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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

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3⭐️ I‘m sure that I would have enjoyed this novel more if I was not in this state of excessice COVID-19 anxiety. I‘m not a fan of adultery stories (can‘t they just behave?); but I loved the calming prose that Fontane used in letting us have a peek into the psychology of his characters

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Covid-19 and financial market meltdown get me nervous and super freaking busy at work. Thank God for weekend readathon! So let‘s do this #stayathome24in48 Singapore time zone 🥰

Stay safe and stay healthy, Littens!

TheSpineView Love that mug!💜 Stay safe and many blessings to you!😘 4y

Reggie Love that mug!!! 4y

MaleficentBookDragon 😻😻😻😻 that mug! 🦈🦈🦈 4y

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cariashley 🙌 I‘m dealing with the same. Are you in the finance industry? I‘m in NY and my Singapore colleagues keep sending me scary updates on the escalating restrictions. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Cute mug! Stay well. 4y

sisilia @cariashley I‘m in private banking 😆 Singapore is actually doing fine. We are very cautious here, but it has the best systems and facilities. They just launched an app that captures the phone numbers of people within 2-3 meters from you; this allows easier contact tracing. I think it‘s a brilliant app 4y

cariashley @sisilia their handling of the situation since day 1 has been phenomenal! Complete opposite of the US. The “scary” updates I was talking about are around non-Singaporeans not being allowed back into the country, which is actually smart, just a nightmare from my HR perspective 😅 4y

sisilia @cariashley haha it‘s true.. but it‘s the safest approach for everyone. All residents coming back from overseas have to stay home for 14 days now 👍🏻 4y

BarbaraBB Could you tell a bit more about that app? What is its function? To avoid coming too close? 4y

sisilia @BarbaraBB For easier contact tracing. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid19-trace-together-mobile-app... 4y

BarbaraBB Very interesting, thanks for sharing the article! 4y

sisilia @BarbaraBB Other countries should use the same app ⭐️ 4y

71 likes12 comments

youneverarrived

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

so-so

I think if the writing had been less than stellar in this one it would have been so much harder to get through. I loved the dialogue & although the characters weren‘t likeable they were well drawn and realistic. I liked the atmosphere but I was left with a ‘what was that all about‘ feeling, mostly.

I would have liked to have heard more from Christine herself especially considering the ending 👇👇

MicheleinPhilly, Librarybelle, vivastory, BarbaraBB

youneverarrived but it got me thinking how in many contemporary novels we get to hear from multiple perspectives a lot but I think this was less of a thing in 19th century fiction? #nyrbbookclub #readingeurope2020 #germany 4y

BarbaraBB You finished it! Well done. Too bad you didn‘t enjoy the whole book as much as you did in the beginning. 4y

youneverarrived @BarbaraBB eventually yeah 😂 I think it dragged on a bit too long but I did enjoy the writing. 4y

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vivastory Great review & I agree. I thought it started very strong and then dragged on a bit. 4y

Librarybelle You‘re right - 19th century fiction doesn‘t seem to have multiple perspectives. Sorry it dragged by the end! 4y

youneverarrived @vivastory yeah just that tad bit too long. 4y

youneverarrived @Librarybelle I thought so! We‘re so used to hearing from different character perspectives in recent books. 4y

Suet624 Great points about length and multiple perspectives. 4y

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Thank you @merelybookish for this wonderful bookmark 😘

Texreader Beautiful!! 4y

Crazeedi 💖💖💖 4y

merelybookish My pleasure! And thank you for the tags you sent! 4y

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

I just started this, fellow #nyrbbookclub 🤪 I dare not see the reviews and ratings; I want to find out what this is all about 😃

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

#MarchMadness Day 2: This is my #MarchTBR. Top two books are for our #NYRBBookClub. Nearly finished with our February pick and would share my thoughts in the discussion threads ably created by @vivastory and @MicheleinPhilly as soon as I finish reading. All titles fit into our #ReadIntl2020 theme as well.

Eggs

Liz_M The Book of Disquiet! I was so excited to buy this as a newly released translation and have yet to actually read it. 😂 4y

batsy @Liz_M It's one of my favourites! But I have an older version. I need the new translation (and that cover 😍) 4y

Eggs Great and pretty post!! 4y

60 likes3 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Helmut & Christine are opposites. Do you believe the adage, & as the back of the book states, opposites attract?
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @Suet624 @Theaelizabet @Aimeesue @Billypar @DrexEdit @JenniferP

booksandsympathy Sometimes? I think you have to have at least something in common. 4y

Leftcoastzen I think that sometimes it happens that way. Some people look for things in other people that they lack in themselves hoping to find more balance ,perhaps. This book shows how it can backfire, and foster resentments that can loom large. 4y

emilyhaldi Perhaps being opposites can work if there's recognition of the differences on both sides, and some level of compromise. Unfortunately in this case Holk was incapable of pulling his head out of his own ass and Christine just too passive. 4y

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Billypar @emilyhaldi Your last sentence hits the nail on the head 😅 4y

merelybookish Maybe initially there is excitement to being attracted to your opposite. We know there was love between H & C once, but maybe once the passion of being with someone unlike you disappears, you're just left with someone who is too different from you. 4y

vivastory @emilyhaldi I think you pretty much nailed it! 😂👍 4y

vivastory @merelybookish Very true. I think that ultimately it's how each person treats one another, but there definitely needs to be some common ground. 4y

batsy @emilyhaldi Spot on 😆 4y

batsy I think it starts out as attraction but if both sides remain unself aware and unyielding, then it begins to repel. 4y

Aimeesue Depends on what terms you're opposite. Is the difference in how/where you want to live? How socially engaged you are? Personality traits that affect how you are with each other? Work/life balance? There have to be some basic commonalities and similarity of core values, and the rest, as @booksandsympathy points out, require compromise. Preferably good- natured compromise, not the grudging sort. (edited) 4y

GatheringBooks @emilyhaldi @batsy @Billypar did christine strike you as passive? i just thought she was unyielding, convinced of her own scruples, and to an extent even uncompromising (and supercilious) in her ideals and beliefs - but not quite passive, like the first wife in compton-burnett‘s novel. even her suicide was like a rebellion of sorts, sort of like her final declaration that i am having none of this, might as well die. 4y

Suet624 Personally I could relate so much more to Christine than to Holk, including her final decision. I had forgotten that she still carried such grief about her son and to have to live again with Holk, my God, that would just be the final straw, don't you think? I would have appreciated a short chapter on why the heck she even decided to go back to Holk. 4y

Billypar @GatheringBooks I wouldn't say passive as a general character trait, but just in her reaction to Holk's letters. She was correct to suspect Holk of course, but I was surprised about the reaction that her brother describes after no more than a few offhand hints in her prior letters. It seems to me more like Fontane's being unfaithful to Christine's character that he already established, someone who doesn't shy away from speaking her mind. 4y

sisilia I agree that opposite attracts; but any kind of relationship requires hard works from both sides. The problem with Helmut and Christine is communication. They keep everything inside, and wish for the other to change. So yeah, they need to communicate well and work together to achieve the equilibrium, I guess 4y

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Fontane's use of character dialogue has been praised by critics. Did his dialogue strike you as unique or insightful?
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624 @Theaelizabet @Aimeesue @Billypar @DrexEdit @JenniferP

Billypar It was probably my favorite thing about the novel: I perked up whenever someone was speaking. Very realistic and nice touches of humor or pathos. 4y

Liz_M Apparently not. 😁 I don't remember there being dialogue -- the whole point being that Holk and Christine were, metaphorically, not speaking to one another. 4y

vivastory @Billypar Yes, I found the characters speaking to be the most engaging aspect of the book. 4y

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Leftcoastzen I really liked the dialogue, I felt the characters were very distinct in their opinions and the way they spoke. Like @Billypar like the humor and pathos 4y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen That's a great point about them being distinct & not easy to accomplish when you have a lot of characters! 4y

Leftcoastzen @vivastory He did a great job ! 4y

merelybookish Some characters (Ebba, Arne) made very wise, astute observations. 4y

DrexEdit Well I think it's clear I will never be a successful royal courtier. I found myself skimming dialogue in spots. I think I would have paid more attention if this had been a play with really good actors speaking the dialogue. 4y

batsy I thought it was well done for the most part; my attention flagged when characters went on monologues recounting history or stories! But this is very much like real life when people drone on 😆 I thought Fontane did a good job recreating the boredom and ennui of this privileged class of people, taking the risk of boring his own readers. And stylistically it was interesting to see how dialogue was used here vs the Ivy Compton-Burnett novel. 4y

batsy @Billypar Good points; very true to life tonally in terms of how people communicate. Even if the content of the dialogue is from a different time, the manner of how they communicate remains psychologically relevant. 4y

vivastory @batsy It was really interesting to read it after experiencing Compton-Burnett. And yes, I definitely felt the aristocratic people problems from time to time. Reminded me a little bit of Henry James. 4y

GatheringBooks i agree with @Billypar abt the credibility of the dialogue & distinct voices as @Leftcoastzen pointed out. but what i enjoyed most of all was when holk was speaking to himself as he convinces himself of his own righteousness even when clear how he is culpable. i enjoyed the women‘s dismissive tone: from christine to ebba to the princess. even the hansens with their gossip and thinly-veiled (pun intended) agenda showed self-possession & confidence. 4y

GatheringBooks @vivastory the dialogue here was a relief compared to the tedious compton-burnett. i know i know. clearly not a fan. 4y

vivastory @GatheringBooks I liked Compton-Burnett more, but I will say that I was able to more clearly distinguish the characters in Fontane. 4y

Billypar @GatheringBooks I did like watching Holk convince himself of his righteousness - definitely a universal sign that you're about to say something ill-advised during an argument 😅 4y

youneverarrived One thing I really did like about this book was the dialogue. It was natural. 4y

sisilia I loved the dialogue. Interesting thoughts and point of views 4y

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Considered by critics his most idiosyncratic novel, what themes or aspects felt still relevant?
#NYRBBookClub
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624 @Theaelizabet @Aimeesue @Billypar @DrexEdit @JenniferP

Liz_M I thought the slowly growing distance between the two was very well done and then there is a tipping point and they can no longer see the good in each other any more. So even though the way of life and the specifics of the disagreements seems old fashioned, the emotional arc feels very contemporary. 4y

Billypar I always forget how big a deal letters were in that time period. Sometimes I was reminded of the modern situation with texting or social media where conflict can occur based on how statements are read. In this novel it seems that the Countess was wrong about the Count's conscious intention in his letters (his references to the women he was meeting), but right about what was under the surface. 4y

vivastory @Liz_M I 💯 agree. I thought the specifics felt dated, but the behavior & some of the psychology feels very contemporary. 4y

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vivastory @Billypar Very true! I had actually read a few articles about the book before I started it, so I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen & that made for an interesting experience with things like that. 4y

Leftcoastzen Yes the letters! When that is the only communication, you read between the lines, you study the lines for meaning, changes in writing frequency can be loaded with meaning. 4y

Leftcoastzen Human character in general, hasn‘t changed that much. Holk sees a tryst as loaded with meaning,Ebba , no big deal. She‘s after a suitable (rich) match, but not opposed to a little fun along the way.Christine ,you can feel her growing concern even when it‘s not written because of the differences in their character. (edited) 4y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen Well said! A lot can be accomplished through letters in terms of subtext. 4y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen Human character really hasn't changed. I also felt like some of the discussions surrounding politics were still relevant, with some people eager to engage in discussion/debate & others wanting nothing to do with it. 4y

merelybookish I thought the central questions about marriage and love still resonated. Couldn't Holk be described as having a mid-life crisis? Kids are grown, the dream house has been built... and suddenly you realize you don't have much in common with your wife. 4y

DrexEdit I don't have much to add here. You all have covered the thoughts I was thinking. I'll just say the book felt honest to me. The situations felt real and not contrived. The actions and reactions felt psychologically believable. The adultery was up front and not hidden like it might have been with other authors of the time period. 4y

vivastory @DrexEdit Great point about how open Fontane portrayed the affair. Most 19th century authors would have been a bit more subtle about it 4y

batsy Yes to what everyone said, and I agree with @Liz_M and @DrexEdit . There was something real (and modern?) about how the distance between them grew. And also the everlasting human dilemma of how people resent each other for not being the kind of person we want them to be in order to make our own lives easier. 4y

Aimeesue Re:letters and reading between the lines. Sometimes you do , but most times you don't. My husband served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and there were no phones for the first couple of months, so let's were it. I think it depends more on your state of mind about the other person than anything. Frequency, though, can be tip-off, depending on reliability of mail service. But we still assign meaning based on our insight on the other person. (edited) 4y

Aimeesue @merelybookish Yes! Definite midlife crisis. But also, there are just points in a marriage where you simply irritate the heck out of each other, and than can color every interaction, whether your spouse is actually being irritating or not. You have to work to deliberately get out of that mind set. Going off to Court is probably not the ideal way to do it. 4y

Liz_M @batsy Yes especially your last sentence. And also @Aimeesue last sentence. There was an offhand remark that previous occasions when Holk went to Court, there letters were full of endearments bit this time was different -- they were both stuck in their respective corners of resentment. 4y

GatheringBooks @Aimeesue i 💜 long distance letter writing, thanks for sharing your experience, which is not unlike mine onceuponatime. thank heavens for facetime/technology now. despite the obvious differences in the time period/setting, relationships & their gradual unraveling as @merelybookish & @DrexEdit noted, remain contemporary. i find it fascinating how human foibles, infidelity in particular, remain the greatest equalizer across ppl fr all walks of life 4y

GatheringBooks @batsy the resentment was palpable, it seethes through the pages, meaning it must really be intense, given how restrained and deliberately offhand fontane‘s writing was. i think more than self-perception/awareness, this theme of resentment and rationalisation for one‘s wrongdoings leading to self-entitlement seem more like key themes to me. 4y

Suet624 @Aimeesue Agree with all of what you've written. ;)
4y

sisilia @Leftcoastzen summarized it perfectly 👍🏻 4y

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Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Fontane focused on Holk's experiences in Copenhagen for a significant portion of the novel. Was this detrimental to the story? Or was it necessary for the story Fontane was telling?
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624 @Theaelizabet

vivastory @Aimeesue @Billypar @DrexEdit @JenniferP 4y

Leftcoastzen I believe it was necessary, people travelled differently back then, stayed longer.I can‘t remember why he was traveling there. To build infatuation ,turning into something more takes time, I‘m a worrier and Fontane probably knew some readers minds would be on his wife Christine, even though she‘s seldom mentioned. (edited) 4y

Liz_M Well plot-wise it is necessary. There would have been no betrayal, no irreconcilable act without the two being in separate worlds. 4y

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Billypar I'd say it was detrimental because the relationship between the Count and Countess seemed to be the novel's primary source of conflict and tension, but during the trip this is only advanced via the letters, which might be worth discussing in their own right, but wasn't enough for me to be invested. 4y

vivastory @Liz_M I agree, but I felt a bit of frustration because I felt like we were beginning to understand Christine just enough as a character to make her intriguing before he left. 4y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen That's a great point that travel was different, making time different too. 4y

vivastory @Billypar I was interested in Holk as a character in Copenhagen, but I found Christine really interesting & it cut away right when I was becoming interested in her as a character 4y

emilyhaldi I agree with you! @Billypar I was really becoming invested in the core relationship and then Holk up and leaves... and with it, my interest. I do understand the necessity from a plot perspective but I got lost in the endless details of the Copenhagen crews excursions. 4y

Liz_M On the otherhand I loved the opening of the world in Copenhagen and all the melodrama at the Winter Palace! The most vivid imagery was the from the skating party and Ebba and Book impulsively taking off. And that fire! 4y

Billypar @Liz_M I liked those parts too: it was also kind of fun just to be in a castle setting-- I was enjoying the scenery. 4y

merelybookish Well, necessary or not, my interest began to wane once we were in Copenhagen. I felt there were political questions of nationalism, German-Danish relations going on that I didn't understand nor care much about. I have been thinking about this book in terms of the 19th century “marriage plot“ but from the perspective of the unhappy husband. It's like a flip to Madame Bovary. (edited) 4y

merelybookish @Liz_M @ Billyparr Throughout the book there were some vivid scenes and the ones at the castle were outstanding. It made all the other courtier stuff interesting for once. :)
4y

Billypar @merelybookish Madame Bovary is a great comparison. One of the reasons I was more engaged with that one was the entire novel was from the title character's perspective. In this one, Holk suddenly becomes the focal character with the shift to Copenhagen, which sounds like an interesting narrative experiment, but as @vivastory mentioned, we were just getting interested in Christine's character. So it was like an unwelcome bait and switch. 4y

merelybookish @Billypar Based on what we saw of Christine's character, the novel might have been even duller. Conversations about religion and educating children. No intrigue or affairs for her. At least with Holk we had some action. 4y

Billypar @merelybookish That's true - do we get much of a sense of how she spent her days? If so, I can't remember...it definitely wouldn't have worked to remain with Christine unless some kind of a plot were introduced on her end. But the overall dilemma of what do you do when you have a well - meaning husband who doesn't really listen and now is potentially beginning an affair could have been a good backdrop for her own story to unfold. 4y

DrexEdit I was, for some reason, expecting more interaction between Holk and Christine. But practically the whole novel took place with them apart. Holk did kinda think he was a bigwig in Copenhagen, probably because he was hobknobbing with the royals, even if they were second tier royals. 4y

vivastory @merelybookish A flip to Madame Bovary. That's a great way to put it. I don't know if you read the NYRB edition, or a different one, but in the afterword Lopate talks about the prevalence of novels about adultery in the 19th century. 4y

vivastory @DrexEdit Holk's sense of self-importance was definitely inflated. That's the problem with aristocracy, it's sometimes tricky to know how truly important Baron so-and-so really is. 4y

merelybookish @vivastory I had good intentions to read Lopate's essay but didn't. I was just glad to be done. 😬 4y

vivastory @merelybookish 😂 I found it oddly mesmerizing while I was reading, but I had to really force myself to return to it 4y

batsy I think it was necessary to further the plot. The descriptions, even if I didn't understand the nuances of the politics, were beautiful and lyrical that it felt like a dream. I felt suspended in a dream-state and didn't really mind so much that I didn't actually know what they were talking about 😅 But @vivastory I agree, it was frustrating to be cut off from Christine and much like Ebba, I think she would've been more interesting than Holk. 4y

batsy @merelybookish The Lopate essay was good; not too long and not rambly; if you're feeling more inclined to read it now 😁 There's also a Daniel Mendelsohn New Yorker essay on Fontane that's quite lovely (and addresses the marriage plot theme you bring up). 4y

vivastory @batsy Wonderfully put, I was often reminded of an Ingmar Bergman movie. It definitely has a measured pace where some of the references go over my head but it's written in a hypnotizing way 4y

Aimeesue I understand why the Copenhagen section was necessary, but TBH, I would have edited it heavily. Parts of it were necessary, but yikes. But, as @Billypar said, being in Christine's head might have been worse. 4y

Liz_M Not only a flip to Madame Bovery, but also the inverse to his

Effi Briest

GatheringBooks @batsy your descriptions are spot-on, this dream-like, almost-surreal, royalty-imbued vibe while at copenhagen was captured effectively even when most of the details went over my head, yet i found it useful in “furthering the plot” as it showed how Holk derived excitement & satisfaction from these shallow, superficial, self-important get-togethers (did i just sound judgey there?). The distance fr the marriage furthered the “irretrievable” aspect⬇️ 4y

GatheringBooks of the story, the drifting apart, convenient forgetting, magnified faults, & the entertainment brought about by all things new and different. i also agree with @merelybookish that staying in christine‘s headspace may be funereal and sonorous. although i am curious as to her unyielding character, too. i like how she is unapologetic in her sense of rightness. in fact i love her supercilious manner - serves Holk right for being largely unworthy. 4y

GatheringBooks @Billypar i was also intrigued by her loyal lady-in-waiting, julie, who was a friend initially turned paid tutor and companion. her letter at the very end showed clear insight, veiled/subtle recrimination, but also clear compassion and kindness. i like the minor characters in this book. 4y

Suet624 I agree with others that from the blurbs about the book I expected more interaction between Holk and Christine. Copenhagen was necessary but could have been much shorter. I wanted to get back to Christine to be honest. There are scenes I'll definitely remember from the descriptions even as I moaned about having to read them. 4y

Billypar @GatheringBooks I thought she was interesting too - though, I'm not sure if there were enough scenes with her to get a clear sense of her character apart from her confidante role with Christine. 4y

youneverarrived I have to admit I sometimes felt like it would be more interesting to read about his interactions at home rather than with Copenhagen society people. I can kind of see why the author did it though. 4y

sisilia Yeah, I wonder why it‘s mostly about his time in Copenhagen... i would‘ve appreciated it more if the story was not so one-sided. I‘d love to know more about Christine‘s side. 4y

34 likes32 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

One theme in Irretrievable is self-perception, & how we are perceived by others in varying social situations & the effect it has on our own perceptions. Was this explored effectively?
#NYRBBookClub
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624 @Theaelizabet

vivastory @Aimeesue @Billypar @DrexEdit @JenniferP 4y

Leftcoastzen I believe the Author focuses most on Holk‘s self perception,his goals tend to color his view.Often others views that may serve as a warning to Holk, he ignores. 4y

Billypar I'm not sure - I think Holk was portrayed as aloof and self-absorbed in a way that was realistic. So I have no issues with that, but it also didn't interest me beyond that--usually if something is a central theme it makes me more reflective. 4y

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vivastory @Billypar What I found interesting was how Holk was seen as generally carefree & interesting at the beginning when he was at Schleswig-Holstein, but when he gets to Copenhagen Ebba sees him as uninteresting & not worthy of being a courtier. 4y

vivastory @Leftcoastzen I agree. That feels very true of people in general, too. How we build an image of ourselves and how hard it is to change that. 4y

Liz_M I'm not sure I picked up on this as a theme, but I did enjoy how the author was able to in a few words use other characters to impart a more realistic view of Holk's behavior. This was less successful with Christine because we primarily see her through Holk. (edited) 4y

Billypar @vivastory It does seem like he's a big fish in a small pond at home but becomes the small fish in Copenhagen. That could account for why his self-perception doesn't register the shift. 4y

merelybookish Like @Liz_M this was not something I noticed much. Ebba is the one that calls attention to it most with Holk. But she is irreverent and teasing of everyone. It also seemed to be somewhat connected to his German-ness and what seemed a good quality or virtue in S-H might seem foolish or pompous or old-fashioned in Copenhagen. 4y

batsy I thought it was explored most effectively in Holk, as he was the protagonist (of sorts). I thought it was a missed opportunity to explore it with Christine? Because we saw how she was seen by her own husband, but I would have loved to have been in her head. 4y

Aimeesue @batsy I agree. More about Christine would have been interesting. But I guess if we're seeing things from Holk's POV, he really didn't have much insight there. Or anywhere, really, which is why he was a terrible choice for the court. 4y

GatheringBooks I agree with @Billypar re the self-absorption: that is the apt word for it, more than self-awareness. There is a preening, vainglorious, oblivious quality to Holk that is ultimately self-serving rather than true awareness with depth, meaning & substance. The ‘awareness‘ mattered only insofar as it benefited him. @vivastory I also found it fascinating how he transformed into the one thing he despised while at copenhagen: stiff and uninteresting. 4y

vivastory @GatheringBooks Great observations! It was an interesting change of character, for sure! 4y

Suet624 I appreciated the shift in my awareness of Holk. At first, when he was in his own home, I was annoyed at him for knowing that Christine was so much smarter than he was even as he denigrated her. However, I assumed he must have some sort of redeemable character if he was being called away. Then I became even more annoyed at him as I watched how others felt about him. I realized this guy was just a putz & I felt badly for Christine. 4y

Billypar @GatheringBooks "preening, vainglorious, oblivious" - I think you have him pegged! 4y

Billypar @Suet624 I felt the same way - it was almost like Fontane was piling on negatives. I wondered whether audiences of the time would have judged him more favorably. Like, a basically good guy with a tragic flaw, maybe? 4y

Suet624 @Billypar interesting point and one that kind of bothers me. 😂😂 4y

32 likes16 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Monthly discussion begins in about 30 minutes. A lot of mixed feelings on this one. What did or didn't work for you? Make your case in the discussion. Chime in when you can!
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624 @Theaelizabet @Aimeesue @Billypar @JenniferP @DrexEdit

BookishMe The varied takes on this has piqued my curiosity. I will look it up and find out if I can bear with it ;)) and I didn't see your rating for this - a pick or...? 😊😊 4y

vivastory @BookishMe I haven't written my review yet, it's a soft pick for me. It's not the best book our group has read, but I found it oddly mesmerizing. 4y

BookishMe @vivastory I think I picked up the mixed vibe... Despite not being a best book, it certainly prompted interesting discussion! 👍🏽👍🏽 4y

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batsy @vivastory @BookishMe Nicely summed up! It's a 3-star pick for me; oddly mesmerising kind of captures it. 4y

Aimeesue I would've liked more about what Christine was doing on a day to day basis. The whole middle section was just too drawn out with minutia. Which is kinda the point, I guess, but with that ending… 4y

youneverarrived I‘ve still not finished it, almost there! Will catch up on the discussion when I‘ve finished. 4y

youneverarrived Oddly mesmerising is how I‘m feeling about it too. 4y

49 likes7 comments

Leftcoastzen

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

pick

#NYRBBookClub At 1st, hard to get into,the 19th century in me kicked in,the world of Zola,Balzac,& Flaubert.in the afterword “people appear to be speaking insignificant small talk,& suddenly out of this twaddle comes a startling insight.”Holk has everything yet feels to the core of his being, he can throw it all over for a perfect new life.Christine ,his wife ,trying to keep her high standards, forgiveness part of her faith, what is unforgivable ?

vivastory Great review! Glad it worked for you! 4y

LeahBergen I never got past the twaddle. 😆 4y

batsy Yes! Nice review. There are buried gems in there as @merelybookish put it, but it does require work to read through the twaddle 😅 4y

merelybookish @batsy It's a lot of twaddle for a few gems. 😛 4y

46 likes4 comments

emilyhaldi

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

so-so

This book gave me such a hangover 3 wks ago that I couldn't muster the energy to post my review until now 😆 I enjoyed the writing style and there were moments of beauty (like the poignant song lyrics) but I think we would have been better served if 100 pages were omitted from the middle. If I hadn't been trapped on an airplane with it for 4 hours I may have walked away altogether...Looking forward to our discussion! #NYRBbookclub

vivastory That seems to be the general consensus, it's worthwhile (for some) while reading, but hard to return to. Should be an interesting discussion! 4y

LeahBergen You poor thing, trapped with this one on a flight. 😆 4y

MicheleinPhilly @LeahBergen 😂 Where‘s the emergency exit? I need to drop something off??? 4y

See All 10 Comments

LeahBergen @MicheleinPhilly She missed out on a great Litsy photo opp here ... she could‘ve staged a photo with this book tucked into the airline‘s barf bag. 😆😆 (edited) 4y

emilyhaldi Damn ya'll are savage!!!! @MicheleinPhilly @LeahBergen and I'm kicking myself for the missed photo op 😏 4y

MicheleinPhilly I didn‘t even read the fucking book. 😂 @LeahBergen 4y

batsy It should have been shorter, yes! 4y

emilyhaldi Lol I love it @MicheleinPhilly shit happens!! This was the best book you could have missed out on so it's all good 😉 4y

Reviewsbylola Ugh, I HATE being stuck with a book like that! 4y

Suet624 Great review. 4y

68 likes10 comments

batsy

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

pick

It's 2020. In a time of plague & my nation's own sudden political shake-up (😠) reading about dreamy German aristocrats made me want to roll out the guillotine like a French revolutionary. But! Reader, I persisted. I found the prose clean, clear, & strangely restful. Beats me what any of this is *about* but I slowly grew to appreciate the carefully-observed psychological landscape of these characters. A light yet probing sensitivity. #nyrbbookclub

batsy Definitely an outlier here 😅 @vivastory @MicheleinPhilly Also using this for #readingeurope2020 🇩🇪 #germany @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB 4y

Tanisha_A Dude, this review is 👌🏽! ⭐ 4y

Liz_M Not the only outlier! I also found it a lovely "quiet" read. 4y

See All 33 Comments

Nute On increasing occasions, I find that I am appreciating a story told with”restful” prose! Digging this review!✨ (edited) 4y

BookishMe Now if only politicians over there could be as crystal clear and rational... Oops! Anyways, your reviews always inspire me to think harder about what I read 👍🏽👍🏽 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Ha! Love your review, Suba. Great job! 👏 4y

erzascarletbookgasm And all the local drama and shenanigans are making me 😠 4y

Billypar I'm glad you liked it: I was worried that our discussion would be a bit one-sided 😁 Even if it wasn't my thing, I did feel pretty well immersed for much of it- there are many books that I've liked more that don't have that quality. Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts! 4y

BarbaraBB Great review. You make it actually sound attractive! 4y

vivastory Stellar review! 4y

Cathythoughts Great review ✨ 4y

batsy @Tanisha_A @BookishMe @erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB @vivastory @Cathythoughts Thank you, friends 💜 4y

batsy @Liz_M I'm so glad to hear that :) 4y

batsy @Nute Yes, it was a soothing "space" to be in, even if there is a lot of melancholy & anguish! It's amazing what a certain kind of writing style can evoke. 4y

batsy @erzascarletbookgasm I'm so mad, J! But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not the end 🤞🏽 4y

batsy @Billypar Haha, I feel like I might struggle to talk about i! Because this was like a book that evoked a lot of feelings, but seems intangible in some way. Like a dream, sort of, or a "mood" book, if that makes sense. 4y

emilyhaldi Gosh, your review makes me want to read this again with a new perspective! I did get a bit if the restful prose, but the events of the story stoked my annoyance more than anything 🙃 4y

batsy @emilyhaldi I get that! And that's how it was for me at the start; somehow it was just one of those things where I don't know what happened but it clicked for me after a bit 🙂 4y

Leftcoastzen Great review!is there a good source of information online of what‘s going on in your country? 4y

LeahBergen I found it oddly restful while I was reading it but just had zero urge to pick it up again after I set it down. 🤔 (edited) 4y

batsy @Leftcoastzen Thank you! I think this article might some up the issues https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/29/muhyiddin-yassin-named-as-malaysia... I'm so depressed and angry; we had a historic election, the outcome wasn't perfect, but we're now basically held hostage by a soft backdoor coup with the conservatives aligning with the fascist, reactionary elements 4y

batsy @LeahBergen I hear ya! This was one of those books that worked better for me when I just kept going without stopping 4y

Leftcoastzen I‘ll check it out , the whole world has gone mad! 4y

Centique Beautiful review! I‘m sorry about the election result. Commiserations 💕 4y

batsy @Centique Thanks P, it's bleak for sure 💔 4y

youneverarrived You put it so well! I‘m not quite finished it yet but I‘m feeling similar about it. 4y

batsy @youneverarrived Thank you! ❤️ I look forward to your thoughts! 4y

Suet624 Oh gee, I missed what was going on with your elections. That‘s awful. And what a great review for this book. In my mind I am resting easy with this book. Now that I‘m done with it. 😀😀😀 4y

Cathythoughts Beautiful writing in your review 4y

batsy @Suet624 I know Sue, the year has barely started and it's crazy. It wasn't even elections, just a strange "stealing of power" move made worse by the fact that we have a constitutional monarchy. A veritable shitstorm, ugh 4y

batsy @Cathythoughts Thank you, lovely! ❤️ 4y

BiblioLitten I love a good characterisation.♥️ I hope I find this in the library🤔 4y

batsy @BiblioLitten A strange, odd, dreamy book that seems to have split our book club quite a bit 😁 Hope you are able to find it! 4y

108 likes2 stack adds33 comments

batsy

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

#nyrbbookclub

Tanisha_A 👏🏽 4y

merelybookish There are a few gems buried in there. 🙂 4y

Cathythoughts I love this quote 👍🏻❤️ 4y

See All 11 Comments

batsy @merelybookish I went from "hmm I might bail" to "hmm I'm intrigued" to "I think I like this?“ so it's been a wild ride! Lol 4y

batsy @Cathythoughts Me too! There are a number of these gems buried in there, as @merelybookish puts it 🙂 4y

Izai.Amorim "Whiskey has killed more men than war, but most men would rather die filled with whiskey than with bullets." Winston Churchill 4y

merelybookish @batsy I liked it more at the beginning and then it went downhill from there. So your ride sounds more interesting. 🙂 Still, as I have mulled it over, thinking of it on terms of the 19th c. marriage plot is interesting. 4y

batsy @merelybookish It is very intriguing in that sense, I agree! The bourgeois novel and the marriage plot can't be separated 😁 4y

batsy @Izai.Amorim 🥂 4y

Suet624 I love that quote! @Izai.Amorim 4y

Izai.Amorim @Suet624 Isn't it great? The old man was cool. 4y

97 likes11 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Really, I am reading the #NYRBBookClub February pick while weekend-ing in Dubai. Promise. Fits our #ReadIntl2020 theme, too!

wanderinglynn Great photo! 4y

vivastory 👍📚 4y

BarbaraBB Lovely pic! 4y

68 likes3 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

I swear I am reading while gallivanting around the Miracle Garden in Dubai, a Topiary Wonderland of sorts with the most gorgeous flowers in the world. Arguably the best garden, ever. But yes, really, I am reading our #NYRBBookClub pick.

MallenNC Great picture! 4y

67 likes1 comment

mklong

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

bailed

Taking a little photo inspiration from @LeahBergen here. I tried, I really did, but every time I pick up this book, I fall asleep. I don‘t think it‘s bad, I am just clearly not in the mood for it. Time to put this one to bed.

I will still check in on Saturday to see what I missed. Maybe y‘all will convince me to pick it back up! #NYRBBookClub

MicheleinPhilly Don‘t feel too badly - I‘m the group leader and I didn‘t even read it. 😬 4y

emilyhaldi I don't blame you! 4y

LeahBergen 😂😂 I hear ya! 4y

52 likes3 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

This is my second copy of this #NYRBBookClub pick-of-the-month because I lost my first one. Since I sincerely doubt I will be able to finish this before tomorrow‘s discussion, I thought I may as well pose with it while bargain book hunting in Sharjah. There‘s a book festival going on here over the weekend (check out the blurry feast behind me in the second photo) with fairly new titles going for around 1-2 usd. 4 usd max.

DrexEdit Happy book hunting! 📚📚😊 4y

Cathythoughts Great pic 4y

BarbaraBB Great pic! I haven‘t even started it ☺️ 4y

Suet624 Love all the pictures you‘ve posted. 😂😂😂 4y

66 likes4 comments

DrexEdit

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

so-so

As a study of human relationships 👍
As an easy breezy read 😐
I did enjoy it but it was work, not easy. The author is an excellent writer and portrays real human relationships with believable psychological motivations very well. There was something very honest about this book. Plus there is always something rewarding in reading translated works. Best way to learn about culture, even if that culture happens to be 19th century Danish aristocracy.

DrexEdit #nyrbbookclub 4y

Suet624 Great review! 4y

40 likes2 comments

merelybookish

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

so-so

Oh man, I finished this but it wasn't easy. At first, I was on board, as we learn about the family dynamics. I actually enjoyed some of the descriptions. But once we landed in Copenhagen, it became hard work. I didn't care and I didn't want to care. I'm okay with 19th century prose but I have to care about someone or something. Maybe so-so is generous.
But will be interesting to discuss nonetheless! @vivastory @MicheleinPhilly #nyrbbookclub

LeahBergen I do believe bailing was the right choice. 😆 4y

merelybookish @LeahBergen I feel like those of us who finished might deserve a prize 4y

LeahBergen 😆😆 4y

sarahbarnes Congrats on getting through it! 😂 4y

emilyhaldi Yes, Copenhagen was a real turning point!! 👎🏻 4y

76 likes5 comments

Suet624

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

so-so

Lordy, this was a change of gears from reading Catch and Kill. I actually found the afterword with the information about the author more interesting. The writing provides a lovely sense of place but the characters were either depressed or depressing. It was a slog fest. I‘m patting myself on the back for persevering because I really hate to bail. You never know. It‘s always possible I‘ll look back on some of the scenes with fondness. #NYRBbookclub

merelybookish Still mid-slog. But you sum up my feelings! 4y

LeahBergen I hate to bail, too! (but I did 😬😬) 4y

emilyhaldi Keep me posted if you ever find yourself looking back on this with fondness 😂😂 4y

Suet624 @emilyhaldi Hahaha. Hey, it could happen. 4y

71 likes4 comments

LeahBergen

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

bailed

Sorry, #NYRBBookClub -bers ... this one is leaving me “cold” (see what I did there? 😆) and I‘m calling it. It‘s a bail for me.

The reviews of those of you who‘ve finished it haven‘t inspired me to press on and I‘m REALLY trying to be more of a bailer in my “advanced” age. 😆😆 I‘ll be popping in to the discussion to see what I missed!

Caroline2 Yep. I bail a lot more now than I used it. 9 times out of 10 when I push through with a book, I wish I had bailed!! 4y

Cinfhen Great photo 😍 4y

batsy Ha! Love the pic! I haven't made much progress yet so I can't tell which way it's going to go 🤔 4y

See All 17 Comments

TrishB I bail a lot more too! 4y

Cathythoughts If you gotta bail , you just gotta bail ❤️👍🏻nice pic 4y

erzascarletbookgasm Haha! Brilliant what you did there! 😉 4y

BarbaraBB Great pic. And I‘m bailing a lot more too as well. Scary thought we may run out of time 😱 4y

Mdargusch I think that‘s a smart move. Most NYRB books leave me cold! 😂🥶 4y

Suet624 I‘m impressed that you bailed. I moaned and grumbled about reading it the whole way through. 4y

saresmoore Right there with ya! 4y

merelybookish Wise decision. I wish I had bailed. 4y

LeahBergen @Caroline2 @Cinfhen @batsy @TrishB @Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraBB @Mdargusch @Suet624 @saresmoore @merelybookish Thanks for helping with my “bailers guilt “, everyone! 😄 4y

emilyhaldi Good choice!!! I was stubbornly determined to finish this for some reason, but you didn't miss much 😂 curious at which point you bailed? It had to be somewhere in Copenhagen....? 4y

emilyhaldi Ps. Are you reading French Exit????? I LOVED that book so hard ❤️❤️❤️ 4y

LeahBergen @emilyhaldi Just finished French Exit. It was weirdly wonderful! 4y

LeahBergen @emilyhaldi Oh, and I bailed right around the start of Copenhagen. 😆 4y

Reviewsbylola I never got around to this one. 😬 I‘m a big proponent of bailing though. 4y

111 likes17 comments

Billypar

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

so-so

#nyrbbookclub
Not for me: the writing was good but not enough to hold my interest without more plot. I did enjoy the characters: there were a lot of colorful ones with lively dialogue. The Count & Countess' relationship intrigued me at first, but Holk seemed the less interesting of the two and we spend far more time with him. His chief quality seemed to be how dense he was in social situations, and I was bored by the mundane details of his day 👇

Billypar Still, I'm glad I stuck it out: there were strong moments, and I enjoyed learning about a time and place in European history that I knew little about previously. I look forward to our discussion to hear from those who enjoyed it more! @MicheleinPhilly @vivastory 4y

BarbaraBB Great review. I must still read it - before the 29th. The blurb did appeal to me but all your reviews scare me off a bit! 4y

Nute Thoughtful review! I get what you‘re saying...if there is very little plot in the book then the characters need to at least be interesting. 4y

See All 12 Comments

Billypar @BarbaraBB I think there's been some positive early responses so I expect we'll have a range of reactions, which tends to make for good discussion! 4y

Billypar @Nute I've changed a little as a reader over time - plot isn't as important as it used to be, and characters more so. But I still like a good story-- without one, there's got to be something else that really grabs me about the characters or writing style overall. 4y

LeahBergen I‘m about 50 pages in and seriously considering a “ bail” on this one (and I seldom, if EVER, bail). 😮 4y

Billypar @LeahBergen Yeah, it's pretty rare that I bail, and it's usually with nonfiction if I do. The setting does change and you do meet some characters that are an improvement on some of the ones from the first 50 pages. But if you continue I would set your expectations that the pace will remain on the slow side until closer to the end. 4y

merelybookish @LeahBergen I also considered bailing but felt some guilt so slogging away. I *may* be doing some skimming, tho. I just find it...kind of dull. 😴 4y

merelybookish Great point about Holk! Im still trapped in Copenhagen with him and hoping to get back to Christine soon. 4y

Billypar @merelybookish Yeah I never really felt like he had a ton of hidden depths that I wondered about. Now I'm more curious in getting others' thoughts on what Fontane likely felt about him, or if there's something I missed. 4y

Suet624 I‘m so with you on this book. Just a tough one to get through. I‘m not sure I even liked ANY of the characters. 4y

Billypar @Suet624 Yeah, I wouldn't say any were very likable. I found them entertaining at times, but not enough to offset the slow place and minimal plot. 4y

42 likes12 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

#NYRBBookClub join me on Leap Day 2/29 @ 1 CST as we discuss Fontane's "Irretrievable." Did this book work for you? Why or why not? And as always if you are unable to join the discussion at that time, chime in when free.
@BarbaraBB @emilyhaldi @sprainedbrain @mklong @youneverarrived @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Liz_M @merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @GatheringBooks @saresmoore @sisilia @Reviewsbylola @batsy @Suet624 @Theaelizabet

vivastory @Aimeesue @Billypar @JenniferP 4y

Reviewsbylola I need to get to this one. 2/29 is a crazy day for me so I‘ll pop in later on in the discussion! 4y

GatheringBooks i lost my copy of the book while climbing the mountains of jebel hafit. i am forlorn. but bought another copy as soon as i knew that my book was #irretrievable. Hopefully I get my new copy in the next few days and be able to finish reading it before the discussion. if not, will still read and chime in with my thoughts slightly later than usual. 4y

See All 12 Comments

sisilia I have not even started 😨 4y

LeahBergen I hope I actually finish this. I was just telling @BarbaraBB that, while I‘m somewhat enjoying it as I read it, I‘m not feeling the urge to pick it up very often. It could be my reading mood at the moment? I dunno. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y

vivastory @Reviewsbylola Weigh in when you're free 👍 4y

vivastory @GatheringBooks That's disappointing! Maybe some unsuspecting future hiker/bookworm will come across it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it when you finish it. 4y

vivastory @sisilia if it's any consolation I'm starting it Tuesday 😂 4y

vivastory @LeahBergen I'm going to start Tuesday & plan on finishing by Wednesday or Thursday. I'm looking forward to it. 4y

Suet624 @vivastory I‘ll be very impressed with you if you finish this book in two days. 4y

emilyhaldi Can't wait to find out everyones thoughts on this one!! 4y

BarbaraBB I‘m sorry for letting you down but all reviews really put me off. I haven‘t read the book... @LeahBergen @Suet624 @merelybookish @Billypar @emilyhaldi @mklong @DrexEdit. I will follow the discussion though! (edited) 4y

62 likes12 comments

Aimeesue

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

This one is a liiiiiiiitle slower paced than my last read. From Drake on the high seas to Schleswig-Holstein. Interestingly, they both have a lot of Lutherans running about.
#NYRBBookclub
#Stella
#Suzie
#DogsofLitsy

Leftcoastzen 🐶🐶❤️It‘s a slower pace but I‘m enjoying it .about 100 pages in. 4y

Aimeesue @Leftcoastzen Oh, I‘m enjoying it; it‘s just an adjustment. I did kind of want to hie off to Scicily with Baron Steen to watch Etna erupt, though. 😁 (edited) 4y

merelybookish I've started to skin the political sections. 🙈 4y

Aimeesue @merelybookish Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to get through things. 😂 4y

39 likes4 comments

merelybookish

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

"It is not the opinion that matters but the way you defend it."
Some food for thought.
This book tho...reminds me of being in a 19th c. lit class. It feels serious and "good for me," a bit ponderous. I don't dislike but it's no page-turner. Some of the problems feel pretty rarified (e.g. build a family vault or a badminton court ?). Still the marital issues feel recognizable and real.
Only 50 pages in.
#nyrbbookclub @vivastory @MicheleinPhilly

youneverarrived Interesting. It‘s like ‘it‘s not what you say, but how you say it‘. I had no idea it was written in the 1800s till I started it the other day but I‘m really enjoying the atmosphere & the characters. 4y

vivastory I don't completely agree with that sentiment, but there's some truth to it for sure. 4y

merelybookish @youneverarrived I'm enjoying the domestic scenes but finding discussions of Danish politics a bit. 😴 4y

merelybookish @vivastory I know...I found it intriguing to think about in the midst of our political climate. 4y

61 likes4 comments

youneverarrived

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

I started this last night and I‘m really liking it so far. #nyrbbookclub

Might use this for Germany for #readingeurope2020 too 🇩🇪

65 likes

Billypar

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

#nyrbbookclub

Quite a blurb, right?

Not pictured: "Unputdownable!" --Leo Tolstoy

Leftcoastzen Yo ,Brooklyn! 4y

DrexEdit 😨😁 4y

Billypar @Leftcoastzen Brooklyn says 'yo' back! 🌉🗽 4y

See All 6 Comments

batsy I need to start this soon! I'm taking Mann at his word 😅 4y

Billypar @batsy I'm a little past the halfway point and struggling a bit with staying engaged, but hopefully it will begin to pick up soon (also just might not be my thing). 4y

Suet624 @LeahBergen @billypar did you see what Tolstoy had to say about this book? 😂😂😂 interesting to think about what other books were being read at that time. Maybe this one really was impressive for that period. 4y

41 likes6 comments

merelybookish

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

Youngest kiddo is at a birthday party so I'm hanging out at the mall with bobo tea and the February #NYRBbookclub selection.
Based on the description on the back, not expecting a light read. 😬

Lcsmcat Sounds good, though. I‘ll be watching for your impressions. 4y

merelybookish @Lcsmcat I'm liking it so far. Very 19th century realistic. 4y

LeahBergen I better get cracking on this one soon. 😬 4y

merelybookish @LeahBergen I checked yesterday. Doesn't appear many people have started this one. (Except @saresmoore ) 4y

78 likes4 comments

saresmoore

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

I‘m enjoying this more as I go on. The conversation topics are of almost no interest to me, but the relational dynamics are feeling very palpable. #NYRBBookClub

vivastory I will be starting it Monday. I'm looking forward to it! 4y

Suet624 I had started and then Ronan Farrow‘s book finally came through my library app. It‘s engrossing and I hope I‘ll get back to this one soon. 4y

Suet624 Ugh. This book is such a slog. 4y

saresmoore @Suet624 Agreed. I‘m not sure if I‘ll get through this one. 4y

87 likes4 comments

saresmoore

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

In contrast to the super engaging Wolf Hall, I‘m having trouble getting in to this one. But I think it will be worth the effort since it‘s for #NYRBBookClub.

readordierachel That cover image is intriguing 4y

saresmoore @readordierachel Isn‘t it? I really want to like this, but so far it‘s a snoozefest. 4y

saresmoore @emilyhaldi Have you made any more progress on this? 4y

See All 13 Comments

LeahBergen Oh oh. I haven‘t picked it up yet. 😬 4y

saresmoore @LeahBergen It might get better! The characters just keep talking about building vaults and stables and Prussia and I‘m 😴 (admittedly exhausted from growing a human). 4y

MicheleinPhilly WHOOPSIE! Oh well - I just suggested it, y‘all picked it. 😉 At the rate my month is going I may not even be able to “host.” 😩 4y

saresmoore @MicheleinPhilly Oh, no! I‘m really sorry you‘re having a rough month! ♥️ But you certainly can‘t take any blame if the book doesn‘t turn out to be one we love, that gamble is half the fun! 4y

Leftcoastzen Me, perpetually behind . Starting soon. 4y

BarbaraBB I haven‘t started it yet either. But I will. Because of #NYRBbookclub. @emilyhaldi wrote somewhere it got a bit better towards the end so I hold on to that. Looking forward to what you will think, Sara. Last but not least, take care @MicheleinPhilly ❤️ 4y

Suet624 You forgot about all the talk of the homeopathic veterinarian. 4y

saresmoore @Suet624 Oh, right! 😂 4y

emilyhaldi I'm going to be honest, this one never really grabbed me. The begging and end, where the focus was on the marriage, were more interesting to me. I found my mind wandering during the whole middle section 🤨 it's an odd one for sure! 4y

Liz_M I just started (what better day to read about the failure of a marriage than Valentine's Day?) and find it oddly...soothing? An ordinary life of quiet despair. 4y

90 likes13 comments

emilyhaldi

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

My views have changed considerably in the past 12 hours, and not for the better 😏

I brought next month's #NYRBBookclub selection along on vacation and quickly realized it is NOT a beach read 😆 I'm guessing anyone else who has started this would agree... However, I am hoping I can dedicate the majority of my next flight to focusing in on this as it's quite dense 🤓

LeahBergen I can never read dense books on planes. Perhaps you should have purchased one of those chicken cookbooks instead? 😂😂 4y

emilyhaldi Apparently chicken cookbooks make for popular airplane reading in some parts of the world!!! @LeahBergen 😂🤔 4y

Mdargusch Sounds about right. 4y

Reviewsbylola Not sure you were able to focus much with the bathroom debacle. 😂 4y

BarbaraBB You brought some heavy stuff with you on your beach holiday! I hope this one gets better! 4y

85 likes5 comments

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

#NewYearNewYou Day 27: Now this is a portrait of #PerfectPleasure. Non-alcoholic cherry and strawberry margarita. Just the way I like it. I know I know. What can I do. #NYRBBookClub - anyone started on this yet?

Eggs

Eggs Beautiful and tasty 😋 sounds great 👍🏼 Love that cover (edited) 4y

LeahBergen My copy should be arriving this week. 👍🏻 4y

youneverarrived My copy arrived yesterday but not starting it till next month 😊 (edited) 4y

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB Not yet but I did receive my copy 😀 4y

vivastory Not yet, probably in a couple of weeks 4y

Suet624 Starting it in a few weeks and those drinks look amazing. 4y

69 likes6 comments

Leftcoastzen

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

How Litsy and reading in general makes you buy more stuff!So the tagged book is next months #NYRBBookClub read , my local libraries did not have it .And listening to Will in the World made me wonder more about the Catholic/anti Catholic times in England so here I go buying the earliest editions of the Book of Common Prayer .Continuing education, can deduct it?😄

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OriginalCyn620, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Irretrievable | Theodor Fontane

#AuldLangReads Day 19: #BookAboutSomethingYouFear - when memories or my books are irretrievable, that is something to fear. #NYRBBookClub pick for February just arrived in my doorstep. Whee.

Cathythoughts The tagged book looks 👌🏻. Stacked 4y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty photo 📚❤️ 4y

OriginalCyn620 Cool photo! 4y

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