet to start it) 😆😆 4y
77 likes13 comments
blurb
Cathythoughts
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

#Litfortunecookie Thankyou for the tag @KVanRead @Birdsong28
First thing that comes to mind is an invention by some of the young cousins in The Light Years, who invent Wonder Cream ( a face cream with some strange ingredients, eggs too 😬) their enthusiasm is a pleasure to be around. Not sure I‘d like to try their cream though 😂.
I tag @tpixie @jenniferw88 @Shemac77

erinachu This one makes me think of 4y
tpixie Thanks! 😉 4y
KVanRead Lol, love it 🧴😊👏 Thanks for playing! 4y
Cathythoughts @erinachu I don‘t know the book you tag ... I must look it up 👍🏻❤️ 4y
56 likes4 comments
review
Cathythoughts
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

A comfortable read ... & then part of the story hits you hard. And the next war is always there in the background , menacing & upsetting. Great characters, consistently good... I‘ll start the 2d book soon.
My mask made locally 😷.. lots of protective layers. Stay safe everyone ❤️ its a scary time.

Tanisha_A ❤️ 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Love that your mask matches the book. 👍💜 Stay safe! 💕 4y
Cathythoughts @Tanisha_A 👍🏻❤️ 4y
See All 18 Comments
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm Pure coincidence 👍🏻💕 4y
batsy The pretty florals 💕 4y
MsMelissa I need to read this one soon. 4y
TrishB Great review 👍🏻 definitely interested in this series . Yes stay safe Cathy. It‘s all very heavy at the moment.💜 4y
LeahBergen The lovely little flowers match!! 💜💜 4y
readordierachel Lovely review and mask ❤ 4y
CarolynM Great review, I really must read this some day (it's been on my shelf for years). Lovely photo too, great matching🙌😀 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy 🌸🌸🌸 4y
Cathythoughts @Book_Fiend_Melissa 🌸👍🏻it‘s very good 4y
Cathythoughts @TrishB Thanks! It‘s a good one 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen They do 😊🌸🌸 4y
Cathythoughts @readordierachel Thanks 🌸👍🏻 4y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Thanks 👍🏻🌸 Id say you can‘t go wrong with this one ... still I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts when you get there 4y
andrew61 Loved it as well. Looking forward to reading the next soon. 4y
rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @Book_Fiend_Melissa I need to reread this one and finish the series. 😊 4y
59 likes1 stack add18 comments
blurb
Cathythoughts
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Saturday evening with The Cazalets... enjoying the book & the wine & waiting for the takeaway ... ☺️

MsMelissa Lovely 😊 4y
Cathythoughts @Book_Fiend_Melissa Yes! I think it‘s the first time I‘ve really relaxed this week 😊 4y
Ruthiella Nice! Ahhhhh. 😊 4y
See All 22 Comments
batsy Enjoy your wine and takeaway and book 😍 4y
TheNeverendingTBR Perfect night! 👌 4y
squirrelbrain Sounds like the perfect night to me! Chinese, or Indian, or pizza.....?! 4y
Cathythoughts @Ruthiella Thanks friend ! It is 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy Thanks, your very kind X 4y
Cathythoughts @TheNeverendingTBR isn‘t it just that 👌🏻... I hope ye have a lovely night too across the water 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain We think alike so. It‘s Thai ! The Golden Elephant. The best Thai in Ireland IMO 4y
LeahBergen Perfect evening! And Thai food, too. 💚 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Yes ! Thai 👍🏻 my favourite... next fave is Indian ... love the weekend takeaway ❤️ 4y
squirrelbrain Oh yummy! I think Thai is my favourite too, followed by Indian. Just the same as you! 4y
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain 😁👯👯‍♀️👯👯‍♀️ 4y
TheNeverendingTBR @Cathythoughts Thanks a lot Cathy, that's very kind of you. It's been a busy day, we got some Halloween decorations up for the kids and they're loving it; it'll be beer o'clock soon - thank god! 😂 4y
youneverarrived This has to be the perfect Saturday night 👌 4y
Cathythoughts @youneverarrived Hey Katie ! Hope you & Alfie are getting on well X ..... Yes , thanks , a good night was had. 4y
Reggie Looks like it was great Saturday night! 4y
mirnas Great plan! 4y
Cathythoughts @Reggie It was good Reggie. Hope you are keeping well X 4y
Cathythoughts @mirnass 👍🏻😁❤️ 4y
readordierachel Sounds like heaven 😊 4y
66 likes22 comments
blurb
Cathythoughts
post image

Thoroughly enjoying this story of the Cazalet family ... on there summer hols in their country home just now , it‘s 1937.

TrishB I‘ve looked at these a few times and never gone for it! Will await your review. 4y
Cathythoughts @TrishB I can already tell you that it‘s an excellent read 👍🏻😁 4y
See All 18 Comments
sisilia 😻✏️📚 4y
Crazeedi This was a great series 4y
Cathythoughts @Tanisha_A @sisilia @batsy 🥳pencil gang ✏️✏️✏️ 4y
Cathythoughts @Crazeedi It‘s very good ! I agree 👏🏻 4y
batsy Yay ✏️ #PencilGang @Tanisha_A @sisilia :) Lovely picture, Cathy! Glad that it's an enjoyable read...the series has been on my TBR for way too long! 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy Thanks Suba ! Praise indeed X. I think you‘d love it & it‘s a comfortable read 4y
LeahBergen I‘ve just bought this whole series after LOVING 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen This first one is so good. I‘ve ordered the 2d & I‘ve also ordered The Long View 😁🥳 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen I must see how many are left in this Cazalet series..... 🏃‍♀️ 4y
rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @batsy I‘ve read this one but want to read the whole series, as well as The Long View. 4y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts There are five books in this series. 😄 4y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I‘m looking forward to this series! 👏🏻 4y
LeahBergen Oh, and I see Edith Wharton‘s Ghost Stories peeking out there. I have a copy on its way to me right now. 😆 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen oh yes 😂we can‘t put anything past you ... 😁that is Edith Wharton indeed ... dying for some time to have a read of it 😘 (edited) 4y
Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads Me too , I‘m thinking I‘ll start the 2d as soon as I finish this one ... @Leahbergen 5 ! I‘d love to read them all together & keep in touch with the characters... 🤞🏻 4y
79 likes1 stack add18 comments
blurb
Cathythoughts
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Adding this to my #Weeklyforecast ... just starting by one of the first fires of the Autumn .. ☺️cosy

squirrelbrain Ooh you‘ve got your fire on already - lovely! 🔥 4y
TrishB That looks cosy ♥️ 4y
Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @TrishB Thanks X Loving it 🥰 4y
See All 19 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely spot to be! 😊💕 4y
Kalalalatja Looks so cozy! 4y
MaureenMc 😍 4y
LeahBergen I want to get to this one soon, too. And what a cozy set-up! ❤️❤️ 4y
batsy 😍😍 4y
BarbaraBB Super cozy! My friend just mentioned a book by this author, who I didn‘t hear of before. Is she good? 4y
Centique How cosy that looks! 😍 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @batsy @Centique 👍🏻💕💕💕💕💕 4y
Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB It‘s my first by her ... She came up during @Andrew65 ‘S 20/20 series. So it‘s the first book in a series of .. ( not sure how many ) off to a good start 👍🏻❤️ 4y
BiblioLitten So cozy! 🤗 4y
Cathythoughts @BiblioLitten Thanks! And it‘s a cosy book too 👍🏻💕 4y
Andrew65 I‘m wanting to read these too. I own some of them. 4y
BarbaraBB Interesting! 4y
valeriegeary Oh this looks so nice! 4y
Cathythoughts @valeriegeary Thanks , was a lovely afternoon ❤️ 4y
66 likes19 comments
review
andrew61
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

Really enjoyed the first volume of the cazalet chronicles which explores the lives of adults and children over the summer holidays of 1937 and 1938, the innocence of children, the secrets and intricacies of the adult's relationships as well as the the threat of war was told in a skilful way flitting from one character to another's perspective often within the same page. Very absorbing and a series i look forward to reading for a while.

LeahBergen I have this first one waiting on my shelves. 👍🏻 4y
MsMelissa @LeahBergen me too 😊 4y
andrew61 @Book_Fiend_Melissa @LeahBergen id definitely recommend it and reminded me a bit of The Priory by Dorothy whipple. It had some interesting issues and plot points which i assume will re-emerge in later books perhaps coming back to haunt the characters, the problem will be getting to it sooner than later so i remember. 4y
28 likes3 stack adds3 comments
blurb
andrew61
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

#20series20days @Andrew65 day16
Today i am going with a series which i haven't read but have meant to since i missed my reading groups discussion. Anyway it's a wet Sunday so seems a good day to try some 1930's English upper class family dramas with the cazalet series.

Andrew65 I own some of these and clearly need to read them. 4y
Cathythoughts Sounds good ! Stacked 4y
29 likes2 comments
blurb
merelybookish
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

I bought Book 1 of the Cazalet Chronicle back in May after reading an article by Lucy Scholes describing it as perfect quarantine reading. It seemed like my jam, 1930s English manor house/country village life. But haven't gotten to it yet.
#20series20days.

LeahBergen I have this one, too. It seems like my kind of series. 😊 4y
merelybookish @LeahBergen I was going to ask if you've read it. But I guess that's a no. 😁 4y
catebutler This is a great series, you‘ll get sucked up into the lives of the characters!! I found the books got better the more you progressed, especially when characters aged. Enjoy! 4y
See All 14 Comments
sarahbarnes Oooh, haven‘t heard of this one! 4y
JenniferP I read the whole series a couple years ago and loved them! 4y
batsy I have one book from the series when Book Depository had a sale. Now I have to get the rest 😅 4y
merelybookish @catebutler That's great to hear! 4y
merelybookish @sarahbarnes They were new to me too. Maybe more popular in the UK? 4y
merelybookish @batsy This copy was not cheap. 😬 Have you read volume 1 yet? 4y
andrew61 Snap, i hadn't seen your post when i put mine up an hour ago. Im looking forward to reading this first book in the series. 4y
batsy @merelybookish No, not yet! Book Depo had one of those random discounts so I only have the third one, Confusion. 4y
merelybookish @andrew61 Look forward to hearing your thoughts! 4y
merelybookish @batsy Of course it would be BK 3 on sale! 4y
54 likes14 comments
review
Astroneman
post image
Pickpick

First volume of the Cazalet saga. Light and pleasant style. A mirror of Victorian society at the gates of the Second World War.
#readingchallenge2019 #book #bookly #litsy #litsybook #goodreads #cazalet #ejhoward #toread

26 likes3 stack adds
blurb
RealLifeReading
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

The hotel has a lot of books in its library - but most of them aren‘t in English.

blurb
Mariana1
Light Years (Original) | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

My current reading ❤️😊

5 likes1 stack add
review
ladyonequestion
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

A bit Enid Blyton for adults in the adventures of the children and the descriptions of the lavish meals they have. The large cast of characters is mainly served well, I just wish she'd been a bit braver with Rachel, who is in a same sex relationship. I didn't expect it to be sexually explicit, it's not that kind of book, I just wanted it to be less about endless homesexual misery. Hoping her and her lady friend get a bit of happiness next time.

blurb
ladyonequestion
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Starting a spot of lighter summer reading. I found the last three books in a charity shop and the first two I ordered from the library. I still need to quit buying charity shop books but I haven't bought any ebooks for a couple of weeks.

DivaDiane Good for you! Ebooks (free ones) and charity shop books are my weakness. Otherwise, I‘m doing pretty well on my book buying ban. 7y
33 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
DivineDiana
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

Book Club discussion on this book today, the first in a series about a large successful family living in England. It begins in 1937. A member of our group had been living in England for many years, and recently returned to live in our community. She adores these books and wanted to share her passion. It was made into a BBC television series. Lots of characters and multiple generations. Downtown Abbey like with a bit more bite.

Andrew65 This is a series I want to read, I do own a couple of them. 7y
DivineDiana @Andrew65 That‘s a start! 7y
rubyslippersreads @Andrew65 I've read the first one, but think I need to reread before I read the rest of the series. 7y
See All 10 Comments
Andrew65 @rubyslippersreads This series does have great reviews. @DivineDiana 7y
DivineDiana @rubyslippersreads There is a lot of character development in Book 1, so it probably is a good idea! 7y
Cathythoughts I like the sound of Downtown Abbey with a bit more bite. 👍oh no my TBR just got tweaked. I like the sound of this one (edited) 7y
Wbabdullah This looks like a good book to break up my heavy reads of 2018...or show to watch. I wonder if this show is on Prime or Netflix? 7y
DivineDiana @Cathythoughts I understand! Everyday I add to my TBR, including today! 7y
DivineDiana @Wbabdullah That‘s a good idea! I prefer to do that as well. It is supposed to be on Netflix! 7y
81 likes5 stack adds10 comments
blurb
DivineDiana
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

First read (not audio) for 2018. Book Club meeting on Tuesday. Only read 10% so far. #firstinseries #thecazaletchronicles

63 likes2 stack adds
review
MaryJJ
Pickpick

Ho concluso la lettura del primo volume della saga dei Cazalet e devo dire che l'attesa di leggere il secondo non lascia sentire appieno la nostalgia che provo. Di tutti i personaggi ho amato in particolar modo e da subito il trio Sybil , Hugh e Polly mentre gli altri ho imparato a scoprirli pian piano e anche se mai a capirli ancora del tutto...

Che altro aggiungere ? Ah sì giusto: a presto Home Place!

2 likes1 comment
quote
MaryJJ
post image

Ecco la mia #currentlyreading accompagnata da due kaki su tre ( troppo buoni per resistere )
#lasagadeicazalet

4 likes1 comment
blurb
obbi89
post image
10 likes1 stack add
blurb
mylittlebookbag
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

The calm, cultured, faintly ridiculous atmosphere of the "upstairs", where you take late-morning tea-in-bed & dress for dinners; & the frenzied pace of the "downstairs", where cooks plan elaborate meals well in advance, maids scurry around rooms before dawn to light fires, prepare tea, set out clothing; butlers shine shoes, set out newspapers & whiskey; groomsmen ready horses & dogs for the day's hunt.

blurb
Moonpa
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

The monthly library used book sale - Book Haul!!! Missing is: We were Liars as my friend grabbed it to read before I gave it to my niece!

rubyslippersreads ❤️ The Light Years—I need to read the rest of the series. #somanybookssolittletime 8y
LeeRHarry @rubyslippersreads I've read the first two, then got sidetracked as you do! Even though I have the rest 😊 8y
Moonpa @rubyslippersreads @LeeRHarry Despite the distraction, they are still worth reading? 8y
LeeRHarry @Moonpa yes I think they are 😏 8y
20 likes4 comments
blurb
rubyslippersreads
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

All five Cazalet Chronicles books in one volume are on sale for Kindle today. I've only read the first one, but I loved it and want to read the rest of the series.

56 likes1 stack add
blurb
Verity
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image

Does EJH's Cazalet Chronicles count for #ilikebigbooks? If you go for all 5 of these (and once you've started, why wouldn't you?) that's 2,000+ pages I think and 20+ years of one family's life. I love them so much. Polly, Clary, Archie and Miss Millament are my favourites. Perfect Autumn reading. Mind you, brilliant holiday reading too. They're reliable recommendations for me too - so many characters, there's something for most people. #booktober

22 likes2 stack adds
review
Britafish
The Light Years | Elizabeth Jane Howard
post image
Pickpick

Devoured the first volume of The Cazalet Chronicles and about to embark on the second! I don't usually read historical fiction but I loved all the characters here, and Howard's portrayal of childhood is especially impressive considering she wrote this in her 70s.