Please click on the link below to submit your choice for our September readalong.

#naturaLitsy

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVCV4jDKbzq0JJAUKxGe_IMs9t0NF0igGUDUKl...

#AwesomeAugust @Andrew65

Days 5 & 6

Finished the tagged, a great selection of speculative short stories focusing on climate change and environmental impact.✔️
Starting The Secret River by Kate Grenville✔️
Over 3 hours reading achieved over the last 2 days ✔️

#alphabetgame #letterR

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I think epistolary/journalistic writings heighten the realism, they do for me anyway.

The characters are very realistic and flawed individuals, there are few likeable characters.

The story is told through the eyes of a young man returned shamefully from Cambridge under a cloud of his own scandals to find his mother and Sister are struggling with their own.

#naturaLitsy #Septemberreadalong

Hi all,
We've had 3 votes on theme, all for flora and fauna. Are you happy to vote on books from that theme tomorrow? Still time to put forward suggestions on flora and fauna.
I will put the books already nominated in the comments.

I was slightly disappointed with this, hovering between a pick and so-so. I was definitely expecting more on nature. Still enjoyed it very much. It does contain a lot of wisdom. As an atheist, I was put off with the religious content, but others may appreciate it more than me.

#awesomeaugust
@Andrew65

Days 3 & 4

Over 4 hours of reading ✔️
Finished Phosphorescence, Sudden Traveller and The Book of Hope ✔️
Starting tagged but finding it hard going. I love Murdoch's writing, her nature descriptions are poetic and spot on. However, Charles Arrowby has to be the most self-aggrandising, egotistical bore of a man I have ever come across. Here's hoping for more characters to dilute him

#alphabetgame #letterQ

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Other faves include The Queen of Spades and other stories by Alexander Pushkin, Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams and The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen by Brian Cox & Jeffrey R Forshaw

YJ.K/Shutterstock

Drop a pebble start a ripple

I've been thinking since finishing her book, JG is such an inspiration. What she has and is still accomplishing is truly astounding. I've been considering what I can do to make a difference. Starting with reaching out to local groups in my community and on SM to help in their support of people, nature and our environments.

#naturaLitsy

Ha!!! I learned a new word today and it's a new favourite 😍 I never, ever, bloody ever want to be a grimalkin.

This just one long interview/conversation between author and JG around our need for hope, how we attain it, both in ourselves and others. I particularly enjoyed reading about her Roots and Shoots organisation. She is an absolute inspiration and I adore her even more now.

#alphabetgame #letterP

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Such an amazing book by Susanna Clarke, also wrote my J pick Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell

Also The Princess Bride, Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. For my fellow #pemberlittens

#naturaLitsy

Apologies if I've added to your tbr pile. 🙈 Here's my selection of books for voting by the 19th. Starting with the top of the pile, 1 is The Last Wilderness and so on. The tagged book is for 4 - Rewilding

I'm really excited to see everyone's book selections over the week. And then we vote!

I enjoyed this so much, great storytelling, characters and plot.

Day 1 & 2 #Amazingaugust readathon hosted by @Andrew65

* Finished The Leviathan - over 4 hours reading. Bliss!!
* Starting tagged for short stories. This also counts for my last prompt on Q1 #promptmaze @TheAromaofBooks

1. The book thief
2. Bronte, Charlotte
3. Breaking Bad
4. Beyonce
5. Bring it back - Moloko

#manicmonday #letterB @CBee

#alphabetgame #letterO

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Oryx and Crake is just perfect speculative fiction. The first in Atwood's Maddaddam trilogy.

Other favourites include:-
Once upon a river by Diane Setterfield
Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson
On beauty by Zadie Smith
Origin of the species by Charles Darwin

Hi 👋
So here it is, a 1st post for #naturaLitsy September readathon. All welcome to join in, the more the merrier.
I've broken it into 6 themes, as above, to make voting easier. You're welcome to suggest 1 book or as many as you like, for 1 theme or all of them.
Please offer up all suggestions for books by the 16th August. Voting for our September read on the 19th.
Tagging all those who've expressed an interest ⬇️⬇️

@LitsyEvents

#alphabetgame #letterN

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Or anything by Neil Gaiman 😍

Hi all
It's blisteringly hot here in the UK. I'm mostly chiiling, reading, sleeping and repeat. How's your summer going?
I've been thinking about planning a readalong for September. Would you be interested? Would you prefer me to select a few titles to vote on or recommendations to come from all of us? Would you like a theme?
Let me know your thoughts

#naturaLitsy

#alphabetgame #letterM

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

The BEST Roald Dahl imo

Also have to include Mountains of the mind by Robert Macfarlane.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/nov/13/guardianfirstbookaward2003.gurardi...

#FirstlineFridays @ShyBookOwl

''She is awake''.

Who? Who is awake?

The following paragraph is pretty intriguing too.

Don't you just love it when you're absolutely captivated by a first page.
#happydance

This was raved about on BBC's Between the covers show. It was ok but only just. The plot was ok but predictable, a few situations implausible, and weak characters. Almost stopped reading but perservered because of the interesting premise around the unsettled Balkans.

#AwesomeAugustReadathon hosted by @Andrew65 starts tomorrow 📚😍📚

I'm planning a less structured, more mood-based readathon. My planned reading schedule for #bookspinbingo is mostly ocean based, so I'll definitely be paddling my way through those, starting with the tagged.
My main goal will be to manage 60-90 minutes reading time per day. Obvs more is always a bonus, right? 😉📚📚📚📚📚
Too many books, too little time

Happy reading folks 😊

#alphabetgame #letterL

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This extraordinary gothic tale takes place in an Edinburgh tenement, following the lives of all residents in overlapping stories over several decades. I devoured this in one sitting, it was so good.
Hon mentions
The Living Mountain - Nan Shepard
Lore Olympus vol 1 and 2 - Rachel Smythe
A little princess- Frances Hodgson Burnett

#alphabetgame #letterK

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I still have my childhood copy of these beloved stories. I'm eternally grateful to Joan Aiken for igniting my lifelong love of fairy and folktales. Jan Pieńkowski's illustrations captivated me too.

#alphabetgame #letterJ

My most favourite novel of all time

Also Jane Eyre, Jamaica Inn and Jamragh's menagerie

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This author, this book ?
#naturalitsy #shesaid

"There are times when you need the extremity of rock, the hardness of an old, cold place against which you can measure yourself. There are times when you need to retreat to the wilderness. But there are times when you need the subtle flow of a river, the song of a waterfall and the deep, slow presence of trees. Times when you need to Return. There are times for holding on, and times for letting go."

Ooooh my this film looks stunning, written by Robert Macfarlane

#naturalitsy

https://variety.com/2021/film/global/willem-dafoe-river-documentary-trailer-1235...

@BookwormAHN @wordslinger42

You can never have enough plants, same as books. I turned an old cabinet into a plant/fossil/shell treasure trove.

#naturalLitsy

#Alphabetgame #letterH

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This trilogy is absolutely sublime 😍

#letterA
@CBee is hosting #manicmonday favourites game.
Feel free to join in the fun. Thanks for the tag @Cinfhen 😊
📚 Fiction - tagged, non-fic - All quiet on the western front by Erich Maria Remarque
✍️ Margaret Atwood... always
🎬 Alien
🎤 Aha
🎶 A kiss from a rose - Seal

Busy white tailed bumblebee on Scabosia

Such a beautiful little book. Jukes discusses her research into beekeeping and it's history, as she sets up her own hive.
Inspirational stuff, I'm now saving for my own top bar hive 🐝🍯
#naturalitsy

Hi 👋
This is an intro post for those following #naturalitsy
I'm Debs, based in Derbyshire, UK. Mum to 4 wild beasties, who are now all doing their own thing as we head into teenage years. I've had a love of our natural world since childhood. However, reading the tagged book after becoming a parent made me realise how crucial it is in all our lives. Combined with climate change and environmental crisis,
@LitsyEvents

#alphabetgame #letterG

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

One of my all time favourites 😍
Maitland explores nature, fairy and folktales within our woodlands. It is my comfort read. #naturalitsy

Also Grief is a thing with feathers, Gormenghast trilogy, Gone girl and Great expectations (a childhood fave)

#Alphabetgame #letterF
This is a crucial discussion on the importance of natural places and rewilding, written 10 years ago. It is UK based but still has relevance for all areas, particularly when considering reintroducing key species. It is a great starting point to get you thinking about this subject.
#naturaLitsy

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/24/feral-searching-enchantment-monbio...

Such a pretty cover by Yellena James

https://yellena.com/

So happy to be chilling outside reading this delight today. @Blackink_WhitePaper snap x
#natureLitsy

#Alphabetgame #letterE

#naturalitsy
Thanks for the tag @Blackink_WhitePaper
I really enjoyed the Elephant whisperer. Would also pick Emma by Jane Austen as it's one of the first classics I read as a teenager. Always a Pemberlitten 😍
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#alphabetgame #letterD

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This was an immensley enjoyable, murder mystery. Twists and turns galore all onboard a ship at sea, set in 1634. Deliciously dark, gothic storyelling. Loved it!

I came across this gorgeous clip celebrating 50 years of the National Trust #loveyourcoast campaign.

https://youtu.be/J9p4pVUsFrs

My best reading buddy is always close by. His name is Ronnie (after Weasley). Although he has been bringing field voles back recently, so he's grounded 🤬 and considering changing his name to Vole - de-mort.
#catsoflitsy #naturalitsy

This picks up Tom Ripley's story 6 years after The talented Mr Ripley. I adored the 1st book, it was a taut, enigmatic fast-paced thriller. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by her sequel. I found the plot far-fetched, irritating characters and little tension. Shame really as I was really looking forward to it. I will read more of Patricia Highsmith's work, just not Ripley.

#192025 challenge - 1971 ✔️
@Librarybelle

1. Every day without fail, it's the only thing that keeps me sane(ish)

2. I listen to a lot of audiobooks when doing other things. I have a lot of free time due to chronic illness. Sometimes it's the only thing I can do during flareups.

3. Non-fiction - nature books
Fiction - gothic novels
If stuck in a reading rut, poetry or short stories, moving on to essays as my concentration mojo comes back 😁

@Eggs

#alphabetgame #letterC

I have to go for a classic, Cranford is by far the best of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels imo. Great characters, humorous, all wrapped up in a genteel story of village life in 19th century England.

For a non fiction book, it would be the tagged, for sheer enormity of history and knowledge of our sun, beautifully told. #naturalitsy

@TheAromaofBooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

As a child, David Attenborough, this tv series and book lit a flame of curiosity and passion in me that has lasted throughout my lifetime. I'm always looking to connect with like-minded folks.

I've not come across any nature based groups etc on Litsy, so I'm going to have a go at building a community using the #naturalitsy
I really hope it gets used and takes off so we can move towards regular discussions, readalongs etc.

Please join me ❤️

#alphabetgame #letterB

Beloved is a masterpiece of storytelling, as the tale of Sethe stays with you long after you finish reading. As a former slave, she goes to extreme ends rather than return to slavery. Through an exploration of the consequences of her actions, Morrison lays bare the horrific impact slavery had.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Finally got around to reading James Baldwin. Really looking forward to exploring more of his writing.

Fascinating essay by Colm Toíbín, fyi @Graywacke
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v23/n18/colm-toibin/the-last-witness
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2021/01/where-to-start-with-james-baldwin

#Alphabetgame #letterA

Great idea for a fun game and recap over our best reads. Ian McEwan is one of my favourite authors, Atonement, one of his finest.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#naturalitsy
I've managed to hoard another lovely selection of beautiful books for this month's #bookspinbingo (my chosen theme of oceans).

#weeklyforecast
I aim to finish Braiding Sweetgrass and Things I have withheld before starting the tagged book. Also need to collect library holds, will choose a fiction read from those.
@TheAromaofBooks @Cinfhen

#naturalitsy
What Isabella Tree and Charles Burrell have achieved at Knepp, in just 20 years, is incredible and so inspiring. Imagine the impact if we all embraced their ideology in our gardens. All of that space rewilded as habitat for wildlife and humans to coexist.

https://www.iema.net/articles/interview-isabella-tree-on-some-wild-ideas?t=0hick...

https://marymary.ie/

A new months planned reading with #bookspinbingo
The first half is for reading challenges or readalongs. #pemberlittens #shesaid #192025 #booked2022 #promptmaze #readharder #inspiredbynaturewriting

The second half is themed around the ocean. Can't physically get to the sea, so I shall travel to clear, calm waters in my head instead. There's always a way.. 😁🌊🐚

@TheAromaofBooks