College Street.... a maze of coffee shops and dusty bookstores, where, the tongawallah informed her, customers could sit and read for as long as they wished without buying so much as a pamphlet.
Persis wondered, briefly, what her father would make of such wild generosity; she suspected his heart might literally implode at the thought of his own clientele wantonly thumbing the Wadia Book Emporium's merchandise before leaving without a purchase.
She recalled a lecture delivered by a visiting American economist.... a large, florid man who'd reminded her of a water buffalo, had confidently predicted the end of the Raj.....
He'd underlined his analysis with a colourful remark that had stayed with her: Running a colonial enterprise is like raising an elephant. It's hard work, costs a fortune, and sooner or later the elephant craps on your head.
pickVery good. Enjoyed the suspense and the build up to the conclusion. Loved getting to know all the characters and their stories. Rich in details which makes you feel part of the story. Also loved how the house is a character all of its own which gives it an extra layer. Thank you #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for the free copy.
@HarperCollins
pickTo anyone who found this book slow at first, and wondered where in the heck it was going- you‘re not alone.I‘m so glad I stuck with it, as it‘s now up there as one of my favorites. Many of the characters will live in my heart forever. I could not put this book down once I reached the halfway point. As a bonus, the story contains recipes, many of which I plan on trying. I highly recommend this book!!
September reading wrap up from Storygraph. I had a funky reading slump in the middle of the month, but I came back strong at the end to finish 2 books right before the cutoff. I didn‘t read anything spectacular, but I did enjoy Kate Quinn‘s new historical fiction The Briar Club and Mythology by Edith Hamilton (on my TBR for too long to count!).
pickPost-Covid Kate Quinn wanted to write a book with greater hope than her usual HF, and this 1950s story of various-aged and background women boarding in house in the Foggy Bottoms area of DC was the result. It is different than her usual fare and gave me Elizabeth Gilbert City of Girls vibes. She infused each woman with a history highlighting what 1950s was to women, and I found it very interesting.
pickI am a fan of Quinn and am impressed how she tackles various periods in history to tell us the stories of women. This one is told from the POV of several women & the boarding house they live in. It sounds weird, but it works wonderfully. Covering such issues in the 1950's such as McCarthy red scare, the Korean War, spousal abuse, women in sports, parenting and birth control, it was a great read. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4.75/5
pick#TheBriarClub #KateQuinn #BookSpinBingo #SeriesLove2024 #September2024
A haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse during the McCarthy era. Washington, D.C., 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation‘s capital, where secrets hide behind white picket fences.
