Welcome to Litsy!

Author Tom Cox got his books back from publisher Unbound (they went into administration). He's currently selling the copies he got from the publisher in lieu of payment.

Here's his post about it on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/tomcox/p/hurray-i-now-own-my-books-again?utm_sourc...

He's asking for postage plus whatever you can afford of the cover price, which I think is more than fair.

Ok #hashtagbrigade here is our April/May book! This book has 59 chapters! This is open to everyone, just remember that my hashtags are often ridiculous and always chapter spoilers, so don‘t read my post until you‘ve read the day‘s chapter! We will read a chapter a day, starting April 1. Drop a comment below if you are joining in!
via @barkingmadread

Ok #hashtagbrigade here is our April/May book! This book has 59 chapters! This is open to everyone, just remember that my hashtags are often ridiculous and always chapter spoilers, so don‘t read my post until you‘ve read the day‘s chapter! We will read a chapter a day, starting April 1. Drop a comment below if you are joining in!

"Caesar: 'The Ides of March are come.'
"Soothsayer: 'Ay, Caesar; but not gone.'"
-William Shakespeare, "Julius Caesar," Act III, Scene 1

Random book from our home library:

📖 Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, introduction by Marcelle Clements (Signet Classics)

4⭐️ I enjoyed this one, although I felt a bit disappointed with the ending. What I like the most is that it‘s very one-sided; we get to know about Corrigan from the point of views of the main characters, but Blackwood didn‘t give him a single voice. I liked that; it‘s clever that way and I loved her style.

What happens when a Canadian who loves smaller press and translated fiction hits London, finds used books by the Thames, goes to Brick Lane Books *and* Blackwell‘s in Oxford? This happens (oh, and I still have Daunt Books and Hatchards before we leave). And even better? Three of them are signed editions!

Very enjoyable to read Cusk‘s first novel that really deftly captures the experience of being a young female adult. Some lines were so spot on: “She strove not to please others but merely not to disgust them.” An accurate portrait of growing into female adulthood in the 90s from my perspective. Agnes is a little trying at times, but I loved to see her find her way.

#ThreeListThursday #tlt

Finally, a score I can (sort of) live with. I definitely need to up my classics game!
Three favorites include:
1. THE SECRET GARDEN. A favorite since childhood.
2. TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES. Read this with #hashtagbrigade, and it was my favorite book of 2023!
3. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Since I was required to read it in high school. A favorite to have taught as well.