Welcome to Litsy!

This is a fun quirky book where all the characters are over 70 and all of them have secrets.

The central mystery revolves around a mysterious man who calls the characters telling them “remember you must die”. Each character who receives the call hears a different voice and each have suspicions about who is calling.

As the story progresses we learn more about the hidden secrets and family disputes as well as the danger of will writing.

I don‘t read many novels where almost all of the characters are over 70 years old. This is an interesting discussion of aging with some dark humor.

#1001books #audiobook

I‘m celebrating the end of my working week with a drink in good company 🍺 📖 it has been a veeeery long week 😅

#12booksof2022 February

Trying to read more Spark, I borrowed this for free from Audible. Practically plotless, it just follows old cranky entertaining people doing serious stuff. Terrific.

“We all appear to ourselves frustrated in our old age…because we cling to everything so much. But in reality we are still fulfilling our lives.”

A. L. Kennedy wrote: “The eccentric joy and energy of this novel, what may be the rush of the author‘s enthusiasm, her mature passions, is part of what makes a book on an unsupportable subject not just philosophically stimulating but also delightful.” Yup, and I do veer toward the eccentric.

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Brought Ottto to the dog park for my first outting since last week! Feeling great post-COVID and ready to start a new book. #currentlyreading

This book is either a 4⭐️ or a 2⭐️, but I‘m still not sure. What I do do know is that the her destain for humanity beats anything I ever felt in my life. Worth the read, but not sure if I would ever read it again.

I can‘t say much as this is a #LMPBC read but I am done with it, and it will be sent on next week.

#LMPBC #GroupR for round 14 the tagged book is it. Out of the four that I have chosen only 2 seem to be able it easily get. This book was picked by a toss of the dice. The other book in print is Someplace to be Flying.

I really like this original 1959 cover.

This was a quick book on audio, zoomed by. It is really all elderly characters, mostly in their 80‘s, and they are terrifically difficult and entertaining as they deal with their pasts, personality flaws and waning physical and mental health. (In a news article one character is complimented for being “abundantly alive”.) It‘s funny, but also there‘s a great deal going on.

Might have given up on my previous audiobook book. I found this is free in audible through feb 22, if you have a membership. I‘m unreasonably excited about that and am now listening.

ETA - whoops, hit spoiler flag by mistake. Fixing (unspoiling?)

Acerbically funny tale of a group of elderly upper middle class Brits who get themselves worked up over intimations of mortality from a voice on the telephone. There is much discussion of wills, some attempts at blackmail and the discovery of secrets old and new. If you squint you can see a #MustacheOnCover #Booked2021

And by finishing Memento Mori ... I have a Bingo! And will buy myself a book reward! 😆😆

Hmm... where shall I work towards now? A top row Bingo? Or a diagonal Bingo with that Free Space?

I‘m amazed that this little system is actually making me #readmyowndamnbooks. 😆

I‘ve just started Memento Mori, my first Muriel Spark, and I‘m loving its witty (and a wee bit acerbic) tone.

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Starting a new book and having a glass of wine. It‘s nice to have some time off of work!

'Remember you must die' the phone message characters in this beautifully dark novel receive. As we start the story we meet a group of elderly individuals in their 80's& Muriel Spark quickly divests the reader of assumptions of gentle eccentricity with stories of infidelity, dishonesty, blackmail, and sheer bitchiness of the most sublime. The conclusion allows us to reflect on the message that life is not immortal, transgressions fade with memory.

#Scarathon #TeamSlaughter #ScaryScavengerHunt #11CharacterDies @Clwojick Finished this #Mystery - All about elderly characters, linked in their history and all subject to eerie and bothersome telephone calls- in different voices but with one message “Remember you must die”. ...and they do! Very odd character driven study in true Spark fashion- have you read “The Driver‘s Seat”? Old folks, creepy retainers, lust, blackmail, and DEATH.

An innocuous cover for this #Mystery #PsychologicalThriller who is calling Dame Lettie and saying “Remember, you must die”? One of Sparks‘ best and excellent for those who love characters in their 70s and witty writing from a master...will you answer death????? #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick

Finished this one while waiting for a plane. People tend to make believe all elderly people are sweet souls. Not Spark. She puts all of her characters under the microscope and shows all of their petty jealousies and searing hatreds. All of the truths we would just as soon ignore as they mimic our own. No real plot, per se, but interesting.

#QuoteOfTheDay

It‘s leaving morning from @Caksf and my week studying at Oxford. Here is the “Me reading in Oxford” series of photos from the week. I had another amazing time. I won‘t be able to make next year‘s session due to timing, but I will most certainly be back. It‘s something that gets into your blood. Definitely unlike anything I have ever experienced before.

My very privileged reading spot for the next week. This is in the Master‘s Garden of Christ Church in Oxford. It served as the inspiration for the famous croquet game in Alice in Wonderland, written here by Lewis Carrol. I am living in the dorms here, studying 200 Years of British Murder, a lit course. We had the first class today about James Hogg‘s Private Memoir & Confessions of a Justified Sinner, written in 1824. Fascinating conversation.

Witty and on the side of the macabre this is the story about elderly people who are reminded over anonymous phone calls ‘remember you must die‘. It‘s the starting point for the group to ponder about death, health, their status in society, secrets ... Thought provoking, especially in the sense of today‘s ageing population.

When your reading matches the theme of the art in the famous tattoo shop where my husband is getting more work while in London. I just picked this up from Foyles, and it‘s one of the VMC 40th anniversary editions that are all so lovely. I will post a big haul later!

Relaxation day❣️

#BookMail Bk2 is another #ViragoModernClassics, this time Memento Mori by Muriel Sparks. I‘m totally in love with these editions, the patterns on the covers, the French flaps plus the new forewords by other authors in the genre. Looks like I‘m gonna need a bigger library.

#7Favesin7Days
Day 7

1. This is my third attempt with Spark, inspired by our exhibition on her life and work at the library but so far I'm still not feeling it
2. My parents and Mrs Whiteley my second year teacher
3. Any time (preferably all the time!)
4. I Capture the Castle, Cranford, Dickens, Discworld...
#manicmonday @JoScho

A group of people, all over 70, are advised ‘remember you will die‘ and find that their pasts are catching up with them. Spark‘s observation of people is acute. Her characters are flawed and incredibly human. The book deals with themes of trust, deception, loyalty and dignity. I hadn‘t read any Muriel Spark books until this year, but now I am hooked.

My library had a display to celebrate 100 years since Muriel Spark‘s birth, so how could I not pick up at least one. I think I might be reading a lot of Spark this year. (And I‘m the first person to borrow the book so taking extra care with it). #loveyourlibrary

I picked this up because I saw two references in one day Muriel Spark and then the next day, coincidentally, it landed on my desk at work. Now that I've finished it, I can't figure out why it sparked my attention. It was a grand soap opera discussed in small fragments of recollections, without the benefit of knowing the characters when the action was happening, concluding with the most anti-climactic ending ever. Help me understand, fans of Spark!

Another unread Muriel Spark from my shelves. This one is about a group of people, all in their 70s and 80s. According to the back cover, it's about "the great forbidden topic of our time: aging and death." Sounds fun, eh! ?
#seniorcitizens #anditsaugust @RealLifeReading

In 1950s London a group of #seniorcitizens start getting phone calls telling them, "Remember, you must die." Needless to say they don't take it well. I wish I had my old copy because the cover was so much better. #anditsaugust

A group of eccentric elderly people begins receiving phone calls from a stranger telling them, "Remember, you must die." A premise like this could easily make for an overwhelmingly morbid & depressing read. However, as V. S. Naipaul notes in a blurb Spark's controlled tone is the most remarkable achievement. There is a lightness & humor, that compliments & balances issues like physical & mental deterioration & loss of respect & dignity.

Halfway through my first #litsyAtoZ book. I've never read Muriel Spark. I will definitely be checking out more of her work.

One of the advantages of not working 😂

This is such great book. It is my favorite Muriel Spark novel ( so far...). It is extremely dark and very funny. A wonderful collection of elderly characters who are very flawed. It taught me that you usually don't get better with age. If you were a dickhead when you were 20, you will more than likely be a dickhead when you are 80.
REMEMBER YOU MUST DIE. 5 Geriatric stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lettie Colston keeps getting phone calls. The voice says "Remember you must die." The police don't help. No one seems to believe her. This novel is strange and dark with a bizarre sense of humor and a glorious conclusion.