Welcome to Litsy!

I enjoyed this atmospheric novella-length ghost story, set in a riverside building in London with two timelines—Victorian and contemporary—and with an underlying theme of the roles of women in Western society. It‘s a bit slow to get rolling and leans more heavily on symbolic word choice than I care for, but bisexual characters and mythological water spirits are also part of the appeal. #LGBTQ

… hysterectomies and clitorectomies were often performed to cure women of the very condition Dr Porter had diagnosed Evelyn with. They were so ready with the scalpel, these medical men, to cut and slice, yet no one had thought that castration was the logical solution to venereal disease.

Short novella set in Victorian England about the "water cure". Ok for a quick read.

This book is filled with everything I love! Macabre Victorian setting, the corruption of health care and the horrible ways that women were viewed during that era—- all wrapped up in a beautifully told ghost story that is also ripe with literary and mythological allusions ♥️ BONUS: I learned about “Anatomical Venuses”.

I enjoyed the read, but was left unsatisfied. The story kept making promising turns, but it seemed like the author kept changing her mind of what the story was or where it was going. The ending made sense, but still seemed underdeveloped. Some interesting ideas presented, though.

So not exactly a #creaturefromtheblacklagoon, but more a creature from the Thames river. Kirsten moves into an old hydropathy sanitorium next to the Thames. She starts to see a lonely figure at the river bank, and this lonely figure wants something from Kirsten. This novel is hauntingly creepy, and definitely made me give my nearest river the side eye once or twice 👀👀

#MonsterMadness2017

If the shoe (or hashtag) fits... 🌊🌊 #bodyofwater

I loved this gothic novel which gave me chills even though the weather was warm

#MayBookFlowers

I love the short works from Salt Publishing 😍 They make great #fastreads while providing depth and food for thought. #springflingreading

In 2016 I only read 12 books published in 2016, and only these two were debuts. Luckily I loved both of these, so they fit #bestdebutsof2016. 👏

#feistyfeb

I had a great reading weekend and I really needed it! I would recommend all three! ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️

High expectations were sadly not met. I was expecting eery creepiness but didn't get that at all. The historical elements were interesting but I found the writing to be clunky in places and a little repetitive. Still ⭐️⭐️⭐️, it was enjoyable, just not the fabulousness I was hoping for.

Book #2 done! A fabulous little slice of the uncanny with a sideline exploration of women's rights and mental health issues. And did I mention the ghost in the river? Quite a bit to fit into 130 pages but, for the most part, this is a satisfying psychological thriller in the mould of 'The Turn of the Screw' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. #readathon @DeweysReadathon

Halfway through and really really enjoying it! So spooky at times!
#currentlyreading