Welcome to Litsy!

18 year old Manod lives on a small Welsh island whose population is steadily decreasing as people leave for easier lives on the mainland. She is smart and dreams of more than a life where her only future is marriage. When strangers arrive to study the island Manod is both drawn to them and dismayed at how wrong they are about her home. A quiet novel with a unique and complicated heroine, this was easy to finish quickly but left much to consider.

Beautiful. Stark yet bursting with imagery.
A rare treat, a brand new book. I e been lusting after either of her previous novels and then this sat on a shelf in a little indie bookshop and I picked it. And read, devoured, it.
Adored it. I keep mulling over the story and the island.

Debut novel about a small Welsh island community right before World War II. This was one of the books I had predicted would make the booker last year (I was wrong). Quiet novel about island life that is beautifully written. Fairly similar to The Colony. Story follows 18-yo Manood who is conflicted between traditions of her community and desire for modernization on the mainland.

Reminiscent of a few books I‘ve enjoyed: The Colony by Audrey Magee and Clear by Carys Davies. It‘s a slim novel, set in 1938 off the coast of Wales on a tiny island with 20 inhabitants. We see the island from Manod‘s perspective, an 18 year old girl living with her father and younger sister, when two English researchers arrive. Seeing her existence through their eyes changes everything. Isolated community, heavy on the nature and scenery.

In 1843 John Ferguson travels to a remote island N of Shetland to evict Ivar, the only inhabitant for the last 20 yrs, so that the island can be turned over to sheep. The 2 men have no language in common and John's notes & docs in Norn are destroyed in an accident soon after his arrival.

Fascinating exploration of how the relationship develops through illness and language learning. The ending was unexpected and I want to know what happened next.

Stunning! This is a little book but it had a big impact on me. So atmospheric, I wish I could spend time reading on this island.
Aghh Mary, you are definitely a keeper! The ending was perfect. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I‘m so glad this was my first read for 2025.
Thanks for the gift @LeeRHarry 🤍🩵💙🩶
#LitsyAtoZ @Texreader Letter C

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I listened to this a few months ago and hadn‘t got around to a review.

I had seen the original 1932 film and so knew the “twist” already. Still, I was unprepared for 1.) how short it is & 2.) how well written it is. Possibly one of the best stories from a technical stand point I have ever read. If I recall correctly, though,the ending is where Connell‘s technicality falters, suffering from a rushed and clunky conclusion.

#12Booksof2024 JULY A beautiful rugged book, set on an Island off of Scotland. I loved everything about this book.

My June #12Booksof2024 pick was our first book for #CampLitsy24 & a clear (pun intended) favorite. Very atmospheric & absorbing.

Honorable Mentions include: Run Towards the Danger, Doppelgänger & A Scatter of Light.