Welcome to Litsy!

#unpopularopinion
Have been hearing so much about this Litsy find. Too slow for my taste, didn't sit well with me. DNFing it for some other beauty.💞

A young woman is attacked on her way home and in an effort to put it behind her, she takes a job as a Creative Writing lecturer at a university outside of London. That proves problematic for her marriage; her creative life and her relationships with her grad students, particularly Nicholas, only makes things more difficult. The creative process and the blurred lines between fiction and reality make this book a winner.

Finished this week, I got the audiobook on a 2/1 credit based on liking the author‘s Longbourn. This one‘s set in modern day & more a literary thriller than the psychological suspense it‘s tagged, but the atmospheric audiobook & assorted narrators drew me in & kept me listening as the tension steadily ratcheted up. I didn‘t warm to the (nameless) main character, but I ended up empathizing with her & maybe that was the author‘s intention. Solid 👍

I really liked The Body Lies. Is it a fun book? No, but this story of a woman who was assaulted once, moved from London, and takes a job teaching writing in the country is beautifully told. Once there, our unnamed protagonist meets a student who becomes fascinated with her. Is the writing he‘s turning in to her actually about her? Is he dangerous? My new #audiowalk book is Bomb Shelter.

Thank you for this template for this year's challenge, I've added my January favorite and I'm ready to look for my second my February favorite! Let the games begin!

I cannot say I‘m enjoying the book — the issues it deals with are too difficult for that — but I am liking it. I have about 3 hours left and am interested to see where it goes. #audiowalk

I loved this although it was not a happy story with a happily ever after. I loved it for the truth. The pain that women are exposed to everyday that we hide from the world so we don't make others uncomfortable. This was beautifully and tragically written. I loved it because it was so real and honest and raw. One of my new all time favorites although I won't read it often because it evokes a lot of emotions in me that are a little too real.

Someone on Litsy mentioned this book, and it sounded intriguing to me. I‘ve never read anything by Jo Baker before, so I made this my new walking book. It‘s quite a change from Wild. #audiowalk

So far, I'm entranced by this novel. It is written beautifully and while I am usually all about the suspense and the twists this book has captured my attention because of the authenticity of its characters. I just happened to pick it up on Audible as a two for one credit special and I'm so glad I did. It is in the genre of a suspense novel, so we'll see what happens but I'm not expecting a big bang and I'm okay with that because the story is good!

Okay, I am going to have to read more by this author. This is an excellent thriller, full of emotion and nuance and skilled character development in addition to plot. I'm not a huge fan of novels about novelists, but this one works. And really makes me want to move to a country with nationalized health care. A bit of a Secret History feel for the first half.

The story of The Body Lies goes beyond a regular psychological suspense. It‘s not fast-paced, not plot-driven, not even a thriller. It‘s a cleverly layered story about sexual violence, the consequences, and takes a close look at how women are very often regarded and treated in society. I was not wowed by the book but I think the writing is great and appreciate it being very current.

This one is a bit of a slow burner, but I ended up really getting into it, even as I cringed at some of the actions done (or, rather, not done) by the unnamed main character. 3 years after a random attack in the city, the mc is ready to take a teaching position at a college in the country. She takes her toddler, but her husband stays behind to continue his job. The new job is stressful, and one of her students starts writing about her. #TBR

I appreciated Jo Baker's writing and approach of assault in this literary thriller. Definitely a pick for me, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

I flew through this one ... such good writing & a thriller. Not sure I‘d like Longbourn as much ... 🤔 maybe try a sample 👍🏻

Reading this Litsy find. And what a find 👍🏻❤️... the writing is clear & insightful & brilliant ...( & it‘s a thriller !!! , although my sense is , I‘d read anything by this writer) I love reading her

Day One 📚

I read this one fairly quickly, but I‘m still trying to untangle the many emotions this story evoked. I haven‘t decided if I liked it or not.

I thought this was excellent. As much a book about #everydaysexism as it is a thriller

I did so much packing yesterday (turns out I own over 350 books), today is my day for reading in the ☀

I loved this literary thriller that takes the time to explore the ways women suffer abuse from men in small and large ways. It‘s not preachy or anti-male; it‘s subtlety done inside a fun thriller.

Interesting style of storytelling, great writing, but ultimately a little predictable. I was waiting for the twists but there really weren't any.

I started this book today by the author of Longbourn, a P&P retelling through the servants‘ point of view. I‘m intrigued that she‘s written something so different - a literary thriller this time - and excited to see how they compare.

An unsettling and thought-provoking book about the objectification and treatment of women. While packaged as a thriller, it was quite experimental in form, and reminded me why, as women, we are constantly vigilant about safety as we move through the world.

*TW - sexual assault

I certainly did not see where this story went-holy cow. Terrifying and sobering yet the ending was perfect for this novel. Read it in a day. Jo Baker can certainly write!

Next up on audio! Psychological thriller is not my favourite genre but I love Jo Baker's writing enough to give this a go. Still, quite a switch from Longbourn and A Country Road, A Tree.

an insidious tension that will resonate with many women….that constant wariness when being out alone, even being overburdened at work as we don‘t want to say No, of a friendly smile being seen as something more

It‘s not a light read due to the subject matter at times and I wonder if a man would read this the same way…..I found this to be a very powerful and thought provoking read and it‘s going to keep popping into my thoughts for a long time.