Welcome to Litsy!

I wish that this #ScottishBook had won the vote for last month‘s #bookclub meeting! Set during WWII, Ellis & Maddie are a married couple more intent on fun than the war effort. Their drunken frivolities get them banned from the family & so with flat-footed Hank, they make their way from New England the Loch Ness in the midst of the war! This proves eye-opening for Maddie who finds that Scotland helps her see the truth about herself & her marriage.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/14/brooklyn-and-beyond-colm-toibins-b...

Happy Birthday Colm!! Look who you share a birthday with @dabbe

The only change I would make is swap out The Testament of Mary for House of Names. I haven‘t read Long Island yet. Great list!!

My reading is a bit fragmented as we're travelling around Europe at the moment so I'm not getting the best sense of this one. Though we're told at the beginning that it's set in Egypt in 1926 I can't really identify the time period from the story other than early (first half) 20th century.

I am not sure how to review this book that I finished reading a few days ago. The first half for me was meandering and a bit irritating. Then once I realised what was happening, I became more engaged and was propelled forward. Then it ended. I‘m not sure I “buy” the relationship. An unnerving, clever and different read.

Spinsterish Penelope Shadow becomes an overnight success as romantic novelist and can now afford her own house. The only problem is that she is deathly afraid of being alone at night and needs a live-in servant. Enter 20-year-old Terry, who seems to be perfect in every way … but is he really?

This is touted as a domestic novel that evolves into a thriller and I‘m here for it (thus the popcorn 😆).

1. It gives me joy to have compiled the 2025-26 slate of selections for the book club at my church.
2. I just finished the long version of this list, with covers and synopses. It‘s been a good distraction from…all this.
#mentalhealthmonday

I don't expect less from TJR but this was another fantastic book, and a nail biter to the very end. So good.

3.5/5⭐️
This wasn‘t as good as I remember it being. I still liked it, but my memory of my last read was nicer than the rereading experience. It felt slow…but not a kind of good slow. I liked Margret and Agnes. Soft pick. I‘m looking forward to the discussion and insights from others.

#LiteraryCrew @Librarybelle

Watson isn't loving this huge thunderstorm nearly as much as I am. My workday is over, so I'm cuddling with him, playing some jazz to try calming him, and catching up on the #sundaybuddyread.

Luckily, I worked from home today & don't need to go anywhere. I'm just hoping my guy can get home in a couple of hours.