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#Persephoneclub
review
Tamra
One Afternoon | Sian James
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Mehso-so

I was simultaneously delighted and frustrated by this #PersephoneClub selection! I loved some of the lyricism and forward inclusive messaging, but just when I got engaged with a character or plot point off it went in another direction. I will be very curious about others‘ thoughts on the ending.

My copy has a story of its own. I ordered it in January and it arrived soaked in lemon oil! It had to air out for 7 months in the garage. 😝

ChasingOm 🫢 15h
Tamra Maybe I‘ll change my mind on reflection, but I didn‘t like the ending. It was counter to the messaging about the times changing re: women‘s independence, competence, etc. Charlie is a complete cad and that won‘t change with marriage. 🙃 15h
Tamra I wanted more with Ann‘s MIL, loved those parts! 15h
See All 10 Comments
LeahBergen I liked the ending! I guess it seemed to me that she was okay without him but then decided that she‘d accept him, warts and all? But you‘re right, I can‘t see him changing AT ALL. The mother-in-law was one of my favourites characters! Well, apart from that Georgian house. 😆 I WANT that Georgian house. 10h
LeahBergen How did it get “lemon oiled” in the mail? 😱 10h
Tamra @LeahBergen no idea, other than someone else‘s package leaked onto mine. The cardboard package was soaked and the whole thing stunk to high heaven. I really wasn‘t sure it was ever going to be readable it was so bad. Like huffing lemon pledge. Now it‘s just pleasantly scented. 🤣 (edited) 10h
Tamra @LeahBergen oh yes, that house! I also loved Marianne‘s character and wanted more! I just felt like Ann settled after all that upset, including the unsatisfactory first marriage. I did not at all like how Charlie talked to her, I was pretty surprised actually. Also especially after trying to convince the naysayers it was fine to be a single parent. I‘m not sure how to interpret. I like the honesty in it; feelings, relationships, life are messy. 9h
LeahBergen “huffing lemon pledge” 😂😂 9h
LeahBergen He was pretty obnoxious when his parents came to visit, too. All Lord of the Manor. I read the introduction after I finished and realized that yeah, it probably was quite ahead of its time for 1975. At least Mrs Lamb will be glad of the outcome 😆 9h
Tamra @LeahBergen yes she will! 😭😂 Yes, I had to look a couple of times at the year of publication because it was quite forward in several respects. Nudging us in the right direction. 😉 8h
31 likes10 comments
blurb
LeahBergen
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Okay, @Bookbuyingaddict and @Teresereading … it‘s your turn!

Please create a post with your two choices of Persephone books for the group to vote on for June and August (respectively).

Please tag everyone in my previous “voting order” post. And don‘t forget to vote on the posts that are already up for February and April! Thank you. 😊

#PersephoneClub

Teresereading I'm trying to but can't pist atm..... 3h
Teresereading Post! 3h
LeahBergen @Teresereading Oh no! I hope it works soon 🤞 now
35 likes3 comments
blurb
Tamra
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April 2026 nominations are open! #PersephoneClub

Little Boy Lost by Laski
The New House by Cooper

Both titles are linked in the comments.

@LeahBergen @andrew61 @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @rubyslippersreads @quietjenn @Gissy @Bookbuyingaddict @daena @elkeOriginal @Caryl @willaful @Teresereading

LeahBergen Gah! I can‘t choose! 😂 Okay, I‘ll go for the one I‘ve owned longer (although I love a good novel above a house 😭). I vote for 1d
See All 11 Comments
CarolynM I‘m voting for 1d
quietjenn I think I'll go with 1d
Gissy Both sound so interesting 🤔 But I go for Little Boy Lost 20h
Teresereading The New House 19h
andrew61 Probably New House as I read little boy lost some time ago. Great choices. 17h
31 likes11 comments
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andrew61
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Thank you @LeahBergen for nominating me to choose the options for Feb 2026
Sorry if I've copied anyone no longer involved
@quietjenn @Tamra @CarolynM @sisilia @Caryl @daena @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful @Teresereading @rubyslippersreads
Here we go
126 Despised and Rejected Rose Allatini
149 Sofia Petrovna Lydia Chukoskaya

LeahBergen Great choices, Andrew! I‘ve read Despised and Rejected so I‘ll vote for 2d
LeahBergen Oops! We‘re missing @rubyslippersreads from this list. 😀 2d
See All 14 Comments
LeahBergen Oh, and I just noticed that @Cathythoughts is missing, too. 😆 I know it‘s always a bit tricky (and not very user-friendly) tagging on Litsy! The 13 people on my last #PersephoneClub voting order post are our current members. 2d
andrew61 @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts on no apologies, Cathy. I just copied from my last post . 2d
rubyslippersreads @andrew61 No problem. 😁 2d
CarolynM I‘m voting for 2d
LeahBergen Edit to above: We are at 14 members now. 😀 2d
Cathythoughts @andrew61 All good 😁 2d
Tamra Andrew, you‘ve made this a difficult choice, I want to read both! 😅 I‘m going with 1d
Teresereading Despised and Rejected 6h
21 likes14 comments
review
Caryl
Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton
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Pickpick

This story of two mothers and their families held me captivated. I felt for Mrs. Fowler, and I came to care for Mrs. Willoughby, too. The last chapter was exactly the ending I needed. I can see myself picking this one again in another year or two. Classic Persephone!

This was my February #BookSpin pick.

#PersephoneClub
#BookSpinBINGO @TheAromaofBooks

Caryl The title was perfect — the life of a parent of adult children is like being on (or witnessing your kids on) a chaotic “roundabout” sometimes, where you have little control except to be there to cheer, wave, whatever they need when they pass you by each time. 6d
LeahBergen I thoroughly enjoyed this one, too (and just reminded myself that I need to read more Crompton!). 6d
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6d
See All 11 Comments
Cathythoughts Lovely pic. I loved this one. 5d
Caryl @LeahBergen Yes! I would love to read another of her novels. I should look for more of her books… 5d
Caryl @Cathythoughts it‘s hard to take a bad photo of a Persephone book. 😍 5d
CarolynM I loved it too😊 5d
Bookbuyingaddict Me too , I loved it and have been looking for more of her books but couldn‘t find any , seems she‘s quite forgotten over hear as is the wonderful one afternoon author Sian James 😍thank goodness for Persephone 🥰 5d
Caryl @CarolynM I just went back to check, and I see this was your pick for us. Such a good one! Thank you! 💕 1d
Caryl @Bookbuyingaddict She has so many books -- not to mention her William series for kids. Looks like I could order one through my independent bookstore, but which one?! And I'm in the middle of One Afternoon now, and I'm loving it, too! 💖 1d
CarolynM You‘re very welcome ☺️ I read and loved some of the Just William books when I was a child and never knew she wrote grown up books too. I couldn‘t resist! I‘ve now also read (edited) 1d
33 likes11 comments
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Caryl
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here‘s my December #BookSpinBINGO shelf! My #bookspin pick is the year-long #NaturaLitsy pick: A Tree a Day. My #doublespin pick ended up being the same one I got in November: The Blank Wall. I‘m adding One Afternoon as well, hoping to sneak in two #PersephoneClub reads this month!

LeahBergen At least they‘re two shorter Persephones 😆 1w
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 1w
Caryl @LeahBergen Very true! Should be quicker reads. I started The Blank Wall last night. 🥳 7d
Caryl @TheAromaofBooks Thank you! 😊 7d
21 likes4 comments
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LitsyEvents
One Afternoon | Sian James
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repost for @LeahBergen

It‘s now December (!) so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

rubyslippersreads‘ pick for us this month is One Afternoon by Siân James.

ALSO: Will you all chime in and let me know if you‘d like to be on this list? We are going to start voting on next year‘s picks very soon!

#BuddyRead

LeahBergen Thanks for the repost! 1w
Gissy 🙋🏽‍♀️ 1w
LitsyEvents @LeahBergen see above :) 1w
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen @Gissy Glad you‘re sticking with us! 😃 1w
Gissy 🙋🏽‍♀️ 1w
25 likes6 comments
blurb
LeahBergen
One Afternoon | Sian James
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It‘s now December (!) so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@rubyslippersreads ‘ pick for us this month is One Afternoon by Siân James.

ALSO: Will you all chime in below ⬇️ and let me know if you‘d like to stay on this list? We are going to start voting on next year‘s picks very soon! ?

willaful I again would like to be tagged but not be a voting member, please. 1w
Tamra I‘ve already started, yay! Definitely keep me on the list. Such enjoyable reads. 😄 (edited) 1w
Bookbuyingaddict Oh this is a great choice I‘m in for the re read loved it 🥰 yes please 🙏 keep me on and also want to vote 🗳️ if that‘s ok 👍 😀happy December reading x x x 1w
See All 21 Comments
LeahBergen @willaful No problem! You can still vote on the choices but you won‘t have to put up two books for the vote, if that works. 😀 (edited) 1w
LeahBergen @Tamra 👍 Thanks! 1w
LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Great! Thank you. 😊 1w
CarolynM Lovely! Hopefully I won't be dragging my heels on this one 🙂 Please keep me on the taglist. I love this group (and the excuse to buy more Persephones 😆) 1w
willaful @LeahBergen sounds fine, thanks 1w
Caryl Thank you for organizing this wonderful reading group! I would love to continue to be included, and I need to recommit. I've read two of the chosen titles this year, and loved them both, but never found the time to post about them. Watch for some belated reflections this month! Also really looking forward to One Afternoon. 💖 1w
quietjenn Yes, please! I missed one or two this year, but am committed 🙂 1w
Cathythoughts Thanks Leah. Yes ! Onwards and upwards with Persephone ❤️ keep me in xxx 1w
rubyslippersreads Please keep me on the list. As @CarolynM says, it‘s a great excuse to buy more Persephones. 😄 1w
LeahBergen @andrew61 Are you in for another year with us? 😄 4d
LeahBergen @Sparklemn @Teresereading @elkeOriginal @daena Do you all want to stay on the list and vote for next year‘s reads? 😃 4d
Teresereading Yes please, I‘ve already read One Afternoon, loved it. 4d
elkeOriginal Keep me on the list! 4d
Sparklemn You can take me off the list but I‘ll follow along with your posts and join you when I can. 4d
andrew61 @LeahBergen yes please leah. I've enjoyed the selection this year and will start one afternoon shortly. Thanks for organising. 4d
daena Yes, keep me on. I‘m gonna try to get myself together next go round! @LeahBergen 2d
LeahBergen @daena Okay, I‘ll add you back on to the main list again. We‘ll be voting this week on next year‘s reads so keep popping in if you can. 😄 2d
46 likes1 stack add21 comments
review
quietjenn
The blank wall: a novel of suspense | Elisabeth Sanxay Holding
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Pickpick

At some point this week - I'm not sure when exactly because time is an illusion that all blurs together - I finished the #persephoneclub book from October. Very behind, but I felt compelled since it was my pick and I did want to read it. I'd say I liked it but didn't love it. When the only character you really like is the would-be blackmailer and murderer ... 🤷‍♀️ Some interesting food for thought though.

LeahBergen 😂 I felt a bit like that, too, about the blackmailer! 2w
Tamra I‘m glad you picked it, I rather enjoyed this one. 😄 2w
See All 6 Comments
rubyslippersreads I still have to catch up on this one. 2w
Cathythoughts I enjoyed this one xxx 2w
CarolynM The blackmailers‘ plot seemed a bit over complicated to me. 2w
50 likes6 comments
review
CarolynM
The blank wall: a novel of suspense | Elisabeth Sanxay Holding
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Mehso-so

Finally finished last month‘s #PersephoneClub read. I‘m not usually put off by a book being dated, but this time I found it really hard to let go of my modern mindset. Bee & David annoyed me, the crooks were unbelievable for a lot of reasons and Lucia‘s overwrought internal monologue made me unpleasantly anxious rather than thrilled. I‘m ruining this book‘s 100% pick record. Sorry 🫣

LeahBergen Ha! Well, I kind of like that you ruined its perfect review. No book is perfect. 😆 3w
Cathythoughts Now that‘s where all the big discussions come from in the Bookclub, all the different opinions … 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 things get nice and heated ! 3w
63 likes2 comments