Welcome to Litsy!

I really enjoyed this. An artist couple living in isolation on Cape Cod (the real life artists Jo and Edward Hopper) get drawn into the lives of two boys and the extended family. The boys are heartbreaking and delightful; I loved seeing artist Mr Aitch get drawn out of himself by them. I pretty much hated everyone else, but in the best bookish way. There‘s a lot not told, it‘s left to the reader to interpret. It‘s slow, thoughtful and gentle.

This book took some time to get into but then was surprisingly lovely. The complicated jealousies and emotions of a marriage, of a troubled child, of professional successes and failures. It was one to think about.

Trying to hash out a more probable monthly #TBR than usual #failingwithoptimism

BBC News - Walter Scott historical fiction prize shortlist revealed
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-52097605

...wriggling away in the back of her mind is the usual worm of dread. Did she say too much? Did she listen enough?

...You have to stop talking about soldiers and dead horses and guns... where you are going, they had no war. At least not at home. You don't want to go bringing it with you.
'Bringing what with me? '
'The war.'
'But that's so funny! How can I bring a war with me?'
Frau Nurse lifting her long finger, tapping him in three places: his forehead and then his stomach and then his heart...