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Learwife
Learwife | J R Thorp
6 posts | 4 read | 1 reading | 3 to read
Inspired by Shakespeare's King Lear, this breathtaking debut novel tells the story of the most famous woman ever written out of literary history. "I am the queen of two crowns, banished fifteen years, the famed and gilded woman, bad-luck baleful girl, mother of three small animals, now gone. I am fifty-five years old. I am Lear's wife. I am here." Word has come. Care-bent King Lear is dead, driven mad and betrayed. His three daughters too, broken in battle. But someone has survived: Lear's queen. Exiled to a nunnery years ago, written out of history, her name forgotten. Now she can tell her story. Though her grief and rage may threaten to crack the earth open, she knows she must seek answers. Why was she sent away in shame and disgrace? What has happened to Kent, her oldest friend and ally? And what will become of her now, in this place of women? To find peace she must reckon with her past and make a terrible choice - one upon which her destiny, and that of the entire abbey, rests. Giving unforgettable voice to a woman whose absence has been a tantalising mystery, Learwife is a breathtaking novel of loss, renewal and how history bleeds into the present.
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review
CaitlinR
Learwife | J R Thorp
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Bailedbailed

The language in this novel was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, with everything that I have going on, I just couldn‘t concentrate enough to do it justice, so I‘ve set it aside for another day. Anyway, this is a temporary bail, but a bail nonetheless ☹️

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Onioons
Learwife | J R Thorp
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“And you, you do not feel old, despite being as old as God?
I feel as I am. A queen.“
A fascinating portrait of a woman who was banished from her marriage, children and life. Telling her own story in the aftermath of the death of Lear, Goneril, Reagan and Cordelia. A remarkable character rewritten into literature.

31 likes1 stack add
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rmaclean4
Learwife | J R Thorp
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May Reading
5 🌟
Learwife: J. R. Thorpe 🎧
Migrations: Charlotte McConaghy 📖
4.5 🌟
Black Sun: Rebecca Roanhorse 🎧
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies: Deesha Philyaw 📖
4 🌟
Woman Eating: Claire Koda 📖
Fevered Star: Rebecca Roanhorse 🎧
3.5 🌟
Time of the Locust: Morowa Yejide 📖
3 🌟
Eveningland: Michael Knight 📖
Peony in Love: Lisa See 🎧
DNF
The Revival of Opal & Nev: Dawnie Waton

Read both my #bookspin and #Doublespin this month!

ChaoticMissAdventures Sorry you DNF Opal & Nev. Curious if you read the physical or tried the audio? 3y
rmaclean4 @ChaoticMissAdventures i listened to part of the audio book. It is a me problem. I just dont like novels about music for some reason. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fabulous month!! 3y
10 likes4 comments
review
rmaclean4
Learwife | J R Thorp
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Pickpick

5 🌟! I listened to the audio book and will buy this in physical form. So many beautiful lush quotes. King Lear is a favorite play of mine and I loved revisiting this world. Recommend for folks that enjoyed Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.

16 likes1 stack add
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Mitch
Learwife | J R Thorp
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My surprise subscription book arrived today. Not one I would have chosen myself but I so trust the bibliologists at Mr B‘s bookshop that I‘m sure I‘m in for a treat! 🤞🏼

TheAromaofBooks I absolutely loved my subscription from Mr. B's. They truly chose books I ended up loving every time, even though they weren't books that were on my radar. It was magical!! Shipping to the US is rather prohibitive so I gave it up, but it was such a delight while I had it! 3y
LeeRHarry I just had a message from a dear friend in the UK who received hers today too - I had bought a subscription for her birthday - one day I want to go to Mrs B‘s Emporium 😊 3y
Mitch @LeeRHarry it‘s such a wonderful bookshop - everyone there just wants to gush about books all the time. They‘re so enthusiastic and are great at recommendations. 3y
Mitch @TheAromaofBooks they‘re true magicians ! 3y
74 likes4 comments