Welcome to Litsy!

Writer and photographer Molly dies after an ugly disease. Her husband, who took care of her throughout her last years, organizes her funeral, which is also attended by three of her lovers. All four men know each other very well, while two of them happen to be close friends. The plot is built around the dynamic in the relationship between these four men and their history with Molly. The ending is surprising and gripping!

May your Monday morning include caffeine and reading.

Is this supposed to be a dark comedy? I found it amusing and enjoyable.
#AAMIME

Not that great, sadly.
I didn't feel much for either male, finding them unlikable and not drawn to anything about them.
The ending was better, at least had some interest.

Download from the library last night when I couldn't choose from my towering to read pile! 🤣🤣🤣🤔

#NotBookRelated

For who‘s interested in my empty city these days, have a look at this beautiful short video (“Amsterdam COVID-19”), made by a co-worker of my sister (who is a producer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89itder8WMU

Okay.
Now I can say I‘ve read Ian McEwan.

A small pick - The story itself was interesting. But the characters felt oddly flat and without development. We learn Clive and Vernon know each other through a mutual ex lover, and while we get snippets of their pasts, it isn‘t enough to bring depth and history to the two men - like, why were they even friends? The distance and lack of backstory kept me from really getting into it, but the last 50 pages were gripping!

#WanderingJune Day 30: #Amsterdam by McEwan was one of the books we gave away as prizes back i. 2012 for the Award Winning Books Reading Challenge. Here are our other book prizes: https://wp.me/pDlzr-3Ff GatheringBooks is 9 years old this year. We have been bookblogging for quite awhile now.

Our Airbnb in Amsterdam is so thoughtfully arranged and designed and provides so many delightful reading spots. Last leg of our trip!

I've been a #BadGirls buying books again. Spelling OK today, but my grammar has gone to pot 😉
#AnglophileApril

Relaxing before having friends over for a xmas party later on tonight -
Started this one today and so far a fast read
#1001books

Found some stroopwafels here in Singapore. Litsy friends from the Netherlands, am I doing it right? 🧚🏼‍♀️😂🤣😍💕📚

I'm not sure that the ending was entirely successful (although who am I to disagree with the Booker committee?), but I loved getting there. I'm all in for books about the tiny ways we destroy each other. Is that bad?

#litsyatoz @BookishMarginalia

Shamelessly using Scooby as a book prop. Just getting started on this one. #1001books #1001travelingbookswap

Spring is here 🌷 time for a new book! #ianmcewan #amsterdam #spring #reading #dayoff #flowers #bookworm

Maja, kot sem ti že napisala, to je resnično in nepričakovano presenečenje, ki mi je zagotovo polepšalo praznike❣️ Hvala ti za knjigi (Amsterdam je knjiga, ki sem jo želela naročiti prejšnji teden, pa sem potem pozabila) in vse dodatke, ki jih bom z veseljem uporabljala (čokolada je že načeta 😋 in svečka prižgana, cimet je eden izmed mojih priljubljenih vonjev). Tisočkrat hvala in ostani še naprej takšna pozitivka ❤️😘❤️😘❣️

Off topic but just a show-off of my city. I have to admit, as beautiful as tonight it hardly ever is. So white and silent instead of the usual noise and tourists! #nofilter

I went to Amsterdam for the first time! Beautiful city, and so much cheese! 🙂. I was thinking about this book by Ian McEwan. What a crazy ending. Excellent book.

Well, obviously #ThisIsNotAmerica! I thought I‘d show you some Amsterdam. This is a painting by George Hendrik Breitner of the street where my office is located. #SeptemBowie

About the tagged book, I didn‘t like it very much because of the biased way McEwan describes the Netherlands.

I have mixed feelings about the ending, but this goes in McEwan's 'hit' column for me (there are a couple in the 'miss' column). This guy can WRITE - see example. #1001books

And working on this as the bell rang for end of #readathon . It was great fun hanging out with you Littens. Can't wait to do it again! ❤️👍👏👏

Two friends meet at the funeral of a women they were once involved with. You are also introduced to her husband and her current lover. None of these people are likeable including the deceased woman. Both friends face a moral dilemma and being who they are make a predictable choice. Consequences ensue. I enjoyed the writing style and want to read more McEwan but not sure I would recommend this one to everyone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A little lunchtime reading. I'm giving Mr. McEwan one last shot to win me over-my history with him and trying to get through his books hasn't been a positive one....

A book where the title city doesn't appear until the denouement. Review at karenmartinreads.blogspot.com

A dry, mean-spirited little story, with hateful, amoral male characters. This is what happens when straight white male writers of a certain generation exclude women from their stories. Yuck!

McEwan has a knack for creating very human, very frustrating characters. His writing, for me, keeps me coming back for more. I wish I could remember specifics about this one, but I know it redeemed McEwan to me after Enduring Love. 5/1,001 #1001Books

Picked this up – my first McEwan – after bailing on another one I wasn't enjoying. It sure is starting out great!

Yesterday's #libraryhaul from sales. $4 for 4 books 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!! All 4 sound incredibly intriguing! One can never go wrong with Ian McEwan. Wally Lamb always provides big & meaty material. Van Lustbader took over the Jason Bourne book franchise after Ludlum's passing, so I'm curious about his pre-Bourne works. And Atkinson's seems attached to another of her books, so I'll tackle that one last. So excited 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!!

In a strange turn events, My husband, my daughter, and I may be spending 5 days in Amsterdam come March. Other than the McEwan, which I am ordering now, The diary of Anne Frank,The Fault in our Stars, and the Girl With The Pearl Earring which I have already read, what do you all recommend I MUST read before we go? I think the first quarter reading of 2017 will have a theme!

Beautiful prose, as always, but ultimately not a satisfying read. Didn't like that ending either. Now I understand why some call his work 'uneven'. This is my least favorite McEwan. #damalong

...the house was a history of an adult life, of changing tastes, fading passions and growing wealth. #damalong

Is it too late to join in your readalong @Lakesidemusing ? #damalong

Maybe a few minutes of reading before another day of exploring Cape Cod? [My bookmark is from Persephone. It matches the endpapers of Heat Lightning by Helen Hull, which I have not read.] #bookmarks #booktober #damalong @RealLifeReading

Three things: 1) I love how IMcE strings words together. I fall into his books like fluffy pillows and fleece blankets by a fire. 2) The women in this book are minor characters yet they seem to hold all the power. I still have to think about this. And 3) the descriptions of music, thought not my forte (music knowledge), were captivating. Looking forward to discussing this with @Lakesidemusing and @readingonarainyday #damalong

Ok Brit-Littens, explain exactly what is a grated cheese sandwich?
I'm imagining some kind of shredded cheese with mayo mixture maybe? That would make it spreadable? Thanks
#damalong

Yay! Finally starting this book. Two days later than I planned. I hope @Lakesidemusing and @BkClubCare have not finished reading it yet. 😆 #damalong

Two former lovers of Molly Lane stood waiting outside the crematorium chapel with their backs to the February chill. It had all been said before, but they said it again.
"She never knew what hit her."
"When she did it was too late."
"Rapid onset."
"Poor Molly."
"Mmmm."

And so it begins...
#wildfridaynight #hellooctober #damalong

"A dark tour de force, perfectly fashioned." -The New York Times
Just letting @Lakesidemusing and @readingonarainyday know I am ready. Let my McEwan lovefest continue.
Oscar reluctantly assisting.

#TBRTuesday Amsterdam is up next!@readingonarainyday and I will start in a few days... join us? Eileen and LaRose are from the library.

Just picked my copy of Amsterdam from the library. @Lakesidemusing have you started reading the book? How about you, @BkClubCare - did you get your copy yet?

KOENJI USED BOOKSTORE FIND #1 of 6

Saturday afternoon I couldn't stop myself from going back to this little known, out-of-the-way Japanese language philosophy store that has a great selection of dirt-cheap used English books on a large shelf outside. All of these books were between a dollar and three dollars.

I've never read Ian McEwan. This sounds like a great place to start!