Welcome to Litsy!

This book blew me away! I don't know that I've read anything as perceptive on the psychology of writers, the delicate line between solitude and loneliness, the introvert's desire to take part in life without sacrificing something fundamental of themselves, the interplay between in-groups and outsiders and the often cruel treatment that results...it was excruciating, in the very best way!

Lovely #bookmail ! 😍 Is this from you, @LeahBergen ? The Christmas gift that became New Year gift? 🥰

a reserved, quiet novel and also a masterclass in writing. Brookner isn't working with noisy plot points here, but still manages to establish mood, setting, and to develop character in a way that captures the nuance of human interaction. There's a lot of interesting exploration of loneliness and connection in this novel. It paints a picture of a life lived on the periphery which I found incredibly thought-provoking, and at times very sad.

I have read 7 novels by Elizabeth Taylor, 3 by Anita Brookner, & 1 by Barbara Pym, & I love Brookner‘s style the most.

I shifted my rating for the tagged book to 5⭐️ because I just can‘t stop thinking about it. I pick up the book now and then to reread some parts because it‘s just brilliant! Yes, I‘m nursing book hangover now 😅 It‘s truly the gold standard for spinster lit!

Thank God she wrote a lot. I have 21 more titles to explore 🎉

5⭐️ Brookner did a deep dive into the psychology of loneliness here. Frances Hinton is lonely, overlooked, and unwanted. It‘s so painful to listen to her inner voice 😢 that it made me wanting to hug her. I wonder if Brookner was one of her lonely characters, as her prose seems to be rather personal. If she was not, she was truly the master of observations

I haven‘t read anything this week. I have been going back and forth these four titles, and can‘t decide which to read first. The problem with being super moody 😅

“Once a thing is known it can never be unknown.” #FirstLineFriday

Loved this. Anita Brookner perfectly captures the life of a single woman in London. She‘s well-off but lives modestly, until a glamorous couple adopt her as a friend. Wonderful observations of her habits & constrained (albeit privileged) life & contrast with this winning couple, who ooze confidence but are ‘careless‘ of feelings as in Great Gatsby. Nuanced re the prospect of a relationship. True, witty & bittersweet.

‪Best line of the day "...I was no writer: I was a criminal masquerading as a librarian." #anitabrookner

Aaaaaaand here is today's #bookhaul - hey locals the Friends of the Greenville Library sale is on Woodruff Rd today and tomorrow. Those of you who listened to my podcast with Thomas Otto know the law about how every used book store/sale contains at least one Anita Brookner - I bought the last one!

Look! It's a milestone day for me. #DamnitLitsy, I love you all so! ❤️❤️❤️