Welcome to Litsy!

A tradition that I started in covid times is to spend the afternoon of my birthday visiting Brooklyn bookstores and buying a book or two at each. This year was a little different - I only visited three stores, but still managed to buy almost too many to carry!

Thank you, @TheKidUpstairs for my delightful #jolabokaflod swap. To be honest, I opened it on Monday because I am currently sitting in a hotel room before the kids and I fly to Florida tomorrow. I took the pic then so I could share tonight!
Thanks, @MaleficentBookDragon for another great swap.

The fountain was on at the river!

Who doesn‘t enjoy a fun comedy of English manners? Glad I picked this up used. It‘s my first Taylor. This is my #Bookspin.

Mrs Palfrey is elderly and has moved into the Claremont Hotel. There she meets other long-term residents who are always in each other‘s business. When her grandson doesn‘t show to visit, she hires a rogue to impersonate him.

Well, today started out exciting with tornado sirens going off! Fortunately, nothing touched down, but there are more watches for this afternoon. 👎🏻

For the second month, one of my #roll100 books was chosen (Mrs. Palfrey). Also, I‘m going back and reading some of Bourdain‘s books I haven‘t seen in years. My copy of Cook‘s Tour was destroyed in an apartment flood in 2010, so I‘m excited to revisit it! #bookspin #doublespin

This was a lovely read with an unexpected ending. 4.5🌟. #192025 #1971 #52Bookclub24 #BookerNominee

#Top23of23 Part 1

This book brought out my insecurities of getting old and being lonely. A charming but sad story.

When Mrs palfrey, widow, seeks somewhere to retire after a life married and living in the colonies, she chooses a hotel in London where the residents are similarly aged. A young man Ludo helps her after a fall + becomes her 'nephew' when the real relative fails to visit. A story that is both witty but poignant in the depiction of life to which the residents are brought by age. Beautifully drawn characters + scenes make for a very enjoyable read.

This book! Pretty much a perfect read, in my opinion. I absolutely adored it. One that I can see myself revisiting in the future. Mrs Arbuthnot would surely approve.

My introduction to Elizabeth Taylor and wow, what a writer. Look forward to her other novels.

#Widowlit Mrs Palfrey arrives at the Claremont as many do, lost their spouse,doesn‘t want to be a burden to the children.A bittersweet book that is so beautifully written about the battles of aging, longing for 2nd acts.After all,it is London! The others are wondering why Mrs Palfrey talks of a grandson that never appears,then fate takes a turn.The characters are marvelous,I almost wanted to start it again! Charming & poignant.

I‘m hoping this well loved book by Taylor will help me forget a drag of a day #sundayeveningchill

Absolutely delightful! This was charming, sweet, funny, observant and a tad sad. I loved it! Thanks for gifting this one to me @Centique

OMG!!! Sweet P❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️I‘m in LOVE with EVERYTHING in this package❤️I can‘t believe all the goodies you sent me🥰I‘m speechless- SO GRATEFUL for our Litsy friendship and of course your ENORMOUS heart ♥️ You‘re amazing- Thanks so much @Centique it was BEYOND generous xxxx I swear, you choose everything I would have chosen for myself- down to the yummy chocolate and gummies!!!!

Just started this morning, really enjoying Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. ♥️

Mrs. Palfrey & coterie at the Claremont reveal how our fundamental natures do not change with age. We carry on with all of our unflattering penchants for jealousies, prejudices, rivalries, pride, etc.

Interesting Hofmann writes about the pairing theme in the novel, yet ultimately death is a solitary passage. And we certainly cannot die in the Claremont! 😉

Pic is of the prairie, one of my favorite landscapes. Very green this year!

Library hold came in! 👏🏾

Truthfully I‘m procrastinating by starting this one. I‘ve discovered over the years I really dislike packing for vacation. I‘d much rather unpack!

I‘m feeling disappointed our favorite camping area is closed due to flooding. It‘s our happy place and this will be the 3rd summer we miss it. #firstworldproblem I keep telling myself we‘ll find new wonderful places.

My first Elizabeth Taylor and it was marvellous. And it fits with my unexpected theme this year of reading about women in retirement! I worried that I might have read too many takes on this theme but Mrs Palfrey was quite different. I won‘t say much because it is quite little and I don‘t want to spoil it, but it really touched my heart. 5 stars 😍

“There‘s a witch in that clock, holding it back.”

Time passes slowly in The Claremont, a hotel where elderly can live, though they are not allowed to die there. Mrs Palfrey is a widow who moves there and gets acquainted with the other permanent residents. They pass the time reminiscing and hiding their loneliness. Every once in a while we get a glimpse of the persons they once were. An honest witty read about life‘s last stage.

#WeeklyForecast 19/22

I‘m late with my forecast, sorry. This week‘s plans are to read my #FoodAndLit choice for Afghanistan, to read the tagged for #Booked2022 and Missing Trees because I want to!

My NYRB December selection arrived!

A quietly devastating novel. Mrs Palfrey joins the other elderly and sometimes cruel residents of the Claremont, abandoned by their families and society. Mrs Palfrey is realistic, undemanding and grateful for the friendship of a young man she meets in Kensington even if he does not entirely replicate her affection. The last lines of this novel are a terrible critique of the treatment of the elderly which I don‘t think has improved since 1971

As they rose, one by one, to go in to dinner, a party of middle-aged people there for a mild celebration, all instinctively sat up and straightened their backs. They tried to look more alert, and to forget their future. Mr Osmond closed the door and followed Mrs palfrey at a distance; remembering an old old risqué anecdote, he told to the manager , en passant. Silence, almost in the dining room They lowered themselves into their chairs

#bookreport

Only 8 days left of school! Which means my reading should pick up dramatically once June hits. I‘ve been in major planning mode trying to get a summer reading challenge put together for our family. I intend to surprise them on the first day of summer break. Flo‘s reading is just starting to click—it‘s been a long and arduous journey for her—and I want to entice her to keep it up without putting pressure on her. 🤞🏻

4⭐️ I didn‘t know that the elderly used to live in hotels for their retirement. Is it still a thing now? There is a hotel in Bali that I keep going back to, and I once said to my self - I wish I could just buy one of the rooms here for when I‘m old and fragile 😱 I have picked my own Claremont Hotel !

The Claremont‘s elderly residents are bored and lonely. It is sad that there‘s even a “rule” that they are not allowed to die there. 👇🏻

Oh yeah!

Mrs Palfrey is a widow, unwanted by her daughter and grandson, who takes up residence at the Claremont Hotel, joining a cast of characters who wouldn't be out of place in Fawlty Towers. A chance encounter with a young would-be novelist develops into an odd kind of friendship which illuminates both their lives. Taylor is brilliant at creating characters who are simultaneously absurd and pathetic, yet her wit is always tempered by compassion.

I have had Elizabeth Taylor on my TBR for some time. I enjoyed this story of elderly residents of a hotel, but I have to admit that I was expecting more. I am not deterred from trying another of Ms. Taylor‘s novels, but I hope to find more depth and suspense.

This quiet, compassionate, sharply-observed novel about loneliness and aging has completely stolen my heart. ❤️

Cleft chin, widow‘s peak, Hapsburg lip and five o‘clock shadow. By simply rearranging these words he could later make a poem out of them, he decided. He knew nothing about poetry, apart from assistant-stage-managing The Cocktail Party when he was in the repertory company.

Only 99¢ for one of my favorite books. If you've not read Elizabeth Taylor, news your chance to try it cheap!

I have been reading books by Elizabeth Taylor along with the Goodreads group and this is my favorite by far! It is a poignant look at aging and friendship and loneliness- it ripped my heart into little pieces. Maybe it‘s my age? If you are wanting to delve into the world of Elizabeth Taylor, start here. 5🌟

#Flowers

I love these Virago Modern Classics editions. 🌸

#ReadingResolutions

Definitely #inspiredbylitsy (the book, not the bagel)

Some of my favorite covers. #coverlovers #awesomeautumnbooks

TOKYO BOOK-OFF HAUL #2 of 5

A second of hers to sit unread on my shelf for the time being....

First I watched the movie, and then I read the book. After that I felt slightly deprived. Why had I not stumbled scross this Elizabeth Taylor sooner?!? I'm now on a mission to read all of her books. The ones I have resd all have in common: beautifully written prose, interesting characters, dry wit and while the action is low-key, there are plenty of heavy undercurrents to keep you hooked.

What a delightful book! Funny, refreshing, sometimes melancholy but overall bright. This is my first Taylor book, although I've been collecting her work for some time. Can't wait to get to the others. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #vmc

Mrs. Taylor's got jokes! ??

"Well, another Sunday nearly gone," Mrs Post said quickly, to cover a little fart. She had presence of mind. #vmc

I'm going in! I just love starting new books. They always seem promising. #currentlyreading #vmc

I find it #surprising that my luggage closes! I only bought six books but I am planning my first Book Depository order. #aprilamazingreads

One of purchases from Leakey's Book Shop in Inverness. I am a sucker for pretty editions. #coffeeandabook #marchmadness

Delightful.

"As they rose, one by one, to go to dinner, a party of middle-aged people there for a mild celebration, all instinctively sat up and straightened their backs. They tried to look more alert, and to forget their future."