This is great. The story of the Beckett‘s marriage so far. While Kathleen is in the pool all day , we learn so much about these people. One of my favorite books this year, I think it‘s a perfect piece of writing, well done.
I‘m off to look up more by J Anthony.

Bookclub book is very good , I‘m enjoying 👍🏻❤️

Putting some books together for our little road trip up the country … and I might add another few … it‘s so good to read when away .. no jobs to do , nothing else is calling. ❤️

Sunday morning reading. Halfway, there‘s a lot of the main character ! I know she is the MC , but still .. I‘m curious to see what happens though. Parts are really good , and other parts are YA ish and not as engaging.

This is a beautiful collection. Some stories left striking images of people , which seemed to connect with this idea of one character ..
‘ She doesn‘t feel anything, most of the time, but it takes nothing at all to make her feel everything. ‘
Haunting writing about memories and longing. Some parts reminded me of TS Eliot, I‘m not sure why.
Thankyou Sarah, I would never have come across it only for your post. ❤️

I really enjoyed this one. Three women friends get together to sort out a deceased friend‘s house. The women‘s relationship is real and complicated.. ‘ It was all this lying, all the unspoken things that suffocated…‘
I must read more by Charlotte Wood, I was never inclined to read Stone Yard , but I will now. Love her writing. Thankyou @andrew61 for your review, it got me reading this book.

We read this for our Bookclub. Set in the 1600‘s and set a lot around Nassau , in the seas , the heydays of the pirates and merchant ships. It‘s one woman‘s story with a cast of great characters. It was a page turner for me.

I‘ve really enjoyed Belinda Bauer‘s previous books. I was excited for this one. Starting off strong , I had no reason to doubt it. But, I‘m struggling halfway through .. to continue or not to continue that is the question. I‘ll give it a bit more time … 🤞🏻 I‘ve always enjoyed her. It might be one to come back to in a different frame of mind.

I‘m currently reading this one. Written by a Scotsman and set in Sweden… lots of Swedish atmosphere and talk. Some good characters… this has been on my kindle forever.. first in a series. Im excited , it‘s easy reading and very good. 😊

Another great read from Celia. I couldn‘t put this down.. Grace and Janice meet in prison , when they are released they team up and make their living visiting old ladies. There‘s a bit of romance thrown in too .. and the result is a compelling story. I loved it ! The more I read her , the more I like her. I must get another one for my shelf.
Thankyou Trish for the gift of this book ❤️👌🏻
N. B. The book is not, 700 pages. It‘s about 300.

I reread this recently for Bookclub. I enjoyed the atmosphere and writing and the character of Fermin ❤️. However, I read it first 20 years ago, and I remember being excited and enthusiastic about it then. This time it felt a bit laborious , although it‘s still magical. It was a very different experience. I wasn‘t as blown away. It can be interesting rereading a book. 🤔

I‘ve started this for IRL bookclub and I am really enjoying the story so far.

Thankyou Leah. Celia Dale knows how to tell a suspenseful dark tale. This seemed darker to me than the others we‘ve read ( or maybe it‘s just me ). I loved all the details of 1970‘s life in this London house and three well designed characters. I really enjoyed this. 👌🏻❤️🖤

Just settling in with this one. Perfection…
It‘s an overcast rainy evening and a stranger has knocked on the door, the lady has taken pity on him and let him in … she‘s making tea … suspense from the first page! I love it. @LeahBergen

I really enjoyed this story and I loved all the drama.

“ And the Shuttle in the hand of Fate , through every hour of every day, and through the slow, deep breathing of all the silent nights, weaves to and fro - to and fro - drawing with it the threads of human life and thought which strengthen its web: and trace the figures of its yet vague and uncompleted design. “
#Persephoneclub

Halfway through both of these. Loving both 🥰🥰 and both are for Bookclubs. #PersephoneClub

Thankyou Trish! More Celia Dale 🥰 Yay. I am spoilt for choice now. Thankyou my old Litsy friend XxX

Thankyou Helen. What a thoughtful and lovely gift. I‘m looking forward to reading this one by Patrick Gale. Thankyou 😘

Thankyou Leah ❤️ I love my books , Celia Dale and Elizabeth von Armin. I love my cup of tea and I will enjoy this cup very much. A beautiful bookmark too. Thankyou friend 🥰🥰🥰

Reading for Bookclub. I did read it before, but I‘ve forgotten parts. It‘s very good 🥰

Sunday morning reading. I‘ve never read anything by Patrick Gale before… I‘m really enjoying this book. Halfway now 👍🏻❤️

Set in Korea. I listened to this story of two friends Kyungha and Inseon. Kyungha travels to Jeju Island. The writing is beautiful and brutal.Han Kang explores the depth of friendship and family ties , and personal connection to the past. This is a remembering of the Jeju massacre. There is a landscape of snow , and of dreaming , and metaphor. I must get the book to read and keep. I loved it.

A dark story of two sisters and of wolves. Of the violence in some lives and what a difficult tragic journey that can be. Great storytelling, lots of nature and suspense , perfect 👌🏻. I‘ll be reading her others books soon.

Sunday morning reading. I‘ve been a bailing a lot ! A bit of a slump… but things are looking up with this tagged book. Love it so far ❤️

Thank you @BarbaraBB for posting and reviewing this book. I also loved the atmosphere of it. Set in Japan 1958. A thriller/crime story that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I loved the mysterious nature of it all, the characters, and the snow ! I‘ll be stocking up on all books I can find by Matsumoto.

Starting this for our bookclub, weekend reading sorted 👍🏻❤️

I enjoyed our two widowed matriarchs , and both with five children. Helen was probably my favourite character. The title aptly describes family life and history repeating itself. It reminded me of Joni Mitchell‘s song The Circle Game. Great choice @CarolynM #PersephoneClub

I would never have read this , only for a friend praising it highly. I listened on audible and I found it a beautiful far away poignant meditation on life on earth. It sent my mind in all directions. There are certain parts that will stay with me. I don‘t know how I would have felt if I had read it, but I listened to it on my walks, and also one evening with a glass of wine. Very special book.

New books arrived today ❤️
First up will be our Persephone read for February. #Persephoneclub

This was great. It was quirky and sad too. The woman in the purple skirt is being stalked by the woman in the yellow cardigan who wants to become her friend. I‘m left with a lonely feeling after reading this one. But I couldn‘t put it down. I think I‘ll move onto another of her books now. The Girl Who Turned Into A Pair of Chopsticks.
I loved Convenience Store Woman too. Any more Japanese recommendations very welcome 🙏

I did love Small Pleasures, so I was excited for this one. But it‘s not the same. I gave it 100 pages. Oh dear. It started off well , but never pulled me in. I better go back on my kindle while I make a new list.

A lovely read , lovely writing, characters, I can‘t fault it. Just like you all said. I loved it and looking forward to more.

This was a Christmas present , and my first Elizabeth Strout . I‘m probably reading the wrong one first , but I‘m halfway now … What have I been missing ! I love it.

Oh my heart from this book. It really made me wonder about the mind of a child. I love the unreliable narrator, there is mystery and confusion. The title Poor Deer is so perfect. Magical writing, a haunting story. ❤️

Im not too far in , but I‘m captivated. 🤞🏻 I really wasn‘t sure what this would be like , loving the writing and the whole atmosphere.

Thankyou Leah for this book. I really enjoyed A Helping Hand , and I enjoyed this one even more. Esther is great, a believable main character, living with her Gran who is a scream. As one of the quotes says it‘s ‘ Hilarious, dark and true. ‘ It‘s been my companion getting over the flu. I loved it. Thankyou !

Reading is oh so slow sinse getting back to normal. But I am currently reading this one. It won the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2024. I‘m getting to know Dr Jack Cuthbert, our main man, a pathologist working for Scotland Yard (I liked him immediately) . It‘s 1929 and a mystery is beginning. I‘m not far in but so far I‘m loving it. 🤞🏻

I‘ve loved all the Beryl I read this past year, and this was no exception. I really enjoyed Stella, a most unusual young girl and her start in the theatre. My only issue is that I don‘t really understand what happened at the end of the book. I keep going over it in my mind. 🤔

I was lucky enough to be shopping in Golden Hare Books in Edinburgh this past weekend.

Thankyou Andrew for hosting this #12Booksof2024. I‘ve really enjoyed picking my books and reflecting on them. I‘ve also stacked loads from other‘s lists. What a great way to celebrate these 12 days together. Thank you ! A Happy New Year to you.

My final DECEMBER book is a Claire Keegan , short stories. I also read Small Things. I think she is out on her own, very good.

#12booksof2024 NOVEMBER This was my first John Boyne. I really enjoyed it, I have the next three in the Element series on my shelf waiting. Earth is next, what a great idea.

#12Booksof2024 OCTOBER Having loved The Spinning Heart , I read this sequel ( which is a standalone too). It‘s equally as good. The first character we hear from is Bobby Mahon and Bobby might be one of my favorite characters ever. ❤️
Our Bookclub went to hear Donal Ryan reading from his book. He‘s sincere and great craic.

#12Booksof2024 SEPTEMBER
I love how Sally Rooney writes relationships and I think this is her best yet. Wonderful characters, So good. ❤️

Set in Tokyo in the dark night hours. I really enjoyed these interconnected stories. I‘m left with lots of images in my mind. A touching and magical read. ❤️

#12Booksof2024 AUGUST I only started reading Beryl recently enough. She‘s written 18 novels, so there‘s plenty more to get to , Thank god ! This one I read last summer, it‘s offbeat and strange and I loved it. Thanks again @LeahBergen for this gorgeous copy.

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

#12Booksof2024 I think I read this in JUNE. It‘s one of my favorites of the year, a memorable story. Violent at times , set in Cumbria about shepherds and sheep… I loved it. It really got to me. I hope someone reads it soon so we can compare notes.

#12Booksof2024 ❤️MAY❤️ I really enjoyed The Bee Sting , an immersive unputdownable book.

Set in Norway where Johanna returns to after 30 years. Estranged from her mother and sister who still live there. The book is about the family dynamics that go on in our minds, especially around the mother. Johanna‘s ambivalent feelings towards her mother are very relatable. I enjoyed the first half , it reads like a thriller too. But it became a bit of a trudge for me. I‘m glad I‘ve finished ( a sigh of relief ) profound , poignant , memorable.

#12Booksof2024 DAY 4. This was my favorite crime book of 2024. Great characters, story and writing.