Welcome to Litsy!

Once upon a time, many years ago, we had our very first UK Litsy meet-up in London, met some amazing people, and received this in the swap.

These days Stella Duffy is one of the patrons of the library charity I work for, and falls into the awesome human being category.

No excuses for not reading this sooner, but this is my train reading for today, and I‘m loving it. Also - look! Sunshine!

And this gorgeous-looking book was what I received in the #UKLitsyMeetUp book swap on Saturday ❤️

Based on a tragic historical event in London in 1912, this richly detailed novel progresses at a measured pace for the first half, allowing readers to get to know a cast of the working poor, the families of a trio of 12-year-old boys who are best friends. Lots of examples of cockney phrasing. It didn't have a strong hold on me during my two weeks of travel, but I became absorbed once I could give it full attention at home. Subtle #LGBTQ content.

I was puzzled by the references to pearly suits that the street vendors in this novel (set in early 20th century London) wore when they got dressed up. Turns out that it's still a thing. And what striking garments they are!

Our Ma always told me off for dreaming. Dreams are for bed, they're no loaf of bread, that was her saying.

[image stolen from the Internet]

Catching a breeze on a warm evening in Paris. I haven't got very far in this book that I started on June 5, the day I left on holidays. I'm ok with that. It's been a great trip.

Price sticker from the Women's Bookshop reminds me that I'm lucky that I don't usually buy books in New Zealand or Australia. $38 for a paperback.

Everyone calls the statute Eros, but our boy in Nunhead knows better, knows that this is Anteros, brother of Eros, the god of love returned, given back, love requited, with arrows that not only find their mark, but are welcome.

Boarding lounge at Edmonton International. Got my book (purchased 5 months ago in Auckland). Got my travelling shoes. Next stop, Reykjavik.

Based on the true story of the shipwrecked Arethusa and the Scouts who drowned in the storm. Overwhelmingly sad but strangely warm and comforting too.

My purchases at the Women's Bookshop yesterday. Read my friend's copy of Thought Horses and liked it so much I'm taking it home to give as a gift. I've heard (from a NZ reviewer) that London Lies Beneath is Stella Duffy's best yet. I'm halfway through Laing's graphic memoir and am utterly charmed.
( @Lacythebookworm - Thanks for asking about my haul.)

Leysdown was a terrible tragedy and provides the kernel for this unsatisfying novel. The passages describing the accident and the rescue attempts are heartbreaking and would make a powerful short story but the rest had my inner historian snarling. Heavy-handed foreshadowing, unnecessary characters and a reductive presentation of society in 1912 represented by class clichés. Sarah Moss says it best http://ow.ly/eiKd306Li6o

When you had absolutely no idea that one of your favourite authors has a new book coming out and it drops through your letterbox. That.