Welcome to Litsy!

Just recently I‘ve been learning a lot about the Mitford family, the girls especially. What interesting entitled people. Decided to try one of Nancy‘s books. I enjoyed this light romantic story published first in 1945. She has written loosely about her own family and friends. Going to watch the series. Also I see her sequel to this book is also a tv series. I‘ll watch rather than read.

Mom: Downtown Abbey!

A good vacation read, there were some very funny bits, some tragic bits, and a few beautifully-written sentences. I enjoyed every page of it.

Why did the 9th Duke of Rutland, owner of the spacious Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, die on a couch in a cramped. cold, suite of rooms in the servants' quarters? In 1940, in poor health & fading fast, the Duke refused to be removed to more comfortable surroundings & insisted on being left alone in the rooms, which were then locked up & left untouched for 60 years after his death. But why?

Literary memoirs are my favourite: I am halfway through Laure Murat's essay on Proust's In Search of Lost Time, which she realised when she read it aged 20, described her milieu (the French aristocracy), was partly based on members of her family, & is as relevant now as it was then. She walks us through the parallels & is pitiless about their flaws. She was rejected when she came out as lesbian & feels a kinship with Proust, who was gay.
#LGBTQ

This week we begin with a little AI chat before discussing a fantastic novella. In 1977, Lady Caroline Blackwood published, “Great Granny Webster,“ a biting, bleak, hilarious take down of a “great“ house. Full of fantastic characters and brilliant prose this book impressed us both immensely.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aPNVsLpSWcRe8dtlxjedP

This classic follows the love life of Linda Radlett through the eyes of her cousin Fanny. She falls for one man after another, each so different. It reminded me of I Capture the Castle, without the coming-of-age elements. It also had a bit of The Painted Veil thrown in, w/Linda maturing through the novel. There is so much wit & it's delightful. I watched the miniseries & was impressed by how closely it stayed to the playfulness & text of the book.

Having read Pickpocket's Apprentice, the prequel to the John Pickett series made 'In Milady's Chamber' far more enjoyable as it gave me more understanding of the friendship between two of the main characters.
Set in Regency times I would class this as a cosy mystery. It was well written and interesting. With some unexpected moments which kept the flow of the story running at times when it became a little slow I was pleased with my choice of book.

Ok Aussie Secret Santa recipients, where the bloody hell are you? It‘s most definitely Christmas Eve here and I‘ve opened my beautiful #aussiesecretsanta parcel from @Freespirit
Will you look at these gorgeous gifts 👀🎁? Thank you Sally & thank you @CarolynM for organising this year 🙏.
Come on now, it‘s show and tell time…

While this was a work of historical fiction, American Duchess has endeared Consuelo to me. I want to know more! I think my Fall Quest will be to read as much as I can about her. What a fascinating woman!