Welcome to Litsy!

This is an intriguing gothic-esque book, it‘s almost a horror but also a romance. It‘s a clever concept, but didn‘t quite work for me.

I felt pretty indifferent to the plot and ultimate conclusion of this book. The gothic horror and the sinister conclusion fell flat. Just not at all what I was hoping for with such a promising premise.

I'm still getting used to writing a review in so little words! Not that I write entire volumes as a review usually, but still, 451 characters is very little and I like to get a little deeper into why I did or didn't like a book. There are after all so many grey areas in-between 'pick' and 'pan', right?
Anyway, this was a good book 😊 Not outstanding, but good!

A very enjoyable story set in 1939, Hetty works at the Natural History museum and she along with the exhibits head to Lockwood Manor for the duration of the war. But things are not what they seem, animals go missing, Lord Lockwood isn't so helpful and the servants don't want to help with the up keep of the animals. Only Lucy, the daughter of Lord Lockwood is helpful, but clearly haunted about something. Fantastic atmosphere, gothic feeling.

The novel winds through a maze of a mansion darkened with secrets and the unknown. The disquieting atmosphere was brilliantly woven into every word and wall.

Tonight‘s reading is another recommendation from a friend.

Seems like this novel is inspired by Jane Eyre & Rebecca, with a touch of Sarah Water‘s trademark. From the blurb, it sounds right in my wheelhouse but I was sadly disappointed. Started off quite eerie, then it fizzles out. It dragged on, at some point became tedious. The outcome seems an easy way out & not entirely satisfactory. Overall, a bit meh, I didn‘t pan and the cover is gorgeous. Many enjoyed the book, so mine is an #unpopularopinion .

Well that was fun. Made good headway on my audiobook too. 😌🎧

Took a day to deep clean my room. A nice bit of afternoon reading sounds like a good reward doesn‘t it?

I enjoyed this far more than I expected: apparently I was in the mood for a gothic f/f wartime romance! Thematically it explores similar ground to The Little Stranger, but it‘s a bit unfair to set a debut up against a powerhouse like Sarah Waters. Still, this is well written (altho I have qualms about the final act), atmospheric and full of longing - with a side dish of stubborning out the patriarchy. Yay! #LitsyAtoZ #Abecedarian

⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book does well to sustain the tension and unease throughout. At the beginning of WWII, Hetty must take the mammal collection from the Natural History Museum to Lockwood Manor to save it from the impending attacks by the Luftwaffe; there she meets the tyrannical Lord Lockwood and his haunted daughter Lucy. Through moth and mice infestations, thefts and mysterious figures, we enter the living nightmare of Lockwood.

I loved this the way I love a Sarah Waters novel. Gothic and tense and so tightly written, it unfolded precisely and beautifully. Perfection.

I‘m sorely missing museums, from the first chapter I can visualise The Natural History Museum, London. We have a tentative date of August 1st for being released from shielding, hoping to get a culture fix then.

I had a lot of trouble really getting into this book, but that could have just been me right now. I found the beginning to be very slow and then it really picked up in the last 20% where all the “mystery” was revealed, although most of what was “revealed” was not anything I picked up on in the beginning 80% of the book. 3.5 stars

Between being an essential worker at a nursing home in NY and an adjunct professor at my local community college where we had to switch on a dime to online learning and also teaching summer classes, sometimes I just need an effing break

A curator from a natural history museum of London is sent to a manor house to oversee the collection and keep it safe during the start of WWll, but Hetty‘s stay at Lockwood Manor is strange and unsettling as the animals seem to be moved about, dark dreams start to occur, talk of ghosts abounds, and memories that have all but been forgotten take ahold of the manor. Perhaps slightly slow, but it fit the darker reading mood I was looking for. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a different genre for me as a gothic mystery mixed with historical fiction. It had all the makings for being a story that I loved (thrilling mystery, strong female lead, mean lord of the manor, etc), but I just couldn‘t get there. While I thought the beginning and the end of the story were gripping and fantastic, the middle was a little boring and too slow-paced for my liking. #Booked2020 pick for “animal on the cover”

I felt quite disappointed in this book, even though the synopsis made it sound just my type of book, it wasn‘t really. I think it‘s the style of the writing and the way in which it has been written. It also felt very long winded too. Just because it wasn‘t to my liking though doesn‘t mean that it‘ll be the same for you.

My Rating: 3 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I wanted this book to be something that it wasn‘t. Some of the gothic elements were done well but there was so much that didn‘t move the plot along, which I found irritating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Back in the same early morning spot to finally finish this beauty. I‘ve really enjoyed reading about Lockwood Manor - this book had lots of creepy moments, a strong female lead and a nasty lord of the manor. I loved that the hummingbird case was a big feature, it‘s always my favourite piece when we visit the museum. My only criticism is that the ending was slightly rushed - maybe I read it quickly as I wanted to know the end, but still.

Hetty and the stuffed mammals from the Natural History Museum are evacuated to Lockwood Manor during WWII, unearthing secrets in the old house.

I think it suffered slightly from over-hype but was still an enjoyable read. My main gripe was that the denouement was too sudden and too short.

#covercrush and love decorated edges!

#tripledippin‘ on this one...

#jennyis30 #gothic
#booked2020 #animaloncover
#readwithmrbook #recommendedbyabookseller

Spending an early Sunday morning with this beauty. The peaceful tone while the rest of my house sleeps is just right to start on this creepy story - there are already strange noises and a missing jaguar at the manor!

I loved this creepy, gothic, slow-burner of a novel. It‘s set during WW2, and Hetty Cartwright is put in charge of moving and taking care of, the mammal collection from the Natural History Museum from London to Lockwood Manor. If it‘s not enough that the Manor House seems unwelcoming, Lord Lockwood is rude and condescending too. Lucy, his fragile adult daughter, and Hetty form a friendship,and try to preserve the collection. I really enjoyed this!

Now that I see it I would‘ve preferred the UK edition cover of “Lockwood Manor”.

Raffi is showing his real appreciation for books here.

I intended to bamboozle him with long words and flattery.

👑

So, just like everyone else, my life has been disrupted and anxiety levels are rising - but thank goodness we have books to lose ourselves in other times and worlds. My most recent purchase is this beauty 😍. Stay safe and healthy everyone 💕💕

The plot had some twists and turns that I did not see coming, and others I did see coming but not their circumstances. I really like that the main character is a strong female during a time when they were viewed as the weaker sex. The descriptive language used by Healey throughout the novel is splendid, especially the descriptions of the animals and Hetty‘s feelings towards them, as well as the emotions brought about by the house.

Look at this beautiful book I just bought with a voucher.... it will have to wait until next month as it will fit #recommendedbyabookseller for @MrBook ‘s challenge.

The other books are hidden as they‘re all for Littens.... so as well as an #audiowalk I also did a spot of #bookweightlifting as I walked all the way back from town with the 6 of them! (and lots of wool for my Mum but that of course is nowhere near as heavy!)

Happy Pub Day to the Animals at Lockwood Manor!

I made my #LMPBC group read this book and everyone seemed to like it! I just got it back today so perfect timing! 😊

Set with WWII in the background. A museum moves its collection to a 92 room manor in the England countryside. Creepy things start happening to the collection. Is it someone in the house or something more sinister? A ghost?

First order of business: Happy Pub Day to The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey!

Now for the giveaway: I want to pass my ARC copy along to one lucky Instagrammer! To enter, click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9j-f95gdgc/?igshid=1d4f0gnjnvwwh

Open to USA only.

An interesting historical fiction novel about a creepy 92 room house in the English countryside. It takes place with WWII in the background, setting the scene. ⁣Healey does an excellent job channeling the women in this story, and how they were viewed by society at the time. The main character, Hetty, is named director of the museum, but knows she will be relegated back to volunteer or assistant as soon as the men are back from war.

Thank you, #BookishFirst!! This is actually the first raffle I won and I was immediately hooked by the premise of part of the London Natural History Museum being spirited away to the countryside to escape the Blitz! This book combines romance, history and mystery to create an engaging debut novel! It opens a bit slowly, but the plot includes some unexpected surprises and has lifelike characters and great visuals! I really enjoyed it!

How gorgeous is this? 😍

Afternoon reading: This novel is inspired by the stories of the museums in London who evacuated their collections to countryside estates during WWII. An employee of the museum would stay in the stately manor with the enormous exhibits to make sure they stayed safe. This novel is about a employee who goes to stay with a collection from the natural history museum - and discovers something unnatural may also be living in the home. 🐅🦓🦛

Very much reminded me of du Maurier's Rebecca. The atmosphere was creepy, the characters couldn't decide if it was the house or an unsettling spirit. @Chrissyreadit said it best. The title has dual meanings. @Laughterhp I know it wasn't your first choice, but I'm glad I got to read it. @megnews now on to Free Lunch.

Release date is March 5.

@megnews @Laughterhp @Chrissyreadit have you realized that all 4 of our books were about independent women working in a man's world. I received The Spy and will finish The Animals today and will mail to Mikala Monday. I really enjoyed getting to know all of you. Thank you for a great round and great books. #lmpbc @suvata

Spending time at this special bookstore in Black Mountain. I had to get this cute bookmark and journal. #SassafrasBookstore

Received some book mail - @megnews @Laughterhp @Chrissyreadit

I enjoyed this book despite the fact that there were a few characters who annoyed me and made me want to reach through the book & ask what was wrong with them or tell them to pull it together! @Butterfinger this will be on its way to you tomorrow. Hard to believe my last book for this round of #LMPBC will be coming up soon!

The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a debut historical fiction novel. It takes place in England during the second world war. Hetty Cartwright is tasked with moving animal specimens from the Natural History Museum collection to a manor in the countryside to protect them. After moving the animals, she suspects all is not quite right within the Manor. The novel is well-written, tense, and atmospheric. It was highly readable and difficult to put down.

@Chrissyreadit I received your package today with my next #LMPBC read. Thank you! I adore this card with all the books on it. Hope to get started on the book this weekend.

This was a gothic mystery that reminded me of Bronte, Rhys and du Maurier - I enjoyed it and am glad it was picked for #lmpbc- even though I was hesitant about the WW2 time it really was secondary to the story. #lgbtq positive also. I will mail on Monday.

Anyone else simultaneously reading and listening to multiple books? I both ended the year and began the year with these three books. #lastfirst

@Laughterhp it‘s here!!! 🙌👏🙌👏 Thankyou for including some yummy tea flavors! I‘m going to try butter mint tonight. And super cute bookmarks ❤️🥰

I enjoyed this book. It was dark, creepy and atmospheric. I sometimes thought an animal was going to jump at me in the dark 😂

Set at the beginning of WWII the government moves their natural museum exhibit to Lockwood Manor which is of course rumored to be haunted.

Won‘t say more because I ended up reading for #LMPBC (other book got lost in the mail 😔)

#TeamElectricSex Winter Games #TBRRead +16pts

1. Tagged, Hogfather, and The Man in the Brown Suit on Audio
2. How the Dukes Stole Christmas
3. Melmoth by Sarah Perry

#weekendreads

Are there any keywords in titles or synopses that immediately capture your attention? The word “manor” always piques my interest. After reading the first look of this book Bookish First, I decided to use all of my points to claim a copy! Has this one captured your attention yet?

If you sign up for www.bookishfirst.com to earn free books because of this post, please let them know I sent you by using my referral code: d9c86cb41f080f1fc