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Briefly, A Delicious Life
Briefly, A Delicious Life | Nell Stevens
20 posts | 18 read | 27 to read
An unforgettable debut novel from an award-winning writer: a lively, daring ghost story about a dead teen girl who falls in love with a female writer who has no idea she exists. In 1473, fourteen-year-old Blanca dies in childbirth in a hilltop monastery in Mallorca. Nearly four hundred years later, when George Sand, her two children, and her lover Frederic Chopin arrive in the village, Blanca is still there: a spirited, funny, righteous ghost, shes been hanging around the monastery since her accidental death, spying on the monks and the townspeople and keeping track of her descendants. Blanca is enchanted the moment she sees George, and the magical novel unfolds as a story of deeply felt, unrequited longingthe impossible love of a teenage ghost for a woman who cant see her and doesnt know she exists. As George and Chopin, who wear their unconventionality, in Georges case, literally on their sleeves, find themselves in deepening trouble with the provincial, 19th-century villagers, Blanca watches helplessly and reflects on the circumstances of her own death (which involves an ill-advised love affair with a monk-in-training). Charming, original, and emotionally moving, this is a surprisingly touching story about romantic fixation and a powerful meditation on creativity.
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review
Tamra
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Mehso-so

The premise is an interesting one; the narrator/MC is the spirit of a young 15th C teen who essentially eavesdrops on Sand and Chopin. I would have preferred the focus to have been on the young girl‘s life. But, hey ho.

I‘m unlikely to remember this one unless someone mentions Sand & Chopin.

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JillR
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Pickpick

Love the title, love the cover, love the premise. Elements of this I really liked, but something was holding me back. I think sadly it suffered from being read straight after my last read which I loved and couldn‘t stop thinking about, yet at the same time it‘s a lovely, bittersweet story of love, yearning and the passage of time.

squirrelbrain I really liked this, which surprised me as it‘s not my usual fare. 5mo
JillR @squirrelbrain I remember you liking this one. I didn‘t not like it, but at the same time didn‘t feel very engaged with it, and I can‘t put my finger on why, beyond it being a book hangover situation! 5mo
34 likes2 comments
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KivaLagos
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Pickpick

A queer ghost is haunting (= falling in love) with George Sand in an abandoned monastery in Mallorca. It‘s creative, literary, bittersweet and definitely worth reading.

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Gissy
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Splendid #LitsyFoundFamilySwap box. It was a combination of what I love, like and an opportunity to know my match😃Great selection of books📚👌covers reminds me my favorite season: autumn 🍂beautiful bookmarks, item I collect. Did you make the one with a beach view?😍👌That mug😱ahhh! I want to visit Powell‘s bookstore someday. I really appreciate the chocolates 🍫 and coffee from your state. A way to know you🤗Thank you so much @Deblovestoread 🥰

Gissy Thank you for your kind words @Deblovestoreads ♥️Yes, many changes but those experiences make us stronger. Definitely books and this community, Litsy, always help, thank you🥰

Also thank you to @KateReadsYA for coordinating this swap. It was a wonderful idea♥️♥️♥️♥️
7mo
KateReadsYA Those book covers are everything! You're very welcome. 7mo
TheBookHippie Wow the book covers!!! 😍 7mo
Deblovestoread I‘m so glad you like everything. I did make the bookmark. It‘s my first attempt at doing landscape type quilting. If you ever make it to the Pacific NW it would be lovely to meet you in person. 💜 7mo
Gissy @TheBookHippie Yes📚👌♥️ 7mo
51 likes5 comments
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AllDebooks
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Pickpick

A charming tale of all of life's changes as witnessed by Blanca, a teenage ghost. Her home is in an abandoned monastery in Mallorca. The author George Sand brings her 2 children and her lover, the ailing Chopin, to recuperate during their stay. The story unwinds through Blanca's viewpoint with interludes of her own story. All that echoes down the ages is our innate yearning for love, connection and acceptance.

DivineDiana This sounds so interesting! Stacked. 1y
Soubhiville I‘m stacking too. 🙂 1y
Cuilin Sounds interesting 1y
AllDebooks @DivineDiana @Soubhiville @Cuilin it was incredible, even more amazing to think it's her debut novel 1y
42 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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emmaturi
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Pickpick

A very enjoyable read, set in Mallorca and Paris. It tells the story of George Sands and her children, along with her lover Frédéric Chopin, to move to Mallorca to help his ailing health. The story is narrated by Blanca, a ghost dead 300 years. It's very emotional and moving.

36 likes2 stack adds
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emmaturi
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This is my first read in June and I am loving it.

38 likes1 stack add
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Augustdana
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Yet another game seven and I‘m riding high on finishing a book yesterday, and maybe I can finish another???

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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I‘ve read quite a few books recently that shouldn‘t work for me, but I end up loving them, and this is another one.

Narrated by the ghost of a young girl (which is why I shouldn‘t like it!), this novel imagines what happens when Chopin and George Sand arrive to holiday at a remote monastery in Valdemossa, Mallorca.

I actually have, on my TBR shelf, the book written by Sand during their stay so need to get to that soon. (A Winter in Majorca)

JillR I‘ve seen some good reviews for this one and it‘s on my list, even though like you say the blurb alone might not have appealed to me 2y
See All 18 Comments
Cathythoughts Sounds good. Love the cover. Stacked. 2y
squirrelbrain It was on a Women‘s Prize ‘possibles‘ list, which is why I thought I‘d try it. @JillR @Cathythoughts We‘ll find out if it made it tomorrow! 😁 2y
JamieArc Hmm. The ghost thing would usually have me passing as well, but perhaps because I‘m craving vacation on an island so badly, I‘m really intrigued by the sound of this. Stacked 😊 2y
Hooked_on_books I love it when that happens! Especially repeatedly. 2y
vivastory I was unaware of this one but I have always been very interested in Chopin & George Sand as creative individuals & their relationship itself. On a side note, I think I detect a new trend in cover design: a cropped portrait of a woman with fruit. This cover made me immediately think of the following recent release 2y
KarenUK Stacking this immediately! This sounds just my cuppa tea…. 2y
KarenUK This is when you know you have ‘a problem‘. Just went to add to my Goodreads, and see I own this book, unread on my shelf obviously! 😂 2y
Cortg I added this to my TBR list recently. I think it sounds great! 2y
squirrelbrain That‘s hilarious! @KarenUK 🤣 2y
squirrelbrain @jamiearc it‘s in the mountains in winter so not that holiday-ish but I still think you‘d like it! 2y
squirrelbrain @vivastory - I agree, and Woman, Eating is also rumoured for the Women‘s Prize. 🤔 2y
batsy What @vivastory said! Looking forward to the Prize longlist. 2y
Cinfhen Cover is very intriguing 2y
JillR @squirrelbrain just having a look through the longlist now - have been quite excited all day 😆 2y
kspenmoll Thanks for this review! 2y
82 likes7 stack adds18 comments
review
Robotswithpersonality
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Panpan

Just went back and read my review of the first book I read from Nell Stevens, (one of her memoirs), and my feelings on this book share some similarities.
1) I'm not sure what the goal was, other than recounting a factual, if miserable, moment in historical figures' lives, now with bonus ghost.
2) There were a number of moving parts that didn't necessarily add up to a satisfying reading experience. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 3) The motif of a writer focused on writing seen in the Bleaker House memoir continues in this work of fiction as the author as voyeuristic ghost narrates George Sand's creative process, her pursuit of publication.

All new to this particular book:
I think I spent about as much time disgusted as I did enchanted by detailed descriptions of sights and experiences, which in the sense that both evoked emotion adds up to masterful wording! 2/?

2y
Robotswithpersonality Aside from making me feel even more strongly about a person's right to choose, and right to abortion access, I don't know what the story line of teen pregnancy, (and the ghost mission of raging more or less effectively and incorporeally against local pedophiles) was meant to accomplish within the narrative. 3/?

2y
Robotswithpersonality There are glimpses of questioning gender norms and heteronormativity in a historical setting via George Sand, but they feel more like a drive by with everything else going on in the story.

Overall, way more carnal than I was expecting
4/5
2y
Robotswithpersonality I think if I'm to pick up a third book from this author, I'll have to hear a review specifically emphasizing how coherent the narrative throughline was and how satisfying the ending was. With this quality of writing, I really would like to see it in future novels!

⚠️ Eating disorder, statutory SA, SA, domestic abuse, child abuse 5/5
2y
Robotswithpersonality Addendum: Poetry, I think this author would be amazing at poetry, I would love to see it. 2y
5 likes5 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Highly identify with Solange: some of my favourite memories involve not having the sense to come in out of the rain. 🌧️☺️

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Robotswithpersonality
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Pffft, a ghost and a doctor are bound to have differing perspectives on such matters. 😆

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Robotswithpersonality
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Poetic sensuality of descriptions, literal engaging of multiple senses, sounds, textures, smells, tastes, really helps to alleviate the creepy, voyeuristic tinge to ghost's perspective.

3 likes1 stack add
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xicanti
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I read a wee bit more of BRIEFLY, A DELICIOUS LIFE over paneer makhani made with my first-ever homemade paneer! (My first-ever homemade cheese of any sort.) I hope to really sink into it tonight. It feels like a book I could love.

BookNAround Homemade paneer? ::swoon:: 2y
xicanti @BookNAround it turned out pretty durned well. 2y
IndianBookworm Glad to see an Indian dish on litsy feed for a change😍🥺 2y
See All 9 Comments
xicanti @IndianBookworm I eat Indian food as often as I can! 2y
IndianBookworm That's great, would love to discuss more about it. Also, I feel the dish you've made is actually Matar paneer. 2y
xicanti @IndianBookworm the sauce was from a jar labeled makhani, but I did add an awful lot of peas to get the vegetable content in there. 2y
IndianBookworm Okay, because you added peas, it actually became matar(pea) paneer. 2y
xicanti @IndianBookworm I‘ll remember that in future! I always add a lot of peas, whether it‘s with paneer or tofu or chicken. 2y
IndianBookworm Do let me know whenever you try it without peas though. I'm sure you'll love it.😍 2y
56 likes9 comments
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Kazzie
Pickpick

Loved this book! Love this writer. A feminist, nuanced, modern and funny take on 16th and 19th century life. Beautifully drawn characters

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rmaclean4
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Pickpick

Loved this novel of a 14 year old ghost that falls in love with George Sand. There is a great rhythm to the story telling and she holds some secrets until the final chapter. Just loved it! Read this book in just a couple of days.

14 likes2 comments
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AlexGeorge
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Pickpick

A surprising, exquisite novel. Don‘t be put off by the fact that this story is told by a love-struck ghost. This is a rich and beautifully written novel which explores big themes with a deft touch. George Sand and Chopin leap off the page, two tornadoes of creative endeavor. Wonderfully unusual. I loved it.

18 likes1 stack add
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danimgill
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Mehso-so

The concept - a centuries-old teenage ghost narrates the winter that George Sand and Chopin spend in Mallorca in the 1830s - was promising and the writing itself is lovely but I found myself bored more often than not.

readandlearn I agree. The book was quite creative and well written for the first few chapters. Then I found myself bored. Disliked Sand and what she put her children through. Thought the last few chapters brought a good closure to the novel. Chuck the middle half! 2y
29 likes1 comment
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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

In this historical ghost story, a fourteen-year-old girl who died in the fifteenth-century is enamored by a new woman who arrives at the hilltop monastery she's been haunting since her death. This woman, the author George Sand, wears trousers like a man and shocks the conservative inhabitants of Mallorca. I really enjoyed this story and how the story of Blanca's life and death in the 1400s is interwoven with the arrival of George 400 years later.

44 likes1 stack add