Welcome to Litsy!

This novel has a wonderful structure by which slowly the pieces of 100 year old Roseanne‘s life are put together, the bulk of which she spent in an asylum. The mystery is why was she committed? Many “sins” here for contemplation.

This was my August #doublespin. Enjoyed the story, although it was frustrating to learn what injustices befell Roseanne. So sad to know these things actually happened to women and to know one can never take it back/rewind time.
TBR since March 7th. 2014; 312 pages.
@TheAromaofBooks

A very enjoyable and immersive read. Barry is a master story teller and writes so many memorable lines He exposes the price paid by women (and men ) of a national misogyny whilst at the same time providing some hope of progress and redemption.

It‘s the middle of December and it‘s bad form to buy myself a new book this close to Christmas. And I find it difficult to read much in the days of shopping cleaning cooking and wrapping. But I have some long train journeys coming up so I pulled these random five from my tbr pile. I have decided on the Sebastian Barry. There is sufficient to get my teeth into and it‘s going to be discussed on Between the Covers on BBC 2 on Wednesday.

I seem to remember that this one had a nasty #littlepriest in it....

#septembersins

Hmm.... an old lady in an asylum with an interesting past and her psychiatrist trying to find out more details. This book really dragged on for me until about 1/4 to the end. Apparently there is a movie also, maybe I‘ll check it out.

A warm day calls for a little refreshment and a new book to read.

I liked this book but didn‘t love it. I think I had such high expectations after glowing reviews from @Cathythoughts @TrishB and @BookwormM (thanks for sending it to me M!). My fault as I read it on my commute and work has been particularly stressful this week. I can see why you all loved it but I think I felt the anger and futility without appreciating the writing. Maybe should have paused and read it another time - still a pick though!

'Now we are two foreign countries and we simply have our embassies in the same house. Relations are friendly but strictly diplomatic. There is an underlying sense of rumour, of judgement, of memory, like two peoples that have once committed great crimes against each other, but in another generation.' p.48

Look what‘s arrived already @BookwormM ! Thanks so much for sending it to me! 😁👍🐿

#alittlepriest #musicalnewyear
Not just little, but horrible, vile and unkind.

Quite enjoyed it. Enjoyed the last half more than the first half. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This weeks #fridayreads

This. Psychology/Psychiatry has come so far. And yet has so far still to go. Awareness and Acceptance!!

TBR. Reading for the ‘Female Protagonist Over 60‘ for @bookriot Read Harder Challenge. Anyone else doing the challenge? Other challenges? #challengeaccepted #matchbooks

Day 17 of the @bookriot #Riotgrams Challenge: an unreturned book! This belongs to my friend Sarah. She gave it to me in 2009, I think? I like to imagine she knows I am taking good care of it. She has had my copy of Jailbird for at least as long, and I know it is in good hands. ☺️📚

Time for some more Sebastian Barry #saturdayreads #readingaddict

Awwww..... my heart is aching 💔
Amazing prose, wonderful sad story. Half angry, half sad, will take a while to get this story out of my brain.
Sorry Cindy - I‘m a rubbish buddy read because I always end up reading all at once. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did ❤️

Quick lunchtime read. I‘m loving this book - the cover, the story , the writing ❤️

This is starting well - first page of my #buddyread with @Cinfhen as recommended to us by @Cathythoughts

#FridayFrigesDay @SpeculativeFemale


✨oh I love polka dots ( I love plaid too )

✨mayonnaise on fries 🤷‍♀️

✨it‘s a soft drink or a mineral or mostly called by its actual name e. g. A coke or a club orange or a 7 up etc
I‘m a day late ! Only just saw this.

OMG!! Surprise #bookmail arrived today from the lovely and thoughtful @Cathythoughts 💕🙌🏻💕and it's a book I've been so eager to read😃I'm beyond words...the generosity & warmth of this community amazes me!!! Thank you so much, Cathy for your wonderful card and this fabulous book!!!! #FeelingBlessed #ThankYou 😘😘😘

#bookhaul
Today‘s book deliveries. Definitely #blameitonlitsy for 3/4
@Cathythoughts @Lindy @arlenefinnigan

#NuYear #observer @Cinfhen @TrishB observed through “ the haze of memory & retelling” a story of old age, of life‘s journey, of relationships in all their rawness & beauty. ( Powerful observations from S Barry

#QuotsyDec17 #ride @TK421 pic of our book Club, I hosted last night. Secret Scripture‘s lowest rating was 8/10 & got lots of tens ⭐️.we #rode on way after midnight into the early hours in discussions on this book , then we solved local issues & the problems of the world 🙃🍷🍷our next book is Madame Zero , Sarah Hall, a Canadian writer. Has anyone read this ? Short stories ( not my fave, but I‘m looking forward to it, something different 💕

I‘m hosting our bookclub tonight ❤️we are discussing The Secret Scripture. I‘m ready to go! Just waiting for the ladies...

A 100-year-old patient in an Irish asylum pens an account of her tragic past. She conceals it beneath the floorboards from her psychiatrist who keeps his own journal that attempts to chronicle his professional observations of this patient, but finds his own personal issues keep intruding. These twin accounts highlight the hazy border between history and memory, and the ways grief and regret can color personal stories. Not easy to put down 👍👍

#TuneIntoNovember #HistorySticksToYourfeet @Cinfhen @Robothugs In The Secret Scripture, Roseanne is 100 years old. Her personal history is embedded in the history of her time. Isn‘t it always. We walk in the history of our times. ( pic of my granddaughter 2 summers ago)

The Secret Scripture ( & The Secret History ) are my 2 favourites so far this year. Roseanne is 100 years old. This book is about her story & the importance of all of our stories. That our lives matter dearly , & we all have a story to tell. This certainly brought me into parts of my own life , memories and such. & how important it is to remember & honour & acknowledge “ the hammers & the feathers” A beautiful book So glad I read it 🙏pic on walk

#Quotsynov17 @TK-421 #War. Quote from the Secret Scripture : ..... And civil war is an evil that befalls all souls equally “ pic taken recently

#quotsynov17 #chaos @TK-421 A quote from the Secret Scripture: “ A psychotic person often supplies answers to everything, whatever their truth. They intensely dislike not knowing, because it brings on the pain & storm of confusion. “ psychosis very close to chaos in the mind.

#Emojinov #umbrella @RealLifeReading Roseanne describes Fr Gaunts #umbrella : “He carried a highly ecclesiastical umbrella, like something real & austere, that said it‘s prayers at night in the hatstand “ I‘m only half way but I‘m predicting a ten out of ten for this book 💫💫🙏

#Litsypartyofone Finally. relaxer vous 🍷📚about to start The Secret Scripture

A pic from last nights bookclub. The Secret Scripture was last nights pic by a member. I‘m reading this next , so I can relax & read other books for the rest of the month.

I want to kill Father Gaunt. Pompous ass.

A little late-night, early-morning reading. Just getting into that lovely "unreliable narrator" stuff! I do like this book.

Halfway through my second Sebastian Barry book with a glass of wine on an afternoon off. Perf. 🙌🏻❤

Day 9 #junetunz #belfastchild
So this book on my #tbr mountain is set in Roscommon, Ireland. Not Belfast, but it's about three hours drive from Belfast 😉. It is a poignant story of an aged woman in a mental hospital who recalls her fate in earlier years as she writes her autobiography. Through her scripture, it reveals a life of extraordinary love, great injustice, and a remarkable young woman.

Two stories unfold in this novel -- the story of Roseanne McNulty, a 100 year old woman who has lived most of her life in a mental hospital and that of Dr. Greene, a psychiatrist who is evaluating her. Beautiful storytelling.

"We have neglected the tiny sentences of life and now the big ones are beyond our reach."

I seem to be on a run of reading book with unreliable narrators at the moment! I found this a little hard to follow at times, think I would have appreciated it more if not reading on my daily commute, with lots of distractions!

When your boss recommends you a book...

Visited my favorite Booksale branches today as a Birthday treat for myself! #bookhaul #birthdaybooks

#day11 #shadesofblue Roseanne McNulty, one of the last inmates in a closing mental hospital on the Irish West Coast, is writing her own story. But it jars with the official records and Dr Greene wants to bring understanding and peace to his patient before she is moved beyond his care. Her memoirs recall her youth & beauty, & the sexuality that marked her as threatening in society shaped & ruled by the whims of the Catholic Church #somethingforsept