HashTagBrigade

pick

I had this sitting on my shelf for years and was happy that the #HashtagBrigade motivated me to finally read it. I suppose I'd put it off because of the heavy themes, including mental illness and suicide. The novel was indeed disturbing and difficult to read, but also engrossing, poignant and even really humorous at times.

kwmg40 @BarkingMadRun
#52bookclub25 (Stream of consciousness narrative)
#gottacatchemall (Spinda: a book you forgot you owned) @PuddleJumper 16h

PuddleJumper 🥳🥳 8h

36 likes2 comments

BarkingMadRead

Woman in White | Wilkie COLLINS

Epoch 2, part 1, ch 4-6: so stressful #laurawontsignthepapers #soproud #countporkchopstepsin #percyleaves #marianwritestothelawyer #countporkchopreadit 😳 #countesscoldeyeshelpshim 🙄 #lauraandmariantakeastroll #followed 😳 #bywho #butnowweknowwhatanasspercyis #notsurprised #dick #marianinterceptstheletter #countporkchopshowsupimmediately #porkchopcluesinpercy #nosignaturenow #whew #but #anneisback #sheknowspercyssecret #theplotthickens #staytuned

BarkingMadRead #hashtagbrigade 23h

BarkingMadRead @bookwormjillk @bklover @mcctrish @librarybelle @sace @clare-dragonfly @ruthiella @roary47 @catlass007 @elizamarie @quietjenn @dabbe @kwmg40 @rubyslippersreads 23h

BarkingMadRead @kao @barbarajean @thearomaofbooks @julieclair @samanne @kathywheeler @leftcoastzen @kspenmoll @graciouswarriorprincess @morr_books 23h

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Leftcoastzen 😂👏 23h

Bookwormjillk Super stressful 23h

Leftcoastzen I was hoping they might be able to get a letter out & get a response. #Countporkchop keeps a close eye on things , I know novels of this era draws things out , but I‘m yelling at the book if there is a secret , tell Laura & Marian NOW!😄 22h

mcctrish #countporkchop is the mastermind! How much money does #percypig owe him? I loathe the countess, Ann is the hero 21h

Clare-Dragonfly How exciting! I wanted to cheer when Laura wouldn‘t sign the paper without reading it. She learned something from Emily! 😂 I‘m glad #countporkchop only read Marian‘s letter—I was afraid he would have tampered with it. 21h

ElizaMarie #WhatIsTheSecret !? I need to know! The suspense keeps building up! 7h

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BarkingMadRead

Woman in White | Wilkie COLLINS

Epoch 2, 1st story parts 1-3: Laura is back #differentbutthesame #nopeekintothemarriage #seemsshady #countfoscothough #verypowerfulman #hebroketheaunt #thatwomanwillsnap #ihopewegettowatch #shadydealingswithpercy #ihopelauradoesntsign #marianisleftout #butfirstawalk #countisananimalwhisperer #yesideliberatelyavoidedthedogdying 😢😢😢 #percyisunthrilledaboutmrsC #tenseconversations #foscoworriesme #thatpaperworriesme #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

BarkingMadRead @bookwormjillk @bklover @mcctrish @librarybelle @sace @clare-dragonfly @ruthiella @roary47 @catlass007 @elizamarie @quietjenn @dabbe @kwmg40 2d

BarkingMadRead @kao @barbarajean @thearomaofbooks @julieclair @samanne @kathywheeler @leftcoastzen @kspenmoll @graciouswarriorprincess 2d

Clare-Dragonfly My only positive thought with Fosco is that if he likes to hang out with other Italians maybe we‘ll get to see Pesca again! Though TBH he‘s not wrong about morals. Does Marian remind anyone else of Jo from Little Women with all her little masculine traits? I love it. 2d

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mcctrish @Clare-Dragonfly both Fosco and #percypig have sliding scale morals so they‘d know. I think Laura will sign because she‘s basically broken too. What is up with Mrs Catherick?! 2d

Bookwormjillk He‘s evil but he also walks around with a cage full of mice. This is such a delightfully weird book. 2d

dabbe @Clare-Dragonfly And if I remember right, Pesca fled Italy for some reason. Wonder if there's a connection there with the evil Count? 🤔 2d

dabbe @mcctrish #percypig 🎯🎯🎯! 2d

dabbe The house is decrepit in some areas, there's a scary lake and dark forest which makes Marian feel claustrophobic, a dog dies that was SHOT!, some of the servants are questionable ... we are not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy! Marian and Laura are away from ALL who care about them, especially the lawyer. They are now completely vulnerable and at the hands of #percypig and #countporkchop 😱 2d

BarkingMadRead @dabbe #countporkchop 🤣🤣🤣 2d

mcctrish That sums it up @dabbe and #countporkchop he shall be 2d

dabbe @BarkingMadRead 🤣🤩🤣 2d

dabbe @mcctrish #pig&pork 🤣 2d

BarbaraJean @dabbe A scary lake that #percypig and #countporkchop casually discuss whether it‘s a suitable location for committing a murder. Because THAT‘S not weird at all. Totally normal. Nothing to see here… (edited) 2d

BarbaraJean @Clare-Dragonfly When Marian says England is “unquestionably virtuous” in not killing “thousands of innocent people on the most frivolous pretexts”—that they are “free from all guilt of that kind”—I just said to myself: “Oh, honey…” 😵‍💫 Fosco ain‘t wrong, that‘s for sure! (edited) 2d

dabbe @BarbaraJean Excellent point and foreshadowing ... I'm loving how Gothic this is--but such better plot over #verdantverdure UDOLPHO! 🤩🤣🤗 2d

ElizaMarie Yall kill me!! #PercyPig and #CountPorkchop --- I can't even!!! 1d

Leftcoastzen So many bad signs , Laura not telling Marian ANYTHING about her husband, the creepy murder talk. #countporkchop and his mouse circus , you can tell #percypig needs money because of the condition of the estate. I keep thinking, don‘t sign Laura, no one around to help Laura or Marian 1d

Morr_Books I'm gonna catch up this weekend and then join the discussions, so feel free to add me! 😀 1d

41 likes18 comments

Librarybelle

The Bell Jar | Sylvia Plath

pick

This has been on my tbr forever, and I am so glad the #HashtagBrigade read it, though I‘m pretty late finishing the book for the group.

This is a hard story to rate, as Esther‘s story is parts disturbing and hard to read. Knowing Plath‘s state of mind too adds to backstory of this mental health novel. It‘s not supposed to make one comfortable. Glad I read it! #192025 #1963 #LitsyAToZ #LetterB

BarkingMadRead, Texreader

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BarkingMadRead

Woman in White | Wilkie COLLINS

@Bookwormjillk this one‘s for you #shabbyhairring #hashtagbrigade

Bookwormjillk Ew, but probably more environmentally responsible than diamonds? 3d

ElizaMarie Gross!!!! 3d

BarbaraJean 😂 😂 😂 3d

KAO Eeks! 3d

dabbe #wth? 😱🤯😰 2d

37 likes5 comments

BarkingMadRead

Woman in White | Wilkie COLLINS

Epoch 1, part 3: Marian‘s diary #ihavesomuchtosay #lauraleavesituptopercy #aftersheconfessestolovinganother #hestillwantstomarryher 😳 #thiswouldmakeagreatsoapopera #mariandoesnttrusthim #percychoosesaweddingdate #whilethegirlsareaway #thatsnotsketchy #mariangetswaltajobinSAmerica #waltislosinghisshit #orhishe #whoisfollowinghim #marriageprep #mariantriestoseepercyinabetterlight #shesucceeds #until #wtfdidhesaytolaura #toolatenow #shabbyring ⬇️⬇️

BarkingMadRead #sketchyrelatives #couldtherebeaplanbetweenpercyandthecount #morefrommariannext #staytuned #hashtagbrigade 3d

BarkingMadRead @bookwormjillk @bklover @mcctrish @librarybelle @sace @clare-dragonfly @ruthiella @roary47 @catlass007 @elizamarie @quietjenn @dabbe @kwmg40
@kao @barbarajean @thearomaofbooks @julieclair @samanne @kathywheeler @leftcoastzen @kspenmoll @graciouswarriorprincess 3d

Bookwormjillk I was hopping for a picture of a shabby hair ring. This would make an excellent soap. 3d

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ElizaMarie So - If we didn't know that he wants #ALLtheMoney , then choosing to marry her after she tells him she loves another and plans to remain a singleton is kinda sweet (maybe). But.. yeah! Also, I didn't even think the Count and him were in cahoots until you mentioned it! MAYBE!!! - I was just thinking - small world with the rich. Oooo I love telenovelas! This would be a great one! I like this Marian :) 3d

BarkingMadRead @Bookwormjillk ugh i wish i had looked for a shabby hair ring 🤣🤣 3d

Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead I probably shouldn't google that at work. 3d

BarbaraJean @Bookwormjillk @BarkingMadRead I found this #shabbyring: https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/rings/cocktail-rings/antique-victorian-18k-yello... and also this: https://ladynextdoorvintage.com/products/antique-victorian-woven-hair-15k-gold-b... 😖 😬 3d

Clare-Dragonfly 1. Marian is my favorite now! I just wish she‘d let herself stick with hating Percy. Why do you hate him? Because you‘re smart! 2. Looks like Walt is in for a fun adventure. If the ship doesn‘t go down. 3. Not sure who sucks worse, Percy or Uncle. 4. Percy sure isn‘t acting like a man deeply in debt. Marian isn‘t acting like she knows he‘s in debt. I bet she and Laura don‘t know about the debt or his money grab. Does Uncle? 3d

BarkingMadRead @BarbaraJean ew that second one, the hair is on your skin 😳 I don‘t know why, but that grossed me out 🤣 3d

Clare-Dragonfly 5. They‘re going to Italy to meet the horrible aunt and her horrible count husband! (I know he‘s horrible because he‘s friends with Percy.) Somebody‘s going to get locked in a room, aren‘t they?! 3d

BarbaraJean @Clare-Dragonfly Uncle knows! Didn't Mr. Gilmore fill him in on it all? Not that he listened... #mynerves 🙄 3d

BarbaraJean @BarkingMadRead Ugh, I know! And the little buckle? #nope 3d

Clare-Dragonfly @BarbaraJean You‘re right! I guess he doesn‘t care because it has no effect on his precious etchings 🙄 3d

BarbaraJean @Clare-Dragonfly I think I hate Uncle more than Percy. Somehow I respect greed and potential murder-plotting and whatever other nefarious deeds are in his past more than self-absorbed laziness and dramatics. 3d

TheAromaofBooks @BarbaraJean - For REAL the uncle is the villain of the piece! It's been a while since I wanted to punch a fictional character so badly 😂 3d

Bookwormjillk @Clare-Dragonfly someone is most certainly going to get locked in a room. 3d

Bklover Just checked out the rings @BarbaraJean - they are a definite #nothankyou 3d

julieclair @Clare-Dragonfly @Bookwormjillk Now that you've got me thinking about it, I'm 100% certain the person getting locked in a room will be Laura. 3d

mcctrish @Bookwormjillk @BarbaraJean it‘s the shabby that‘s killing me, in my mind the hair of the hair ring is frizzy 🤢 like it‘s regifted 3d

BarkingMadRead @mcctrish 🤣🤣 I was thinking more that the ring itself was shabby, but now you got me wondering…… 3d

mcctrish @Clare-Dragonfly Marian is hands down the best! The uncle is the WORST! I don‘t think anyone knows #percypig is in debt but Gilmore was trying to keep Laura‘s inheritance for her as her father had set it out ( I think he‘s rolling over in his grave for pushing this marriage on Laura and then rolling again over leaving #unclenerves in charge of everything ) and I‘m getting even stronger #udolphovibes from this Italian tour 3d

BarbaraJean @mcctrish Oh, gross—that mental picture makes it worse! And it doesn‘t say whose hair it is, does it? 😬😵‍💫 3d

mcctrish @BarbaraJean hair jewelry is mourning jewelry, made to remember spouses or family and a bloody horrible wedding gift and creepy AF. Maybe her mother‘s hair ? 2d

Leftcoastzen #mynerves that uncle has me so angry, so focused on his “fragile” self & his etchings, shirking his duties. And what did awful Percy say ? Marian is wonderful, I‘m totally creeped out and concerned for the trip to the continent.😡 2d

40 likes24 comments

BarkingMadRead

Woman in White | Wilkie COLLINS

Epoch 1, part 2: y‘all. Damn. #herewego #percyshowsup #iamnotafan #heissomanipulative #marianseesrightthroughhim #lauraavoidshim #thelawyerlikeshim #until #lauradoesntwanttomarryhim #gilmoreleavesandawaitslaurasdecision #percyhasthemaloneallweek #suddenylaurasaysyes #wtf #gilmoreworksonthesettlement #percywantsallhermoney #thatsnotsus 🙄 #fairlieallowsit #dude #idonottrustpercy #neitherdoesgilmore #staytuned #hashtagbrigade

BarkingMadRead @bookwormjillk @bklover @mcctrish @librarybelle @sace @clare-dragonfly @ruthiella @roary47 @catlass007 @elizamarie @quietjenn @dabbe @willaful @kwmg40 4d

BarkingMadRead @kao @barbarajean @thearomaofbooks @julieclair @samanne @kathywheeler @leftcoastzen @kspenmoll @graciouswarriorprincess 4d

CatLass007 Truth! That is completely understandable. 4d

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willaful Could you take me off the tag list please? I'd really like to read it with you but I just don't seem to be doing it. :-( 4d

BarkingMadRead @willaful absolutely 4d

ElizaMarie Percy is lower than a dog! That doggie not liking him is a #RedFlag and just #AlllTheMoney IF she dies? Hmm... are we setting up for some future murder? Or is my mind just dark/gutter? And -- Why does she have to marry #RightBefore she is of age? Like if she was of age, would she have been able to make the will work? 4d

BarkingMadRead @ElizaMarie that‘s exactly what I thought! He‘s twice her age, obviously he will be the first to go, unless…. 4d

mcctrish The fact he wants to marry her before she‘s 21 is a red flag! Wait 3 months and she can do her own will without that stupid #unclesmellingsalts having any say! Also Aunt Eleanor and her Count were giving me brief Udolpho vibes #iykyk 🤣🤣 she needs to put Marian in a legal document #percypig is going to run her out of town aka #lockherup 4d

Bklover @mcctrish Next thing you know Marian will suddenly be in an asylum. Soon following will be Laura. #percypigisanass 4d

mcctrish @Bklover #thewritingisonthewall 4d

Bookwormjillk I felt like Uncle Crabby in his room yesterday. Every time I tried to read this section someone would talk to me. My nerves! All caught up now and you all said what I was thinking. I‘m loving reading about the same events from different points of view. 3d

Clare-Dragonfly I appreciate how Collins drums in that Percy is a jerk and not to be trusted. As though we didn‘t all hate him already, the dog can‘t stand him. Dogs know! Do you think Collins was getting paid by the word like Dickens? That last section was a whole lot of words to say “he gets all her money if she dies first” 😂 And even if he doesn‘t have nefarious plans… this book is still in a high maternal mortality era. 3d

Clare-Dragonfly @mcctrish Udolpho vibes yes 😂 3d

mcctrish @Clare-Dragonfly I love our ‘inside vibes‘ connections #bestgroupever #trustthedog 3d

BarkingMadRead @Clare-Dragonfly 💯 Gilmore was like, let me just explain this last bit real quick, and then it took like 5 pages. Sir. 3d

Clare-Dragonfly I forgot to mention, I have serious doubts that uneducated Mrs. Catherick really wrote that “yeah Percy is cool with me” letter. 😒 I wish we were reading this more slowly—so much happens in each day‘s section that I can‘t remember it all, let alone have time to discuss it! 3d

julieclair Whew! Lots going on 3d

julieclair #trustthedog for sure. And what's with #unclesmellingsalts allowing this ridiculous inheritance business? 3d

Leftcoastzen Always #trustthedog could Gilmore make it any more obvious to #unclesmellingsalts ? Lost in his own little world to the perils of his family 2d

51 likes19 comments

KathyWheeler

The Woman in White | Wilkie Colli

I have had this book forever, but finally decided to read it because #hashtagbrigade is reading it. I will probably go back and forth between audio and print. Today it was audio on my #audiowalk. I really like it so far.

ElizaMarie I am switching between the two as well :) 4d

21 likes1 comment

DieAReader

The Bell Jar | Sylvia Plath

so-so

#Wardens2025 #Read2025 #Roll100 #hashtagbrigade

Finished last week. Glad to have finally read/removed this classic from my physical shelves. So much happier also to have read it with great friends #hashtagbrigade 🥰💖

Thanks @BarkingMadRead for hosting #hashtagbrigade 💖

Also, this was one of my February #Roll100 picks📚