Litsy

I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it.

#ABookADay2025

2 likes

keepingupwiththepenguins

This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor | Adam Kay

pick

After watching every single season of Grey‘s Anatomy at least a half-dozen times over, I‘m practically a doctor myself, but Kay offers a very different view of working in medicine than Meredith Grey and her friends. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/this-is-going-to-hurt-adam-kay/

CarolynM I enjoyed this one. I‘m thinking of going to his show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. 17h

35 likes1 comment

BarbaraJean

L.M. Montgomery's Complete Journals: The Ontario Years: 1918-1921 | Jen Rubio L.M. Montgomery

“I am almost worn out and feel as if the only thing that would do me any good would be to get away out in some lonely waste place and shriek at the top of my voice for half an hour.”
—July 22, 1919 (p. 173)

Same, Maud. Same.

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

dabbe 🎯🎯🎯 4d

BarbaraJean Just saw that my tags didn't show up! @TheAromaofBooks @lauraisntwilder @JenlovesJT47 3d

42 likes2 comments

sdbruening

Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries | Alan Rickman

pick

I felt intrusive by listening to this audiobook, but it must have been okay to share if his family was okay with publishing. Really great to get insight into the workings of his mind. Very smart and considerate with high standards for himself and others.

4 likes

BarbaraJean

L.M. Montgomery's Complete Journals: The Ontario Years: 1918-1921 | Jen Rubio L.M. Montgomery

This week‘s section was ROUGH and heartbreaking to read, and I‘m glad we‘re alternating between the journals and other books! A couple questions to get us started:

What stands out to you in LMM‘s description of her grief?
What stands out in her descriptions of Ewan‘s illness and her own response to it?
Are there other sections that you found interesting or meaningful?

#KindredSpiritsBuddyRead #LMMJournals

JenlovesJT47, lauraisntwilder, TheAromaofBooks

BarbaraJean This quote (and the preceding passage about their friendship) really struck me:
“I think what hurt me so keenly in these was the fact that there was no one left on earth to understand or note these things. In one letter... written one winter when I was not feeling well she said, ‘I tremble to think of what the world would be to me without you.‘
Oh, Frede, you never had to learn it. It is I who must find that out.”
(p. 131 - Mar. 23, 1919) 😭😭 5d

BarbaraJean Several times, I was struck (again!) by how judgmental LMM is. I also noticed her own fear of judgment, specifically about Ewan & what others would think if they knew his illness was other than only a physical ailment. It was interesting to see those two things side by side and feel there was likely a parallel there: she assumes judgment in part because of her own judgmental side.

“For Ewan's own sake and the childrens' the impression must not ⬇ (edited) 5d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...get abroad that his mind was unbalanced. It would ruin his prospects. I talked to the people of his headaches and insomnia but I fenced the world from him as much as I could lest the other deadly thing should be suspected.” (Sept. 1, 1919: p. 149) vs. a comment like: “Flora is a stupid, uncultured, uninteresting woman but she has a heart of gold and she was kindness itself to us this summer.” (Aug. 3, 1919: p. 174) 5d

See All 17 Comments

BarbaraJean Also, I CRACKED UP over these two parts:

“I have a long way to go before I can believe that the spirits of the dead can spell out messages on the Ouija board or that they live in an eternal pink twilight on synthetic beef tea.” (March 29, 1919: p. 134)

“The McCombs are nice enough people but their cat is nicer.” (Aug. 3, 1919: p. 173) 5d

TheAromaofBooks Soooo many feelings in this week's section!! Wow! Can you imagine a worse year!? I think I had either not realized or maybe just forgotten that Frede died of the Spanish flu. So scary and fast. You can feel the shock and devastation on every page - to have just heard from someone and they were fine, and then 24hrs later to be told to come quickly because they're dying...!! It was hard to read. And I felt Maud's lament that she's too old to ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) make another friend like that - the kind of person you've built a lifetime of memories with, and shared so much. 5d

TheAromaofBooks The sections about Ewan were in some ways harder to read, because it felt like so much of that grief LMM put on herself. Her obsession with appearances, combined with the lack of knowledge/empathy concerning mental health issues boxed her into a situation that was way worse than I feel like it would have been if it had happened today. I thought it was strange that they went to Massachusetts for the entire summer - was it just to keep Ewan away ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) from the neighborhood?? It was also so hard to read the beginnings of the usage of various drugs to help with sleeping and getting through the day, knowing how destructive those will be over time. And I also felt bad for Ewan, who honestly seems like a perfectly nice guy (despite all the slagging he got in basically every biography). I think until this point he and LMM have been companionable and work partners, even if they haven't ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) been passionate lovers. To go into this time of deep, deep depression and basically be told that it's your fault and you're a disgrace and have to be hidden away - ugh, so awful.

When you mentioned about LMM being really judgmental, it made me remember a footnote from the earlier section (pg47), which quoted a later journal entry of LMM's saying that her cousin James had no children and so “the old homestead of Hugh Montgomery will ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) pass into other hands with this generation.“ The footnote points out that James actually had adopted three children. I was immediately struck by how LMM definitely seems like the type of person who would not have remotely considered adopted children inheriting the same as the farm “staying in the family.“ Her high view of the Montgomerys comes through frequently, and she definitely has a lot of feelings about “class“ and who belongs ⬇ 5d

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) where.

It's interesting to me how deeply the idea of someone being “insane“ haunted LMM. She says on pg149 “Was my husband going out of his mind? He had every symptom given in the encyclopedia on that type of insanity. It was one of the things I had always had the most deeply rooted horror of.“

I wonder why it horrified her so much?? 5d

lauraisntwilder The week got away from me and I'm behind on my reading, but I'll come back and discuss when I get caught up! 5d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks Ugh, yes—I felt that lament, too. It‘s hard NOW to form new, deep friendships as an adult, and our circles & connections are so much broader. It wasn‘t just the impossibility of ever finding another kindred spirit like Frede (that‘s there, too), but losing a longtime friend in mid-life—the memories, shared jokes, and depth of knowledge that are GONE, and all the life ahead of her that she had to face without her beloved friend! 3d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks The sections about Ewan were harder for me, too—especially because of my own “what ifs” and because so much has changed over the years with attitudes about and available treatment for mental illness. It‘s especially painful to see LMM‘s feelings of shame and helplessness, knowing both would be FAR different today. Then I wonder about how her own mental health might have been different if she hadn‘t married at all, or had married ⬇ 3d

BarbaraJean (cont‘d) someone different (just NOT Edwin Simpson 😏). That quote I highlighted last week about emotional heights and depths—I think she needed someone stable and grounded to help balance out that part of her emotional life. And I think you‘re right, her feelings about/responses to Ewan‘s depression had to affect his mental health as well! It seems like his depression triggered a vicious cycle that was very unhealthy for both of them. 3d

BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks My guess about her horror of mental illness is that she saw it as deeply shameful, AND she worried it would be passed on to their children. Take her judgmental opinions and high views of her own heritage—not wanting to bring “that“ into the family—add in her deep fear over “what others would think,” plus the stigma at that time about mental health: and her deep horror about it makes a lot of sense to me. 3d

BarbaraJean @lauraisntwilder I get it! I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you're caught up! 3d

24 likes17 comments

Lcsmcat

War in Val D'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944 | Iris Origo

My February stats. Proud Shoes was the highest ranked, but the tagged book is so important right now.

28 likes

kelli7990

Journalkeeping | Carl Koch

Here‘s another journaling thing I looked up. I wanted to know if there were Afternoon Pages like there are Morning and Night Pages. I‘ve done Afternoon Pages and Night Pages before and the last 2 days, I tried Morning Pages because I had to get up early. I‘ve never tried guided journaling before. I‘ve done Afternoon Pages before and I feel like that works for me because I don‘t get up early. If I don‘t do it at noon then I can do it at night.

17 likes

Crinoline_Laphroaig

Sense and Sensibility: The Screenplay & Diaries | Emma Thompson

Few ideas for 'Now' discussion of Sense & Sensibility. I can't wait to see what everyone read & watched! 📖📚📺

#JaneAustenThenAndNow
#PemberLittens #JaneAdjacent

Crinoline_Laphroaig @julieclair @SarahBookInterrupted @willaful @mctrish @LitsyEvents
@Julsmarshall @DebinHawaii
@Graciouswarriorprincess
@JenlovesJT47 @Librarybelle
@inthegreensandblues
@Bookwormjillk @dabbe
@CrowCAH @mollyrotondo
@TheBookHippie @Ruthiella
@Deblovestoread @Lizpixie
@SarahBookInterrupted @Andrea313
@StayCurious @eeclayton
1w

Crinoline_Laphroaig @TheAromaofBooks
@peanutnine @rubyslippersreads @CaramelLunacy @Andrea313
@ravenlee @AnneCecilie
@Cheshirecat913 @AllDebooks
@ElizaMarie @AnishaInkspill
@eeclayton @staci.reads
@CoffeeAndABook @Liatrek
@Cuilin @BarkingMadRead @Laughterhp @CoverToCoverGirl
@wordslinger42 @Morr_Books
@bookandbedandtea @Tineke @curiouserandcurioser @Sace
@JenlovesJT47 @trina_reads 1w

Deblovestoread I was so happy to watch the 1995 film and the 2008 mini series. Love them both. I just started

Sense and Second-Degree Murder

See All 13 Comments

Crinoline_Laphroaig @Deblovestoread I didn't get to 2008 mini series. 😢 1w

AnneCecilie @Deblovestoread I watched the same ones. I‘m so happy about I got to rewatch these 1w

julieclair Starting this one tonight (Where did February go???)

Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility

Crinoline_Laphroaig @AnneCecilie it's pure comfort. 7d

Crinoline_Laphroaig @julieclair I know! Suddenly it's Spring. 7d

peanutnine I read the tagged because I love murder mysteries! It was excellent and I think true to the spirit of the original. I also watched the 1995 film, which is a favorite. I didn't know about a mini series! I'll have to check it out

Sense and Second-Degree Murder

CaramelLunacy @peanutnine I just finished Sense and Second Degree Murder as well. I had a good time with the investigations, and especially Margaret gathering material for her horrid novels! 6d

CaramelLunacy I watched the movie From Prada to Nada, a contemporary retelling where Nora and Mary are spoiled rich girls in Beverly Hills and have to move in with a working class aunt when they lose their father. I had a good time, though Mary was so horrid at the beginning I had a hard time with her redemption. The big gesture at the end was utterly ridiculous, but the romantic in me went awwwww anyway! 6d

Crinoline_Laphroaig @CaramelLunacy if it makes you happy that's what matters. Sounds like a fun movie. 6d

peanutnine @CaramelLunacy yes Margaret was an unexpectedly delightful character! 6d

34 likes13 comments

kelli7990

Journalkeeping | Carl Koch

This morning, I did some upside drawing with this picture turned upside down. I tried to draw it just by looking at it. All I know how to draw is stick figures. I don‘t know if I like how my drawing turned out or not. Maybe I should do more upside down drawing. After that, I did Morning Pages. I‘ve never done this before. I‘ve only been doing Night Pages before bed along with a book I‘m currently reading.

#journaling

nelsonmatt890 I like to connect with you and read, lol. 1w

14 likes1 comment

Deblovestoread

The Diary of Anne Frank: The Revised Critical Edition | Anne Frank

#Bookrelated

Today‘s section in our #TreeADay reading. My question to you is if you have read the tagged book, any factual history or historical fiction set during WWII how you cannot see the parallels from that time to this? What is keeping you from recognizing how our freedoms are being taken away piece by piece? It is happening again and you are not only cheering for it you are praising God for it. God help us all.

Ruthiella I‘m currently reading Maus by Art Spiegelman and also see the pattern. Particularly in the swiftness. Laws and institutions will only hold up if we collectively support them. 2w

Jess861 The Dutch Orphan was a very interesting book to read at this time. Some spoke up, others didn't as freedoms were slowly taken away. The parallels are scary.

The Dutch Orphan

Deblovestoread @Jess861 Stacked! Thanks for the recommendation. 🩷 2w

See All 9 Comments

TheBookHippie I‘ve seen the replanted of this tree by the World Trade Center. I agree with your post… and am just making mine… 2w

Soscha We‘re past the punch a Nazi in the face days. And days of not wanting to be friends with Russian oligarchs. 😒 (edited) 2w

dabbe To add to your thoughts, you made me think of this allusion from my Book of Allusions:
•Bread and Circuses: This phrase was used by a writer during the time of the Roman Empire. He deplored the fact that the Imperial government was able to keep the populace content merely by distributing free food and providing entertainment spectacles, such as the fights in the Coliseum between people or between people and animals. ⬇️ 2w

dabbe The writer declared that it was shameful that people could be so easily kept in line simply by receiving “bread and circuses“ from the government.

The term today refers to policies designed to PREVENT UNREST BY KEEPING PEOPLE HAPPY and thus DEFLECTING CONCERN about troubling issues.

How many dystopian novels show us that if you keep people quiet and happy (plugged in like F451), most will do NOTHING to save us all. #ranttime 2w

kspenmoll Thank you all for #ranttime Visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam was one of the most moving experiences of my life. 2w

TheBookHippie @Jess861 I agree. 1w

63 likes9 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books