Litsy

Someone at a Distance | Dorothy Whipple, Nina Bawden

pick

I could not put this down! Whipple has an exceptional ability to convey the emotional lives of her characters with such realism. Not for a minute did any of it feel like fiction; it was like being a fly on the wall. That is until the end. I suspect had this novel been written today the end would be quite different. Still, a 5⭐️read!

This novel has the best description of a cozy happy family Xmas I‘ve ever encountered. Just picture perfect.

Tamra It‘s so dreary again today - the pic was not taken in the evening despite being so dark. 😒 2d

Tamra Ugh, Louise was such a despicable woman! Whipple made her the perfect foil to the happiness of the North family. Ironic how she made the matriarch so happy, not that Louise cared a wit. 2d

Ruthiella I love Dorothy Whipple! “The Priory” is my favorite, but maybe only because I read it first? I also read and loved this one and “Greenbanks”. 2d

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Cathythoughts Oh I loved this book. ❤️❤️❤️ 2d

Tamra @Ruthiella I have a enjoyed a couple of her other titles, but I will add The Priory to my TBR now! 2d

Tamra @Cathythoughts soooo good! 😊 2d

LeahBergen Oh, Louise! 😠 This was such a great read. 2d

LeahBergen @Ruthiella The Priory was my first Whipple, too. 👍 2d

55 likes1 stack add8 comments

Ruthiella

William, an Englishman | Cicely Hamilton

Finished my 8th #10BeforetheEnd book.

This is a short novel which finishes in a very different tone than the mocking one with which it starts. Written during and published just after WWI , it‘s about the horror and futility of war but also the very human ability to see only what one wants to see, until the scales from one‘s eyes are forcibly removed. Still relevant.

LeahBergen I‘ll have to get to this one soon! 2w

andrew61 Sounds very good. I have it on my limited shelf of persephones. I'll aim to read it in 2025. 2w

Caryl I read this years ago and I really liked it. I was thinking recently it was time for a re-read. 💖 2w

See All 6 Comments

Ruthiella @LeahBergen I hope you find it as interesting I did! 2w

Ruthiella @andrew61 My collection of Persephone editions is also quite small. I‘ll be interested in your thoughts on this. 2w

Ruthiella @Caryl It would make for an interesting re-visit, I think, considering the books topic and knowing its outcome. 2w

62 likes6 comments

Ruthiella

William, an Englishman | Cicely Hamilton

#weekendreads

Putting effort in this weekend to finish all the books before the year ends!

#LitsySciFiBookClub
#10BeforetheEnd
#ChristmasCrimeChallenge

rachelsbrittain

LeahBergen I‘m always compelled to finish all books by December 31st in time to start a new one on January 1st. 😆 2w

Ruthiella @LeahBergen I don‘t always manage it, but it‘s such a great feeling when I do! 😅 2w

42 likes2 comments

LitsyEvents

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

Repost for @LeahBergen

It‘s time to announce the Persephone Club reads for next year! 🎉

Anyone is welcome to read along with us at any time, of course.

#PersephoneClub

See original post at https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2816840

LeahBergen Thanks for the repost! 3w

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LeahBergen

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

Our voting has trickled off so it‘s time to announce what we‘re reading next year … TA-DAH! 🎉

Anyone is welcome to read along with us at any time, of course.

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Cathythoughts Good job Leah ! Thankyou and I‘m loving the choices ❤️ 3w

CarolynM Thanks Leah. Some good books to look forward to🙂 3w

Bookbuyingaddict All books 📚 mentioned were worthy I think so hard to whittle it down , thank you 🙏 so much Leah look forward to reading along with you and a merry happy 😃 Christmas to you all 🥰🥰😘x x. X x x x 3w

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Teresereading I‘d like to join you 3w

BarbaraBB I have only read the tagged one and am looking forward to be inspired by all of your reviews. Just ordered Emmeline by the way - thanks to you 😀

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 3w

Tamra Thank you, Leah! 😘 3w

quietjenn Woohoo! Here's to another great year of reading together! 3w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @Bookbuyingaddict @Tamra @quietjenn We‘re going to have fun!! 👏👏 3w

LeahBergen @Teresereading Please do! Would you like me to add you to the tag list? 3w

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I can‘t wait to hear what you think of it! 3w

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 3w

julieclair Yay! Lots of fun reading ahead. Thanks so much for organizing us, Leah. 💙 3w

elkeOriginal Excited! Love this list 📚 3w

elkeOriginal (and orders have been placed in midst of excitement🤦🏼‍♀️) 3w

LeahBergen @julieclair It‘s going to be great! 👏 3w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 😆😆 Of course they have! 3w

Caryl What a wonderful list of titles. Thank you for organizing! I'm hoping to participate more. 3w

LeahBergen @Caryl That would be wonderful! 😊 3w

daena These look great, fabulous assortment! 3w

LeahBergen @daena I think so, too! 😊 3w

51 likes2 stack adds21 comments

quietjenn

Vain Shadow | Jane Hervey, Celia Robertson

Ok, #PersephoneClub friends - here's your next slate for voting! Sort of seasonal, for those who like that, but not overtly so (I think?). Can't wait to see what you vote for!

@LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal @Cathythoughts @Caryl @sisilia @Tamra @andrew61 @willaful @julieclair @Aimeesue @Gissy @Bookbuyingaddict @daena

quietjenn Link:

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

LeahBergen Ooo, this is the first time I‘ve actually already read both! Shall I still vote? How about if I vote for the one I liked a teensy bit better? 😆

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

julieclair My vote goes to

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

See All 11 Comments

quietjenn @LeahBergen oops, sorry? But we should happily take your expert vote! 😜 3w

Tamra Well, besides the recommendation of Leah, who can resist that cover!? 😵 😆

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

elkeOriginal Vain Shadow! 3w

Cathythoughts Great choices. I‘ve read Blank Wall and would happily read it again. I‘ll vote for

Vain Shadow

LeahBergen @quietjenn 😆😆 3w

LeahBergen Okay, @rubyslippersreads … you can post our two choices for December now. We‘re almost done! 😀 3w

rubyslippersreads For the cover alone,

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

LeahBergen And the winner is The Blank Wall! 3w

45 likes11 comments

CarolynM

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

#PersephoneClub

Here are my two suggestions for next year‘s February read. The first is tagged, I‘ll tag the second one in the comments.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

CarolynM

Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

1mo

Cathythoughts I‘m liking the look of the tagged book. It gets my vote 👍🏻

Family Roundabout

1mo

LeahBergen Nice choices! I‘ve read (and really enjoyed) Family Roundabout so I‘ll vote for

Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

(edited) 1mo

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julieclair Both sound good, but my vote goes to

Good Evening Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

1mo

Tamra Short stories sound fun

Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes

1mo

elkeOriginal I have been wanting to read Good Evening! 1mo

rubyslippersreads I‘d be happy with either, but I‘ve been wanting to read

Family Roundabout

1mo

quietjenn I've read the short stories, so vote for

Family Roundabout

1mo

Bookbuyingaddict Oohh again two great choices and I‘d be happy with either but think 🤔 il vote for Family Roundabout 👍😀 1mo

elkeOriginal @LeahBergen @CarolynM Looks like this one needs a tie-breaker to decide it! 4w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @CarolynM I think we‘ll wait a little longer (until @Gissy responds) and then in the event of a tie we‘ll let the original poster break the tie. Is that okay? 4w

elkeOriginal Sounds good! I forgot how ties are dealt with. So many close races! 4w

LeahBergen Okay, Carolyn … it looks like we‘ll need you to tiebreak this one. 😆 Which one do you pick? 3w

CarolynM @LeahBergen This is why it‘s good to be the nominator, you don‘t have to choose just one😆 You‘ve read one and @quietjenn has read the other so that doesn‘t help. Coin flip says

Family Roundabout

(edited) 3w

LeahBergen 😆😆 The coin flip is always the best way! I‘ll get our schedule up soon. 3w

CarolynM @LeahBergen 👍 3w

LeahBergen And the winner is Family Roundabout! 3w

42 likes17 comments

rubyslippersreads

The Far Cry | Emma Smith

This was a low pick for me. Interesting, but depressing. My favorite character was Miss Spooner, followed by the tiger, who should have eaten Richard while it had the chance. 😏

This isn‘t my copy(I read the ebook), but I certainly prefer the grey Persephone cover over this artwork. The photo depicts tea harvesting in 1945.

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @quietjenn @Caryl @sisilia @daena @LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Tamra @andrew61 @Cathythoughts @ChaoticMissAdventures @Bookbuyingaddict @julieclair @willaful 1mo

LeahBergen Miss Spooner was my favourite, too. 😆 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures I always root for the tiger to eat the man. 😂 1mo

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Tamra

The Far Cry | Emma Smith

so-so

“To be forgotten the very moment she thought she had been discovered and found precious was a punishment adult and terrible.” Poor Theresa, that is the story of her young life.

Complicated characters populate this novel. They are certainly not cardboard cutouts, which I wholly appreciated. However, for me it lacked a narrative drive so I didn‘t feel all that compelled to pick it up. #PersephoneClub

Tamra @rubyslippersreads @willaful @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @sisilia @andrew61 @Caryl @ChaoticMissAdventures @daena @Bookbuyingaddict @Aimee @Gissy @julieclair @elkeOriginal @quietjenn 2mo

Tamra I am happy Theresa was seen & heard by Edwin & Miss Spooner. The only two who ever did. 2mo

Tamra I also appreciated Edwin‘s anti-colonial attitude. (edited) 2mo

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ChaoticMissAdventures ✅✅ I love some complicated characters, but there has to be more to pull you along! Great progress 2mo

LeahBergen I felt much the same way. It was a pick for me (although a low pick 😆); I found that I enjoyed the shipboard section more as it was more plot driven. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2mo

CarolynM Yes, it was a bit of a slog for me too🫤 2mo

46 likes6 comments

Tamra

The Far Cry | Emma Smith

Wow, I am guessing chapter 5 pretty much sums up this sad & fraught father daughter relationship. 😟 The chapter also probably explains why they are who they have come to be, which is damaged people. #PersephoneClub

LeahBergen Yes! Yikes. 2mo

37 likes1 comment

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