Welcome to Litsy!

#12Booksof2023 month: August @Andrew65

Another month where I didn‘t read much. Didn‘t have a favorite one but if I have to choose, then I would say was the tagged one.

Super late reading and August review🤷🏽‍♀️
I enjoyed this story about Annabel and her process to become an adult. In few pages we will see Annabel working, taking care of her family and her romance. It was Interesting maybe with a cheesy too easy ending but lovely. In less that 200 pages you see all these well developed characters and story. 3.5⭐️I love those Dean Street Press covers/editions😍

This book was entirely predictable, but the main character, Annabel,and her family are so likable that it doesn‘t matter. It‘s a nice, comfortable story, and I really enjoyed it.

Somebody posted about this book, and it sounded interesting. It‘s on Hoopla, so it‘s this evening‘s reading.

Bit of a sad #BookReport this month. I can‘t remember the last time I read so little. Had an amazing two weeks away though😆

I was intrigued by all the posts from the #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub and decided to pick up a copy to read for myself. The story was charming and delightful, and a nice break from the darker stories I had been reading this month.

#20in4 @Andrew65
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#192025 #1939 @Librarybelle

https://youtu.be/m-5vKfqWjN0

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

I love the close-knit Brown family, the family dynamics. I think Ethel is the best character, supportive & is a pillar of strength. I enjoyed reading about the working life of the mannequins, and all the hard work, chaos behind the scenes of a fashion house. I‘m not impressed with ‘Uncle‘ David, or convinced of the romance, but this was a delightful read. Makes a very good escapist reading, a wonderful start for #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub this year.

This self-described bit of ‘frothy fun‘ was an enjoyable light read with the #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub. A vivid view of a 1930s era clothing shop as well as the delightful home life of the Brown family. I have to admit Annabel the MC was basically the least interesting character so it was not unputdownable for me. I was also not smitten by the male lead. I AM glad to have read my first Susan Scarlett and look forward to more!

@LeahBergen

Okay, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub, here‘s our 2023 reading schedule!

As always, anyone is welcome to jump in and read along with us for any month. It‘s a casual buddy read; we generally aim to be finished around the middle of the month and simply comment and chat on each other‘s posts and reviews.

I loved getting a look at the workings of a fashion house, including wonderful descriptions of clothing in the making, fitting & modelling. But, my favorite scenes in the book were those featuring Annabel‘s family. Her mother & father, in particular, were fabulous characters! There were lovely descriptions of family life: meals, a garden, stories, jokes & laughter. It was a delightful read & perfect for the weekend.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Okay, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub, here‘s our 2023 reading schedule!

As always, anyone is welcome to jump in and read along with us for any month. It‘s a casual buddy read; we generally aim to be finished around the middle of the month and simply comment and chat on each other‘s posts and reviews.

A charming book, except for the story about the cat. 😡 That‘s the kind of kid who grows up to be a serial killer.

Believe it or not, I‘ve never read any of Noel Streatfeild‘s books for children. Where should I start?

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

@Aimeesue @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm
@Jess_ Read_This @jlhammar @kimzey @LeahBergen @MrsK @quietjenn @Sparklemn @Ruthiella @Tamra @willaful

This was a sweet fairy tale of a story set in the world of of 1930s English fashion; a world which the author knew something about, having been a model herself.

I would love to read a sequel featuring Lorna and her years at Mallory Towers! 😂 I know she was pretty awful, but I was also a mouthy, bad attitude kid (minus the shoplifting) and I have a soft spot for her and her ilk.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Early in this one, our heroine Annabel has the following exchange, with fellow mannequin and friend Bernadette.
“Have you ever been at a stuffy cocktail party and come out to find a lovely night,
with a breeze to blow the drinks and cigarettes away?“
“No. Why?“
“That's how you've made me feel.“
And it's a pretty apt summation of the book overall, from my perspective. It's a light and airy confection, perfectly charming.

I can definitely see why this novel was so popular during the war; it is hopeful, cheerful, and embraces the reader in family comfort. I especially liked the domestic scenes - so cozy! #furrowedmiddlebrowclub

The introduction by Elizabeth Crawford to this sweet, feel-good book by Noel Streatfeild writing as Susan Scarlett correctly says that it offers "daydreams to her readers". These are mid-century romances & like Streatfeild's books for children, are suffused with warmth & brimming with charming details of everyday life. I loved being with the Brown family, especially as they made their way through their delicious Sunday tea! #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Annabel is promoted from seamstress to glamorous mannequin (what we now call a “model”) in a high-end London fashion house and finds romance (and catty women) along the way.

I very much enjoyed this light romance/Cinderella story and definitely saw a lot of parallels with Noel Streatfeild‘s children‘s stories; she always has the coziest of home scenes and the most comforting of parents (dear Ethel and George)!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Best of luck to you, Spring Song!

Such a pleasant read. The fashion and romance were fun (though I must confess to missing the great allure of Lord David de Bett—Annabel is just so young and I wasn‘t crazy about the way he spoke to her), but my favorite parts took place at 110 Mercia Lane with the Brown family. Loved George and Ethel.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Behind the scenes at a fashion parade, 1930s

Found a great blog post from several years back with lots of great photos (link in comments below). Helps me picture Bernadette, Elizabeth, Freda and Annabel in the models‘ room at Bertna‘s.

Before this book I had no idea that fashion models were ever called mannequins or clothes pegs. Love learning little things like that.

Okay, back to my reading. Almost finished!
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

“And a nice packet of nasturtiums,” Ethel put in. “Nothing like a packet of them for show.”
George sighed. Every year Ethel wanted nasturtiums. Not for worlds would he had deprived her of them if she wanted them, but he wished she fancied something else. To his eye nasturtiums flaunting and rioting over the beds spoilt the effect at which he aimed.

Loving this garden planning scene. I‘m with Ethel—🧡 nasturtiums!
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

I loved the father winding the clock. I loved when she bought her first two piece… ‘ a rediculously simple but enchantingly well-cut garment ‘.
Even though she was cutting the apron strings, she was still fiercely protective of her family. I was teary eyed at the end. ♥️♥️♥️ Loved this one. #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Oh, I'm feeling you today, Annabel. This is the Mondayest Tuesday ever.
(Also: this book is an absolute delight. A delight, I tell you)

I wasn‘t expecting to read this straight through but that‘s exactly what I did. What a delight! So many lovely characters & some true villains & in the end they all got what they deserved - so satisfying. I loved the family dynamics, the behind the scenes at the fashion house & the clothes, of course. I was fascinated by the undergarments - what do you think a “backless brassiere” is?
#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

This was exactly what I needed on my last free day before holiday is over. A lovely selection by #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub and my first Susan Scarlett read. It‘s a simple story of a naive girl becoming a model in a dress shop and meeting a Lord to fall in love with. My favorite parts belong to the periphery characters- her parents and hard life knocks fellow model Bernadette. It‘s a sweet story of young love, friendship, and happy ending.

This was exactly what I needed on my last free day before holiday is over. A lovely selection by #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub and my first Susan Scarlett read. It‘s a simple story of a naive girl becoming a model in a dress shop and meeting a Lord to fall in love with. My favorite parts belong to the periphery characters- her parents and hard life knocks fellow model Bernadette. It‘s a sweet story of young love, friendship, and happy ending.

I ‘may‘ have gone a tad overboard immediately buying a stack of new Susan Scarlet novels when Dean Street Press pubbed them a few months ago…so am VERY glad the #FurrowedMiddlebrowclub is nudging me to pick up my first one and read Clothes-Pegs this month.
Thanks, team!

(at least I only bought 6 of the 12? Such self control!🤦🏼‍♀️)

📚Starting the January #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub selection today. My first Susan Scarlett novel too!

#jessreads2023

Just read the introduction by Elizabeth Crawford. I love that Streatfeild‘s Susan Scarlett books were categorized as “perfect reading for Black-out nights for the lady of the house.” I think about that woman at home in 1939 for whom a light and charming read like this may have been a balm.

She also mentions Noel Streatfeild‘s appearance on Desert Island Discs. Definitely worth a listen if you haven‘t yet (link below).

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Happy New Year #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub ! Our first bi-monthly read for 2023 is Clothes Pegs by Susan Scarlett aka Noel Streatfeild. I hope you all will join in and post your thoughts as you go, with the goal of finishing by mid month.

Any other Littens interested in reading along in the future, please let me know. All are welcome. 😃 And if anyone wants to opt out this time ‘round, that‘s no problem. We‘ll catch you again in March. 👍

I can‘t believe it‘s time to vote for our #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub January read already! Here are my candidates—two young ladies starting out in very different careers.

@quietjenn @Jess_Read_This @Kimzey @erzascarletbookgasm @catebutler @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @batsy @Tamra @Cathythoughts @jlhammar @Sparklemn @LeahBergen