@Cuilin on Litsy

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe @Cuilin

@CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @AnishaInkspill

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks 3d

Librarybelle I hope we learn more about the tattoo and its meaning and perhaps the connection to Moriarty! I suspected the priest hole was important when Holmes brought up “old house secrets” to the inspector. I was right! 😂 3d

Cuilin @Librarybelle absolutely if you‘re going to mention a priest hole it better be used in the plot in someway. I also think we‘re going back in time. There are some unanswered questions. 3d

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CatLass007 I missed the mention of the priest hole, but wasn‘t surprised when it appeared. As much as I enjoy Stephen Fry‘s narration and background information, I think he did spoil the time of the second part. 3d

dabbe I had to read on because I really wanted to find out more about the relationship between Mrs. Douglas and Barker and what led to such a horrific murder. All I can say is, you'll see! 🤩 3d

Daisey I thought the whole setup and setting for this story was great. Rereads of these are strange in a way because I don‘t feel like I remember any details, but I also feel I make better predictions than a first read so I must be remembering a bit. 3d

AnneCecilie I hope we find out how Moriarty fits in and I‘m guessing we‘ll get the backstory 2d

23 likes7 comments

Cuilin

The Valley of Fear | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin @dabbe

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @AllDebooks

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3d

Librarybelle It kind of reminded me of the very first story we read, with the next section alluding to a past circumstance (the convoluted long backstory from the first story we read popped into my mind. I section 2 is not like that). The reveal falls in line with other reveals. I think, overall, this story has more substance, as it is longer than a short story, which really helps bring out all of the details. 3d

Cuilin @Librarybelle yes! There‘s a great energy/excitement yet the pace is calm. My curiosity was maintained without anxiety. 3d

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dabbe @Librarybelle I wrote a similar thought re: similarities to A STUDY IN SCARLET, too! #greatminds 3d

dabbe Without giving away spoilers to Part 2 (which I've just finished): While most Sherlock Holmes stories focus primarily on the puzzle and its solution, THE VALLEY OF FEAR incorporates broader themes such as justice, revenge, and the impact of secret societies. The backstory provides a richer, more complex understanding of the characters' motivations and the societal issues at play during this time period. 3d

AnneCecilie It does remind me of several of the stories in that the solution comes before we know what happened. There‘s been several guilty people giving their statements to Holmes and explaining everything. 2d

22 likes6 comments

Cuilin

The Valley of Fear | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @Cuilin @dabbe

I hadn‘t heard much about this mystery and feel it‘s somewhat underrated. I really enjoyed part I. What say you?

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3d

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks 3d

Librarybelle I liked this one too and have not heard much about it. I found I had to keep reading this section, I was that engrossed that I did not want to stop. 3d

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CatLass007 I loved the comments about fictional detectives and the way they solve their cases without letting the reader know how they know. I think that was in the first or second chapter. I suspected the identity of the killer. 3d

dabbe I read this aeons ago and forgot how intriguing Part 1 was! A cipher, a castle/mansion with a moat, a murder ... what's not to love? I have a feeling this one will be similar to A STUDY IN SCARLET in that Part 2 is going to take us to America and give us the whole backstory. 3d

Cuilin @CatLass007 A little inside humor as we know Sherlock mysteries are not fair play. 😊 3d

Cuilin @dabbe It had me a cipher, then a castle with a moat!! 🧑‍🍳 💋 3d

CogsOfEncouragement This was my first time reading it and I really enjoyed it. 3d

Daisey I really enjoyed Part 1, with the intriguing manor house and cipher and all. 3d

AnneCecilie I enjoyed part 1 and the mention of Moriarty had me intrigued, but as a modern reader it is a little strange that we know the murder by part 1 and there‘s still a part 2. I more used to the murder being revealed at the end. It does change the focus on what‘s important important in the story (edited) 2d

eeclayton I'm reading this for the first time and enjoying it a lot. I was a little confused for a bit because of the mention of Moriarty as to where on the timeline we were. 2d

Cuilin @eeclayton Yes it was surprising to see Moriarty mentioned. We are reading in the order it was published. Watson/Doyle did necessarily write in chronological order. 2d

22 likes12 comments

Cuilin

Nicholas Nickleby | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens @cuilin @Texreader

Nicholas Nickleby has 65 chapters. Read at your own pace and discussion will be at the end of March.

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han @wordslinger42 @curiouserandcurioser 4d

Bookwormjillk I tried the last one on audio and the voice was so soothing I kept falling asleep. I‘m getting this one on kindle! 4d

Daisey I‘m going to try to continue, but I‘m not sure I‘ll be able to fit this one in during these next couple of months. Please keep me on the list! 4d

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Cuilin @Bookwormjillk Maybe some of it‘s going in subliminally and you will start having the speech pattern of an 18 century Victorian lady!!! 4d

Cuilin @Daisey 👍 4d

CatLass007 I didn‘t know about this group. There are a ton of free Charles Dickens books on Audible and I think I‘ve added them all to my library. I would love to actually listen to one of them. Please add me to your tag list. 4d

Cuilin @CatLass007 absolutely 👍 I do a combo 📖 &🎧 4d

CatLass007 That‘s a good idea. I found that some selections for #FellowshipOfTolkien work best that way. But between migraines and multi-tasking I generally just listen. 4d

dabbe Hoping I can keep up! 😅 4d

37 likes1 stack add9 comments

Cuilin

Les Miserables [With Ribbon Marker] | Victor Hugo

#ReadLesMis

Yesterday‘s chapter.

@Thebookhippie @Cuilin @lillinblue @dabbe @librarybelle @quietjenn
@Andrew65 @JenlovesJT47
@MatchlessMarie
@Dieareader @tpixie
@julieclair @Deblovestoread
@Gleefulreader @DRachel
@DrSabrinaMoldenReads
@PageShifter

TheBookHippie Yup. Eerie right? 6d

Cuilin @TheBookHippie It gave me chills and slight nausea. 6d

TheBookHippie @Cuilin When I did this in 2020 it was so surreal at times I just about screamed. 6d

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Deblovestoread Doomed to repeat history again and again 🤯 6d

Cuilin @Deblovestoread all I could see was the tech bros at the inauguration. 6d

Deblovestoread Yep! 6d

dabbe My brain shut down with all of these horrific folk. 🤬 6d

lil1inblue @Cuilin I want to throw up just thinking of that one picture. 6d

lil1inblue History doesn't repeat, but it sure does rhyme. 6d

Cuilin @dabbe trying to balance, keeping informed and staying sane is proving to be most difficult. 😵‍💫 6d

Cuilin @lil1inblue And that was day 1!! 😮‍💨 6d

dabbe @Cuilin #truth 🩶🩵🩶 6d

tpixie 🩵💙🩵 6d

Nebklvr Sounds familiar 5d

42 likes1 stack add14 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han @wordslinger42 @curiouserandcuriouser 1w

AllDebooks I liked the characters and found them relatable. Gradgrind's change of heart and mind over how he raised his children was telling, particularly with how emotionally stunted they grew up to be after a diet of FACTS. 1w

AllDebooks Bounderby was a blustering, pantomime figure and I couldn't rrad about him without thinking about Monty Python's sketch of Yorkshiremen competing over who had this poorest childhood. https://youtu.be/VAdlkunflRs?si=45rddY_grpd-J2Wd 1w

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dabbe @AllDebooks 😂😂😂 Thanks for sharing that link! #perfection Plus, what a flippin' hypocrite who was finally exposed by his own mother! He was an absolute arse who deserved everything he got at the end. 1w

dabbe I think the characters were allegories. Examples:
Thomas GradGRIND: the embodiment of the cold, fact-based approach to education and life.
Mr. Bounderby: a symbol of the way industrialists of Dickens‘s time inflated their stories of achievement while ignoring the inequalities of the poor whose hard work allowed them to succeed.
Stephen Blackpool & Rachael: their personal struggles seem largely symbolic of the horrific plight of the working poor. 1w

Lcsmcat @AllDebooks ❤️ the Monty Python reference! 1w

Lcsmcat I felt the characters in HT were a little less realistic than some of Dickens‘ characters, but for the purposes of this story, they worked. And some of them showed growth and change, so not complete allegories or caricatures. 1w

34 likes7 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader

I noticed a few connections myself, what say you?

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han @wordslinger42 @curiouserandcuriouser
1w

AllDebooks Absolutely. I found it a mirror to contemporary issues. It's shameful that in a society of such wealth disparity, these same areas are still problematic. The prevailing environmental changes due to pollution, poor health, living/working conditions of the poor, economic growth dividing people more, education are all as relevant today as they were in Dickens time. 1w

dabbe Coketown exposed the environmental costs of industrialization: the pollution, the smog, and the disregard for the natural world in the pursuit of economic gain. Today, we face a global environmental crisis with climate change, deforestation, and pollution continuing to be major problems. Also, current technological advancements often come at the expense of the environment, and the call for sustainable practices echoes the concerns Dickens raised. 1w

Lcsmcat I agree with @dabbe and @AllDebooks and can only add that Dickens does an excellent job of showing how we imagine our own worst qualities actually belong to the other (I.e. Bounderbery and his gold spoon comments) 1w

30 likes4 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WithTheDickens @Cuilin @Texreader

Are you finished?
Join in whenever.
What are we all thinking?

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han @wordslinger42 @curiouserandcuriouser 1w

AllDebooks I wouldn't consider him an activist. He was a philanthropist through his charitable causes. He did use his profile for social criticism and reportage on poverty, housing, education, etc. 1w

curiouserandcurioser I just noticed i didnt get your tags-its curiouserandcurioser-i spell the last curiouser differently as my quirky nod to Alice:)💜 1w

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Cuilin @curiouserandcurioser got it!!! 🙏 I changed it on the tag list. 1w

dabbe I think Dickens wrote HARD TIMES as a critique of the industrial revolution and the social and economic systems that were shaping England during that period. The novel was both a social commentary and a call for reform. Dickens wanted to challenge the prevailing attitudes of the time and advocate for a more compassionate, humane society—one that balanced industrial progress with a respect for individual dignity and emotional well-being. 1w

curiouserandcurioser Thank you💜 1w

Lcsmcat I absolutely believe he was an activist, and like the best ones, he wrapped his message inside good stories so people would read them. 1w

26 likes7 comments

Cuilin

Pirates | Matthew Craig

#BookedInTime @Cuilin

In February we head out into the wild seas and against all rational advice we search for pirates. 🏴‍☠️
Q1. How is the Tudor times going?
I read Dissolution and loved it. Cromwell made an appearance.
Q2. Do you have a book in mind yet for Pirates?
I‘m bringing a list to the library, Libby.

Answers in the comments. As always, everyone is welcome.

Cuilin @dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks
@thebookgeekfrau @bookwormjillk @spellboundReader @deblovestoread @jenniferw88
3w

Cuilin @mollyanna @jess861 @kspenmoll @ncsufoxes @Bluebird @julieclair @majkia @karisimo
@tdrosebud @rwmg @pathfindernicole @debinhawaii @alldebooks @covertocover
@itchyfeetreader @thegreensofa @ann_reads @rookpools @lizpixie @amiable @Desha @Sapphire @deblovestoread @bookwormjillk @Mitch @SamAnne @alldebooks @lil1inblue @litsyEvents 3w

AllDebooks I've yet to start my Tudor pick. I love pirates, can't wait. I've selected

Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas

3w

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BarkingMadRead I still have to start my Tudor book! I will check and see what my pirate pic is! 3w

Karisimo This might be a bit of a stretch for the category, but it‘s one I really enjoyed about a female pirate with some magical elements

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

3w

Karisimo Sounds interesting!!

Why We Love Pirates: The Hunt for Captain Kidd and How He Changed Piracy Forever

3w

Cuilin @Karisimo oh I never got to finish Amina as I had to return it to the library. I liked what I got to read. 👍 3w

Cuilin @AllDebooks sounds good. There are two Irish female pirates that I‘m interested in learning more about. (Anne Bonny and Gráinne Maol) I wonder if they show up in your book. 3w

Cuilin @BarkingMadRead lots of time. 3w

Bookwormjillk Pirates are fun! I‘ll have to do some research! I have a bunch of library books due then on to the Tudors! Thanks to a longer than usual winter break and then a snow storm I‘m back on the struggle bus this month! 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures I am going a bit rogue (fitting for pirates month!) and reading the nonfiction book

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

3w

BarkingMadRead

Pirate Latitudes

3w

Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures lol love it!!! Read it last year. Great book. 3w

Amiable I‘m halfway through “Dissolution” now. 3w

Jess861 There aren't many pirate books at my local library. I'm going to give the tagged book a go just because it's what they have. Not sure how much I'll like it though.

Corsair

3w

Jess861 My Tudor pick was definitely something. Never quite read anything like it.

The Wise Woman: A Novel

3w

AllDebooks @Cuilin I'll keep an eye out for them and let you know 😊 3w

Cuilin @Bookwormjillk I‘m getting closely acquainted with Hoopla and Libby. 3w

Cuilin @Amiable Are you liking it? 3w

Cuilin @Jess861 I guess it depends on the writing style, but the actual story of the Sacking of Baltimore is really interesting. I‘m from that area of Ireland so it‘s a story I‘m familiar with. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one. 3w

Cuilin @Jess861 I just read your review. 👍 3w

Jess861 @Cuilin I'm very interested in the story itself but you are right about the writing style. It seems like one bad thing after another and I'm hoping it's not all war and fighting. Not that it makes a book bad but just not my personal preference. 3w

Deblovestoread In my efforts to look to my shelves first I‘m also going a bit rogue by choosing

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

3w

dabbe @Amiable Are you liking it? 🤩 3w

dabbe So glad you loved DISSOLUTION! 🤩 #shardlakerocks 3w

dabbe Got all of these on our spreadsheet! We're now up to 20 categories!

Here's the spreadsheet link: https://shorturl.at/0zvFs 3w

rubyslippersreads I‘m behind on the Tudor era, but if it‘s not too much trouble, I‘d like to change my book to

The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens: A History

3w

rubyslippersreads @AllDebooks @BarkingMadRead I‘m glad I‘m not the only one who‘s behind. 😄 3w

Itchyfeetreader I am plodding on with my Tudor book - I feel like I have read so much in this period I almost feel like i have read it before but I have not! For feb I am going YA with the tagged book

Pirates!

3w

julieclair Can‘t wait to start my Tudor book! For February, I‘m either going to read Blackbeard the Pirate or this one about Grace O‘Malley

The Pirate Queen: In Search of Grace O'Malley and Other Legendary Women of the Sea

3w

julieclair Link to the StoryGraph Challenge for anyone who would find it helpful: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/2cdac7b0-0085-4e6b-b601-f63cbd6... 3w

julieclair Tagging my other possible choice

Blackbeard the Pirate: A Reappraisal of His Life and Times

3w

Amiable @dabbe @Cuilin I am. Although I was simultaneously reading the latest Louise Penny and it also involved an Abbott and a monastery so I was getting a bit confused going back and forth between the two. 😄 3w

sblbooks I found two Christian historical romances. They should be easy reads.

The Pirate Bride: Daughters of the Mayflower -

3w

sblbooks ...and

Across the Ages (Timeless Book #4)

3w

dabbe @rubyslippersreads New one on the spreadsheet! 🤩 3w

dabbe @julieclair On the spreadsheet! 🤩 3w

dabbe @Amiable #ruhroh! I just finished THE CRUELEST MONTH and will be on to book 4. Loving this series! 🤩 3w

dabbe @sblbooks Both are on the spreadsheet! 🤩 3w

rubyslippersreads @dabbe Thank you! Now I have to find a 🏴‍☠️ book. 3w

Cuilin @julieclair My sisters and I grew up learning and almost hero worshiping Grace O Malley also known in Irish as Gráinne Maol or Granuaile. (edited) 2w

Cuilin @Amiable that would confuse me too lol. 2w

Cuilin @sblbooks 👍🏴‍☠️🙏 2w

Cuilin @rubyslippersreads of course, sounds good. 👍 2w

dabbe @rubyslippersreads Me, too! 😂 2w

rubyslippersreads I want to read more Georgette Heyer, and I know this one has mixed reviews, but for pirates, I‘m going with

Beauvallet

2w

julieclair @rubyslippersreads I love Heyer! Enjoy! 2w

julieclair @Cuilin That is so cool! 2w

55 likes49 comments

Cuilin

Sherlockian | Graham Moore

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes #TheGameIsAfoot

Fellow Sherlockians, in a blend of Sherlock‘s encouragement and rationality I will say as you embark on this challenge to remember that success often favors the prepared mind. Approach with your keen intellect, and you shall navigate through the obstacles with clarity. I have every confidence in your abilities.
Click on the link, first highest score wins

https://forms.gle/AHEhXXU3gwmSsvph9

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks 3w

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3w

Cuilin Thank you @dabbe for creating this link and quiz 💗 3w

dabbe Bravo! Well said! SH would heartily approve! 🤩🤩🤩 3w

dabbe @Cuilin 🩶🖤🩶 3w

39 likes5 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Abbey Grange | Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader

Cuilin @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3w

Librarybelle It really does point to the lack of confidence in the Justice system at the time (and dare I say this carries over into today). 3w

dabbe The jury (Watson) is not impartial; he's completely enamored with Lady Blackenstall: “Seldom have I seen so graceful a figure, so womanly a presence, and so beautiful a face.“ The judge (SH) thinks he's given Hopkins all he needs to solve the case, knowing he won't because as @Librarybelle eloquently pointed out, they always fail in solving any case. 3w

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CogsOfEncouragement There would be no justice or aide of any kind for an abused wife from the law. Still difficult to get any in 2025.

They were much more upset about his setting a dog on fire as that was hushed up with difficulty. If it had been a neighbor's dog, it would have been an even bigger issue, but it was Mary's. SH knew this abuse would only continue. He's dead now, what's done is done, if the police can't figure it out, that's fine. 3w

CatLass007 At that time a woman was practically the property of her father or other male relative, then her husband. It‘s still difficult for women in this day and time but it‘s not quite that bad. 3w

AnneCecilie Holmes will at the end of the day do what he thinks overall is the right thing. There were some talk about the difference between the police and him: “what I know is unofficial, what he knows is official. I have the right to private judgment, but he has none. He must disclose all, or he is a traitor to his service.” 3w

34 likes6 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Abbey Grange | Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3w

Librarybelle I hardly ever figure out anything, so I probably cannot answer this well! I would not have zeroed in on the wineglasses, so I‘m not sure that was fair play or not. The mystery of this was a lot lighter than other stories we‘ve read. 3w

dabbe I find it interesting that Holmes & Watson let Crocker, Elizabeth, and Theresa go free--even though they named the Randall gang as the murderers (who were conveniently in the US). They were willing to let the gang hang for a murder they did NOT commit. Doesn't that make them look bad in the eyes of the law? Is it okay for them to do that because the gang was bad already? Lots of morality issues in this one IMHO. 3w

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CogsOfEncouragement The ladies hoped to conveniently pin this on known baddies in the area. They are clear of it though, it will go unsolved now.

I don't know anything about wine, so those clues were no help to me, and I didn't think about the kind of knots used to link it to a seaman, I thought maybe it looked like they tied up the chair with no one actually in it and SH could tell that.

I was impressed/entertained that the mastermind was the devoted nursemaid. 3w

CatLass007 The nursemaid mentioned the Lady‘s brother so I thought he might have been the killer. That was the red herring. I thought when Holmes went to the shipping company he would discover the brother, not a man in love. Was Holmes showing his romantic side? 💘😂 3w

eeclayton @CatLass007 I suspected the brother, too. It made a lot of sense, with both women eagerly shielding him. 3w

AnneCecilie I never guess the solution to any mystery but I feel like the older mysteries are less fair than newer ones. We were left with the wine glasses. The wife being a foreigner seems to be a trope that Doyle uses. 3w

29 likes7 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Abbey Grange | Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

The game is afoot!! General thoughts and impressions?

(I will be attending a class today so may not have much access to my phone but will check in with discussions later).

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace 3w

Cuilin @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3w

Librarybelle In some ways, he‘s the same Holmes, doggedly searching for a truth only he can puzzle out. Not accepting the almost flawless first explanation is in character with him. But, he also shows empathy—or his version of empathy— with the unmasking of the real scenario. We‘ve seen his version of justice before; the fact that he asks for Watson‘s opinion as the “jury” makes this unusual. I think I said “wow” aloud when I read that. 3w

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Read4life @Librarybelle I remember also being surprised when he asked Watson‘s opinion as jury. 3w

dabbe This one's a hard one for me re: the stories of what happened. Holmes does not believe the original story, but who's to say the final stories are true either? At one point he tells Watson that “we must construct our case for ourselves without any help from [Lady Blackenstall and Theresa]“--yet he totally believes Crocker's and their second stories verbatim without checking anything out because their stories fit his reasoning of what happened. (edited) 3w

CrystalE02 I found it odd that he asked Watson for his opinion on the matter. 3w

kelli7990 I enjoyed this story. 3w

CogsOfEncouragement A fun one that I did not figure out.

I much enjoyed:

“Your fatal habit of looking at everything from the point of view of a story instead of a scientific exercise...“

“Be frank with me and we may do some good. Play tricks with me, and I'll crush you.“

“Then it was my turn, and I went through him as if he had been a rotten pumpkin.“

3w

CatLass007 It seemed out of character for Holmes to play matchmaker. 3w

AnneCecilie I never figure out the solution and I‘m easy to fool, but I have also learned that Coyle is using some formulas in his stories. So when it said that the wife was a foreigner, I knew that the solution with have something to do with her. The “jury” at the end was a new one even if Holmes has let people off before 3w

28 likes10 comments

Cuilin

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent | Judi Dench, Brendan O'Hea

I‘m just getting around to some thank you notes and wanted to say thank you @dabbe for this lovely holiday gift. I‘ve had it on my TBR and I‘m really looking forward to reading it. I have a whole Shakespeare shelf and this will be a wonderful addition. Thank you so much not just for this perfect gift but also for your friendship. 🤗 PS the candle smells divine.

Andrea313 What a beautiful gift! Popping in to say I hope you love the book- it was my favorite of my last year's reading. You have such a treat in front of you! 4w

dabbe Yay! I adore my bookmarks and LADY MAC book, too! (I hope I already posted about that! My memory ain't what is used to be! 😂) And what a perfect thought for today's #25Alive ... #friendship 🤗 🩶🖤🩶 4w

Cuilin @Andrea313 thank you 🙏 😊 4w

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Cuilin @dabbe yes you posted, I‘m the slow poke here. Absolutely #25Alive #friendship @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 4w

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️🤍❤️ 4w

dabbe @Cuilin No, you're not. No worries, m'dear. 🩶🖤🩶 4w

Eggs How lovely 🥰 3w

65 likes7 comments

Cuilin

The Return of Sherlock Holmes | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Fellow Sherlockians, we continue the cannon with a fun game to kick off our reading in 2025. Look out for a link to a quiz this weekend after our discussion for tAo the Abbey Grange. Prize will be sent to the person with the first highest score. 🎉 🏆 🥇 🏅

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace 4w

Cuilin @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 4w

dabbe 🩶🤍🖤 4w

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TheAromaofBooks I got behind in December, but am working on catching up this month!! 4w

Cuilin @TheAromaofBooks No worries, December will do that!! 4w

Read4life 💙📚💙 4w

45 likes6 comments

Cuilin

The Tree A Day | Amy-Jane Beer

#NaturalLitsy #ATreeADay @AllDebooks

For those reading tagged book and got excited about the tree and location, (Sherwood Forest!!) I went down a rabbit hole and sending a link if you care to join me. There‘s drone footage! 🌳 💚

https://visitsherwood.co.uk/explore-the-forest/the-major-oak/

TheBookHippie Ooooooo thank you!!!! 1mo

AllDebooks This is on my turf, I've visiited it so many times since childhood. This book feels like home 🏡 1mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks @TheBookHippie I‘m adding it to my bucket list!!! I fell in love with a tree this morning. I love this book. 1mo

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AllDebooks @Cuilin 💚 1mo

TheBookHippie @Cuilin I love this book. Love. 1mo

dabbe 💚🎄💚 1mo

dabbe Just sent you an email re: Sherlock. 🩶🖤🩶 1mo

55 likes7 comments

Cuilin

Hard Times | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens Hard Times Buddy Read

Hard Times is the 10th novel by Dickens published in 1854. With themes, including the consequences of unchecked capitalism and the importance of empathy it‘s still relevant today. All are welcome! We will check in mid month and post a discussion question at the end of January.

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han @wordslinger42 @curiouserandcuriouser 1mo

Lcsmcat I‘ve got a hard copy and a Kindle edition, so I‘m all set! Looking forward to it! 1mo

Cuilin @Lcsmcat 👍 I‘m planning a mix of a hard copy and audio. 1mo

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Lcsmcat @Cuilin Who‘s reading the audio? Anyone we‘d recognize? 1mo

Cuilin @Lcsmcat Bertie Carvel and Jeremy Paxman 1mo

AllDebooks @Cuilin me too 1mo

Lcsmcat @Cuilin That should be good! 1mo

Texreader Yay!!! Here we go!! 1mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 1mo

BarbaraJean I have such FOMO about this, but January is packed and since Hard Times is a re-read for me I‘m going to opt out this month and jump back in for Nicholas Nickleby. I‘ll no doubt lurk on the discussion, though 😁 1mo

Cuilin @BarbaraJean I get such FOMO with Litsy buddy reads. I‘m glad I‘m not alone in that. Yes jump in for the discussion at the end of the month. 👍 1mo

45 likes11 comments

Cuilin

The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty | G.J. Meyer

#BookedInTime #BookedInTimeJanuary25 #BookedInTimeTudors

In the wake of the War of the Roses, the House of Tudor succeeded the Plantagenets. They ruled 118 years from Henry VII to Elizabeth I, succeeded by the Stuarts. The most well known Tudor being Henry VIII, with his six wives, and his daughter Elizabeth I, who reigned for 45 years. I‘m reading book 1 of Shardlake series. You? Comment, post or review at the end of the month!

Cuilin @dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks
@thebookgeekfrau @bookwormjillk @spellboundReader @deblovestoread @jenniferw88 1mo

Cuilin @mollyanna @jess861 @kspenmoll @ncsufoxes @Bluebird @julieclair @majkia @karisimo
@tdrosebud @rwmg @pathfindernicole @debinhawaii @alldebooks @covertocover
@itchyfeetreader @thegreensofa @ann_reads @rookpools @lizpixie @amiable @Desha @Sapphire @deblovestoread @bookwormjillk @Mitch @SamAnne @alldebooks @lil1inblue 1mo

ChaoticMissAdventures An incredible time. I am going to finally read

Wolf Hall

1mo

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Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures I can‘t tell you how much I loved that whole trilogy. I‘m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. Enjoy. 1mo

Daisey This is a great series! 1mo

Bookwormjillk I have a hard time getting through books set in this period but I‘m going to try

Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World

1mo

Amiable I think I might give this one a go, too—thanks to @dabbe ! 1mo

Itchyfeetreader I am going with this one. I have read widely from this period and wanted a new vs re read🤞🤞

Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown: Tudor Rose Novel 2

1mo

Jess861 I've decided on reading a Philippa Gregory book set in this time period. Really not sure if I'll like this author but going to give it a go.

The Wise Woman: A Novel

1mo

Cuilin @Amiable yes!!! 1mo

Cuilin @Bookwormjillk good luck, just remember we‘re fans of #hailthebail if it isn‘t for you. 🤞you‘ll enjoy it. 1mo

Cuilin @Itchyfeetreader sounds fabulous!! 1mo

Cuilin @Jess861 I‘ve never read Gregory. She is popular. Good luck. 1mo

dabbe @Amiable #woohoo! I think you're going to love it! ❣️🥂❣️ 1mo

dabbe I'm in the middle of REVELATION, book 4 in the Shardlake series. Reading it with the #ShardlakeSeriesBR and for #BookedInTime. All are welcome to join us! ❣️🥂❣️ 1mo

dabbe DISSOLUTION is also on the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @ChaoticMissAdventures On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @Bookwormjillk On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @Itchyfeetreader On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @Jess861 On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @Cuilin YES!!! 🤩🙌🏻🤩 1mo

julieclair @Jess861 I‘m giving Philippa Gregory a try, too.

The Constant Princess

1mo

Cuilin @julieclair i‘d love to know what you think of her writing I have never read her so I‘m really interested. 1mo

AllDebooks I'm going with

Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady

1mo

julieclair @Cuilin Will do! 1mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks oh very intriguing 🤔 1mo

rubyslippersreads I‘m going with

Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII

1mo

rwmg My most likely contender is the next in a series I'm reading intermittently:

Six Tudor Queens: Jane Seymour, The Haunted Queen: Six Tudor Queens 3

1mo

Cuilin @rubyslippersreads I don‘t think any wife of Henry VIII had a good time, but I particularly felt bad for the teenage Catherine Howard. Enjoy. 1mo

Cuilin @rwmg Fabulous, looking forward to your thoughts. 1mo

Mollyanna I‘m in the middle of Revelation with @dabbe and also in the middle of Wolf Hall. Hopefully I can finish Wolf Hall in January. I‘ve read several of Gregory‘s books. They‘re pretty good. 1mo

Cuilin @Mollyanna Love Wolf Hall. 1mo

dabbe @julieclair On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @rubyslippersreads On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @AllDebooks On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @rwmg On the spreadsheet! 🤩 1mo

dabbe @Mollyanna 🤩 1mo

julieclair @Mollyanna Glad to hear you enjoyed reading Gregory! 1mo

sblbooks 1. I'm planning on reading this one

The Life of Elizabeth I

1mo

Cuilin @sblbooks that one really looks good!! 1mo

Bluebird I love Shardlake! I hope you enjoy the first one! This month I‘m reading

Revelation. C.J. Sansom

1mo

Amiable I just started “Dissolution” today! Is there a Storygraph challenge set up for this already? I can usually be more organized when I can follow along on there. 😄 Shall I set one up? 1mo

Cuilin @Amiable there‘s a StoryGraph challenge for #bookedInTime organized by @julieclair I started today too. (edited) 1mo

Cuilin @amiable https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenge_prompts/78a3fed8-6d9b-4f5f-8140-... 1mo

Cuilin @Bluebird I started dissolution today. So far so good. 😊 1mo

Amiable @Cuilin Excellent! 👍🏼 1mo

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Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens

Any last thoughts?

@texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han

TheBookHippie The Mickey Mouse/Donald Duck one 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 don‘t judge me it‘s Christmas 🤣🤣🤣🤣 1mo

TheBookHippie This was so lovely to read again. Thank you. 1mo

AnishaInkspill Call Me Claus, Starring Whoopi Goldberg, it's a nice retell, entertaining and warm though a touch cheesy. 1mo

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Cuilin @TheBookHippie Judgment free zone here. Have a lovely holiday Christine. 1mo

Cuilin @AnishaInkspill I don‘t think I‘ve seen this one yet. Thank you. 1mo

TheBookHippie @Cuilin You as well! 1mo

BookwormAHN The Muppet's Christmas Carol, love it so much. And thanks for hosting 💚 1mo

Cuilin @BookwormAHN Love The Muppets!! You‘re welcome. 1mo

dabbe 1951 version with Alistair Sim and the 1980 version with George C. Scott. Thanks for hosting us, @Cuilin! 🎄❣️🎄 1mo

dabbe And a major honorable mention to AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL, starring Henry Winkler. 🤩 1mo

CSeydel My very favorite is the Alistair Sim version - he‘s simply perfect as Scrooge. But I also quite like 1988‘s “Scrooged” with Bill Murray. 1mo

AllDebooks Loved reading this again. Thank you for hosting @Cuilin I'm all for Alistair Sim, I watched this every year with my gran. 1mo

35 likes12 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens

@texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han

TheBookHippie Not much changes with the ultra rich and massive population of poor. You‘d want to believe it -but I don‘t think anyone would care or believe it. It‘s akin to romance novels HEA -pure fantasy. I have seen this story mentioned a lot recently in the political world as memes, so still relevant. Maybe if not familiar people will pick it up and read it. 1mo

AnishaInkspill if Dickens wrote this today then as books were important to him then maybe big corp not swallowing up a humble book store 1mo

Cuilin @AnishaInkspill I‘d read that!! 1mo

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BookwormAHN I think Dickens would be disgusted with the wealthy today as he was in his time and he would find a modern way to let us know. 1mo

Cuilin @BookwormAHN Agreed. 1mo

Vansa This is very much as relevant today as it was in the Victorian era, and many parts of the world still exist with inequities of income far worse than in the Victorian times! 1mo

Cuilin @Vansa completely agree. The disparity is absolutely, staggeringly worse. 1mo

Vansa Great, thought provoking prompts, btw! Have enjoyed reading the discussions 1mo

dabbe The top 1% still exists, right? And it's completely global now--or at least, we're more aware of it globally. We humans still want to be on top and keep others down, don't we? The I-pulled-myself-up-from-the-bootstraps-without-any-help ... why can't you others? Oh, yes, the story is still so relevant and much needed. 1mo

Cuilin @dabbe I just chatted with my dad about that this morning. There are some current CEOs today who have never read a Christmas Carol. And it shows. 1mo

dabbe @Cuilin Oh, lordy, ain't that the truth! 1mo

AllDebooks This story will always be relevant. It's theme is timeless. 1mo

26 likes1 stack add12 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens

I‘ve always pondered these questions. 🤔 @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han

TheBookHippie Purgatory -each sin is seven years. So his sin of greed? I think that‘s what we were taught I do know the 7 year each sin thing was taught 😵‍💫😝 this is probably why between my mothers faith and fathers I did not choose my mothers 😵‍💫😝🫠🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo

Cuilin @TheBookHippie Purgatory, yep. If he saves Scrooge, is that his chance of getting to heaven perhaps? 1mo

TheBookHippie @Cuilin that‘s what I assume … 1mo

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BookwormAHN I also wondered if maybe he didn't feel guilty for encouraging Scrooge's behavior. 1mo

Cuilin @BookwormAHN good point!! He was certainly an influence. 1mo

dabbe I always think of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner“ when I think of Marley, He, too, must go around and recount his tale to save others from his fate. I love the possible idea of salvation for him, too, @Cuilin after 7 years of purgatory, @TheBookHippie. Dickens' hope, perhaps, is that Scrooge will be spared those 7 years and get his act together while still alive--a message to all of us who are still living. (edited) 1mo

Lin3han @TheBookHippie this was amazing! I have never thought about that 1mo

Lin3han Along the lines of @TheBookHippie, maybe Marley had to watch Scrooge to commit those 7 sins for every year? Check for redemption before damnation? 1mo

TheBookHippie @Lin3han oh maybe! Parochial school comes in handy 😵‍💫🫠😅😝 … 1mo

22 likes9 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens

This was the first Dickens I had ever read, and I was surprised at how humorous he was. I remember being completely moved at Scrooge‘s transformation. It still gets me. 😢

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han 1mo

TheBookHippie I think the ghost story at Christmas time has always been popular, so has the rich/poor equation.. we all want to believe someone like that can change and actually be altruistic … HOPE. I think hope burns brighter in the holidays. This story helps that. (edited) 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement Yes, the humor throughout surprised me. Reading this as an adult after seeing countless adaptations, that was a surprise for some reason. I think we all enjoy the reminder that we can change bad/selfish habits we might have fallen into. 1mo

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BookwormAHN I do love Dickens sense of humor. Bleak House is especially entertaining. I agree I think hope does burn brighter in the holidays @TheBookHippie 1mo

dabbe My favorite part is best expressed in the George C. Scott portrayal from 1980. When he's jumping on the bed, saying “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody!“ ... my heart just soars. And who can't help but love a story of complete redemption. Wouldn't we all want that? And yes, @TheBookHippie, hope abounds--especially at this time of year. 1mo

Cuilin @dabbe surprisingly the Disney version does this scene really well. The animation is incredible. 1mo

dabbe @Cuilin I haven't seen that one in years ... time to revisit! 1mo

AllDebooks It's the eternal pull of hope and redemption. We all can change by making different choices. 1mo

Lin3han It‘s both a story of hope and horrible reality. The rich needed to be threatened to care about the poor whereas Tiny Tim was giving to all. I think it‘s a big reflection of society at large. I particularly LOVE Sir Patrick Stewart‘s rendition of Scrooge. His subtle body language and expressions convey both the every day horror seeing poor conditions and the development of empathy. 1mo

22 likes9 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens

@texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han

TheBookHippie I think the future ghost has always been my favorite -Christmas yet to come… most affective probably Marley. 1mo

Cuilin @TheBookHippie oh interesting! The non speaking ghost of Christmas future always seems the most frightening to me. But yeah, I think probably the most effective. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement After an intro by a trusted partner, the three build the case to change so perfectly. He is reminded of his own villain origin story. How it definitely didn‘t need to be this way. He sees the love he is currently missing out on, hurting himself the most. Seeing a grim future that can be changed is the final push to alter his ways. 1mo

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Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement beautifully put. 1mo

BookwormAHN I think the ghost of Christmas present seems like the most fun but the future ghost is the most persuasive. 1mo

dabbe For me, I love the jocularity of Christmas Present and giving further insight into the present day and what Scrooge is neglecting. Then, the ominous switch to the children under his robe--Ignorance and Want--seem to me to be Dickens giving us full-on his views of the social issues of his time, emphasizing the dire consequences of neglecting the poor and uneducated in society. This is the main lesson Dickens wants to tell. 1mo

Cuilin @dabbe I agree this is absolutely the lesson as he tells Scrooge when asked they are “man‘s”. We may not all be as miserly as Scrooge, but who and what are we neglecting? 1mo

AllDebooks @TheBookHippie I agree, Markey is definitely the most affective ghost. He jolts Scrooge into a staye of fright ready for the 3 ghosts to visit 1mo

AllDebooks *Marley 1mo

Lin3han I think Christmas Past is both my favorite and the most persuasive. Scrooge watched the light and passion he used to have for life, how others treated him, and a lost love because of greed. Just like we all do, we tend to look to our past for new decisions in the present. He needed to be reminded of his prior light in order to spread it to others 1mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks @TheBookHippie Would Scrooge have accepted the other ghosts if Marley hadn‘t come first? I think not! 1mo

AllDebooks @Cuilin exactly. The familiarity of Marley and all their misdeeds cracks his conscience, leaving him more vulnerable to the other ghosts' appearances and their guidance 1mo

TheBookHippie @Cuilin no I can‘t think he would have. 1mo

TheBookHippie @AllDebooks exactly!!! 1mo

23 likes14 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens
I was so tempted to look this up, but I wanted to hear everybody‘s thoughts first.

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han 1mo

Lcsmcat Definitely not my first read! I don‘t remember how old I was the first time I- elementary school for sure. For years my husband and I had a tradition of reading it aloud each year. (I drive him crazy when we watch movie adaptations because I can‘t stop pointing out everything they do wrong.) Yet I find something new every time I read it. 1mo

Lcsmcat Like @Cuilin I love the opening imagery. (The house getting lost while playing hide and seek with other houses is a favorite.) But a new funny quote jumped out at me this time. It‘s long but I‘ll try to post it. 1mo

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Lcsmcat All he could make out was, that it was still very foggy and extremely cold, and that there was no noise of people running to and fro, and making a great stir, as there unquestionably would have been if night had beaten off bright day, and taken possession of the world. 1mo

Lcsmcat This was a great relief, because “three days after sight of this First of Exchange pay to Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge or his order,” and so forth, would have become a mere United States‘ security if there were no days to count by. 1mo

Lcsmcat And I just realized I posted these in the wrong question. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1mo

TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat I point out the wrong too!! 1mo

TheBookHippie I always thought of this as a play or opera. So carol seemed fitting… no clue though 🤣. 1mo

Cuilin @Lcsmcat @thebookhippie I did this recently with the David Copperfield movie. I don‘t think my husband enjoyed my exclamations of “That‘s Wrong!” as he ended up falling asleep on the couch!! 1mo

Cuilin @Lcsmcat Every year I always find something new too. 1mo

Cuilin @TheBookHippie Your hypothesis checks out, apparently there is an Opera!! 1mo

TheBookHippie @Cuilin @Lcsmcat I do it with Les Mis 🤣😅😵‍💫 1mo

BookwormAHN I believe Dickens used to read this to an audience and had it memorized. 1mo

Cuilin @BookwormAHN wow. 1mo

dabbe Poetically, the Cs create a lovely alliteration that sounds melodic like a carol would. Plus, the entire title of the novella is “A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas.“ The word “story“ twice would be too repetitive.

A stave is usually used as a musical term, so that again solidifies the harmonious musicality and ultimate joy of the season that this story signifies. 1mo

Cuilin @dabbe I love your explanation, I also think to call it a Christmas story would confuse it with the Nativity as “The” Christmas Story. 1mo

dabbe @Cuilin Excellent point! 1mo

Lin3han I think it‘s because of how it was published. He would‘ve had to publish it in bits for print just as he did with A Tale Of Two Cities. A story implies a beginning, middle, and end whereas a carol is always in continuation. Another thought is the symmetry of carolers in the beginning and end. Scrooge was angered at the beginning but ended up using them in the end as a show of his character development. 1mo

22 likes18 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens
My first encounter with a Christmas Carol was reading an excerpt at age 10, the exchange between Scrooge and his nephew. And for weeks afterwards, my friends and I went around saying Bah, Humbug. A few years later, during a storm, I sat by the fireside and read the whole book. I remember thinking how humorous that opening paragraph actually is. Was this your first read?

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks
@lcsmcat @bornareader @cogsofencouragement @thebookhippie @thearomaofbooks @bookwormjillk @Lin3han 1mo

Cuilin Join in anytime!!! 1mo

TheBookHippie They read this to us in grammar school starting in kindergarten. I read it myself fifth grade so 9. I much preferred reading it myself as opposed to the religiosity of parochial school. I always thought of it as a play or opera, both of which I loved. 1mo

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Cuilin @TheBookHippie the excerpt we did in school was more of an English comprehension assignment, thankfully though surprisingly, as I went to Catholic school, there was no religiosity involved! 1mo

TheBookHippie @Cuilin WHEW…. 1mo

CogsOfEncouragement I read it the first time seven years ago and for some reason I was surprised by how funny it is. This was just my second read. 1mo

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement I love the balance of dark and light. Did you notice anything new your second time reading it? 1mo

BookwormAHN The first time I read it was 6th grade and I loved it. 1mo

dabbe I regret that I have no recollection of my first “reading“ as a child, but I vividly remember the first time this story came into my life: Saturday night movie on channel 5 when I was 7 years old. The 1951 version entitled SCROOGE with Alistair Sims playing the pivotal roll. I was completely mesmerized and have been ever since. This is still my favorite movie rendition. 1mo

AllDebooks My belived gran reading it to me at 7yrs old is my first memory. She then bought a collection of CD's Christmas books when I was in my teens 1mo

Lin3han I remember my grandma reading it to me once! I truly remember my “first” time was in 6th grade where we read it in preparation to perform it as a play! 1mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks @Lin3han I love that you both read it with your grandmothers. 1mo

25 likes12 comments

Cuilin

Words, Words, Words: Teaching Vocabulary in Grades 4-12 | Janet Allen

#WeirdWordWednesday @CBee

Gift searching has me ramfeezled!!! My new favorite word.

MariaW 😂 2mo

peanutnine I love it 2mo

dabbe 🤩😂🤩 2mo

kspenmoll I love this word!!!! Perfect! 2mo

CBee Fantastic word 👏🏻👏🏻 2mo

55 likes5 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez: No. 38 | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe

I think I missed something regarding the poison.

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 2mo

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks 2mo

Librarybelle To me, it seemed a little odd that she took the poison. I also wasn‘t 100% sure why they went to the Russian embassy. 2mo

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CogsOfEncouragement 1 - not sure

2 - Her life was horrible, and she didn't want to have to do time for killing the secretary?

3 - I thought SH and W wanted to provide the evidence to free Alexis from his sentence in the Siberian salt mine as the Mrs. requested. 2mo

Daisey I agree with @CogsOfEncouragement that she didn‘t want to be convicted of murder and they went to the embassy to share the proof of evidence. 2mo

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @Librarybelle I think the poison was a bit extra but as @Daisey said she didn‘t want to be convicted of murder and therefore sent to prison. 2mo

dabbe @Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @Librarybelle ... what I don't get is why have poison in the first place? It was proven by Holmes that she did not come there to murder anyone. She didn't bring a murder weapon at all--yet she brings poison? Just in case? How would she know she'd be in a place where she could quickly find a weapon if she needed to? 2mo

Librarybelle Good point, @dabbe ! 2mo

Cuilin @dabbe exactly!! 2mo

27 likes9 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez: No. 38 | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe

It‘s Sherlock so possibly but so much information was gleaned from one object. Thoughts?

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks 2mo

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 2mo

Librarybelle You‘re right—possibly Sherlock would have figured it out, but, as the title suggests, the pince nez was the pivotal clue. 2mo

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CogsOfEncouragement I thought the change in the amount of food being consumed was key. Maybe even someone with 20/20 vision would take the wrong way in trying to leave the house because of the flooring. 2mo

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement yes, the food was pivotal. He knew the suspect was still in the building. 2mo

dabbe Holmes (being Holmes) probably could have put it together without the pince-nez. The footprints and lack thereof on the garden path is another clue as well as the same type of carpeting leading to the garden as well as to Coram's room. The glasses are the cherry on top of the banana split, as the cliche goes. 2mo

24 likes6 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez: No. 38 | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes @dabbe

Interested her hear what other people think of this one. It fell a little flat for me but it may be a me issue. Thoughts?

Cuilin @pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks 2mo

Cuilin @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 2mo

Librarybelle I thought it was a little flat too. For me, it was not as exciting as some of the other cases. I did like the hidden room. 2mo

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CogsOfEncouragement Maybe SH's perfect description of the culprit? Seems like something Watson would particularly want to share with his readers. 2mo

kelli7990 I didn‘t like this story that much. 2mo

Cuilin @Librarybelle @CogsOfEncouragement @kelli7990 I see we‘re all on the same page with this one. 2mo

dabbe A day late! So sorry! Perhaps this one was included for its Russian pre-revolution plot or whatnot. Every time Watson mentions all of the other cases that he never writes about, THOSE are the ones I wish we could read! Somebody needs to write pastiches with exactly those titles! 🤩 2mo

23 likes7 comments

Cuilin

Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection | Erica Vetsch, Amanda Barratt, Carolyn Miller

My #FiveJoysFriday Thanks for the tag @DebinHawaii

Care to play? @Born.A.Reader @Bookwormjillk @Daisey @AnneCecilie @Texreader @julieclair @dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement

AmyG Ha, Spotify is using AI for the wrap-ups. The descriptions have been bananas. 🤣 2mo

dabbe I do and will! Thanks for the tag! 🥰 2mo

julieclair Thanks for the tag! I‘m going to have to check out the Spotify wrap ups! And… congrats on the Pilates roll up! 2mo

kspenmoll Glad your daughter is back in NH! 💛 1mo

42 likes4 comments

Cuilin

A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens

#WhatTheDickens

For many of us, this is a reread every year. Have you read it this year yet? If you have or if you have not and want to join in a gentle buddy read, with a quick discussion Christmas Eve, December 24th, let me know and I will tag you. This is open to all, but I will tag members.

LitsyEvents

Cuilin @texreader @CaitlinR @raelovestoread @fortifiedbybooks @BarbaraJean @Annececilie @LeeRharry @quietjenn @bookwormAHN @dabbe @alldebooks @Daisey @sparklemn @bcncookbookclub @TheAromaofBooks @lcsmcat
2mo

Lcsmcat I‘d love to join in. Don‘t know if I‘ll have time to discuss on the 24th but I can join in later. 2mo

Cuilin @Lcsmcat Absolutely, I‘ll post on the 24th but everyone please 🙏 feel free to answer whenever you can. 🎄 2mo

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CogsOfEncouragement I‘ve started a reread this month, please count me in. 2mo

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement wonderful 2mo

Born.A.Reader Count me in! 2mo

AllDebooks I read this every Christmas. Count me in. x 2mo

AnneCecilie That‘s sounds perfect. I was already planning on reading this so I finished on the 23rd. Christmas Eve is the big day for me, so I‘ll probably join the discussion a little later. 2mo

TheBookHippie Oh me! 2mo

TheAromaofBooks Yay, do tag me!! 2mo

dabbe Just finished LISTENING to it for the first time ever! My first completed audio book narrated by Tim Curry. And, #allthefeels--always! Yes, please tag me! 💙❄️💙 2mo

BookwormAHN I'm in 🩵 2mo

Cuilin @Born.A.Reader yay 2mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks ✅🩵 2mo

Cuilin @AnneCecilie ✅🩵 2mo

Cuilin @dabbe will do ✅🩵 2mo

Cuilin @TheBookHippie ✅🩵 2mo

Cuilin @BookwormAHN @TheAromaofBooks ✅🩵 2mo

Texreader ♥️♥️♥️ 2mo

Daisey Tag me please! 2mo

Cuilin @Texreader @daisey ✅🩵 2mo

Bookwormjillk Sure! Good idea! I usually listen to the audio while wrapping presents. 2mo

Cuilin @Bookwormjillk I think I‘m going to do audio this year too. Hugh Grant narration perhaps 🤔 2mo

quietjenn Definitely! 2mo

Lin3han I reread every year! Usually with my students! 2mo

Cuilin @quietjenn ✅🩵 2mo

Cuilin @Lin3han how wonderful? What grade? 2mo

BarbaraJean I‘ve overloaded myself this month, so I‘m not sure if I can manage another read before Christmas! Do tag me, though—I may try to fit the audiobook in somewhere along the way! 2mo

Cuilin @BarbaraJean 👍 2mo

Lin3han @Cuilin I‘m an 8th grade English teacher! 🥰 2mo

Cuilin @Lin3han So glad a teacher is reading Dickens with 8 grade!! Do they like it? 2mo

47 likes31 comments

Cuilin

While England Sleeps: A Novel | David Leavitt

pick

#BookedInTime
I don‘t care about the controversy surrounding this novel. Was a page or two plagiarized? Writers get inspiration from many sources including real people. Putting those pages aside (which the author literally did, and rewrote them) this novel is beautiful and it deserves all the stars. ⭐️

35 likes

Cuilin

The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty | G.J. Meyer

#BookedInTime

I personally love this time period. So much drama and so much to choose from. Thanks to @rubyslippersreads for suggesting this prompt.

Cuilin @dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks
@thebookgeekfrau @bookwormjillk @spellboundReader @deblovestoread @jenniferw88 2mo

Cuilin @mollyanna @jess861 @kspenmoll @ncsufoxes @Bluebird @julieclair @majkia @karisimo
@tdrosebud @rwmg @pathfindernicole @debinhawaii @alldebooks @covertocover
@itchyfeetreader @thegreensofa @ann_reads @rookpools @lizpixie @amiable @Desha @Sapphire @deblovestoread @bookwormjillk @Mitch @SamAnne @alldebooks @lil1inblue @litsyEvents 2mo

Bookwormjillk This time period has always been a challenge for me but I did find this chunkster unread on my phone the other day

Elizabeth of York: the Last White Rose: Tudor Rose Novel 1

2mo

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dabbe I'll be finishing the #ShardlakeSeriesBR with the tagged in January. I'm thoroughly enjoying rereading these historical mystery reads! 🤩

Revelation. C.J. Sansom

2mo

dabbe Reminder to everyone: we have a spreadsheet with all of the books we've read! Here's the link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sLpOtIgy6SwJkyU0wwno2MN4YUbe0ldjPwSusW3g... 2mo

Cuilin @dabbe Thank you, for reminder about the spreadsheet. I thought Shardlake would work for this prompt. 😉 2mo

rwmg How would you feel about a separate tag for announcements of upcoming periods to be discussed, such as BookedInTimePeriods? I plan each month's reading at the end of the previous month and I can't always find what the period is easily. 2mo

Karisimo @dabbe @cuilin I‘m definitely using shardlake for this one! (edited) 2mo

Cuilin @rwmg yes I can create a separate hashtag like #BookedinTimeJanTudors Would that work? 2mo

Cuilin @Karisimo I‘m looking forward to it but worried about adding another series to my TBR lol 😆 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures This is perfect I had this one on my TBR all this year and kept putting it off. This gives me more incentive to pick it up in January

Wolf Hall

2mo

Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures loved that trilogy, perfect choice 2mo

dabbe @Karisimo 🤩🤩🤩 2mo

dabbe @ChaoticMissAdventures On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo

dabbe @Bookwormjillk On the spreadsheet! 🤩 2mo

rwmg I was thinking of something more general. If I've forgotten the prompt, which I usually have by the beginning of the month, I can't look up eg Tudors. so I need something like BookedInTimeJan2024 2mo

Cuilin @rwmg Got it!! I can absolutely do that. I‘m not adverse to posting a few hashtags. 2mo

rwmg Thank you 😘 2mo

julieclair Love this time period! 2mo

julieclair @rwmg (and everyone) I have set up a challenge on StoryGraph that lists all the prompts, if that would be helpful to you: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/2cdac7b0-0085-4e6b-b601-f63cbd6... 2mo

kspenmoll I have Hamnet in my TBR so that will be my choice! 1mo

Cuilin @kspenmoll I loved it. Enjoy. 1mo

Jess861 I'm planning to read either The Wise Woman or The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

@julieclair - thank you for the storygraph add for bookedintime! I find it such a great tool to track prompts for challenges!
(edited) 1mo

Cuilin @Jess861 Enjoy!! 1mo

julieclair @Jess861 You‘re welcome! I like it for tracking, too. 1mo

49 likes25 comments

Cuilin

Historical Fiction | Alfred Duggan

#BookedInTime

I‘m just putting it out there for all to see. I will still do a monthly post. As a reminder, all are welcome to join this very low-key Buddy-read. All genres are included from graphic novels to spy thrillers, horrors and actual history books.

Cuilin @dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks
@thebookgeekfrau @bookwormjillk @spellboundReader @deblovestoread @jenniferw88 2mo

Cuilin @mollyanna @jess861 @kspenmoll @ncsufoxes @Bluebird @julieclair @majkia @karisimo
@tdrosebud @rwmg @pathfindernicole @debinhawaii @alldebooks @covertocover
@itchyfeetreader @thegreensofa @ann_reads @rookpools @lizpixie @amiable @Desha @Sapphire @deblovestoread @bookwormjillk @Mitch @SamAnne @alldebooks @lil1inblue @litsyEvents 2mo

AllDebooks Looking forward to it 😀 2mo

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BarkingMadRead Ohhhhh I‘m going to try and not fail epically at this one, time to plan ahead 2mo

ChaoticMissAdventures Yay! Thank you for putting this together and leading us! I am excited lots of fun times here. 2mo

Mollyanna Looking forward to another year! Thank you for hosting. 2mo

Amiable Great time periods! 2mo

Deblovestoread Fantastic! Looking to a bunch of these. Thank you for putting the whole year together. 💙🩵💙 2mo

Bookwormjillk Piracy and Famine! Count me in! Seriously though thanks for putting this all together. Looking forward to a great reading year. 2mo

dabbe I've already got January covered! Thanks for hosting, m'dear! 💙❄️💙 2mo

Jess861 Great list!! I'm really hoping to participate more next year - this year was so busy and different from normal that reading took a backseat.

I just read a short on the Irish Famine - looking forward to reading a bit more about it. 2mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks 💜🩵 2mo

Cuilin @BarkingMadRead ✅💜🩵 2mo

Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures @Mollyanna @Deblovestoread @Bookwormjillk you‘re welcome ☺️ 2mo

Cuilin @Amiable thank you 🙏 2mo

Cuilin @dabbe I may have to try Dissolution 🤔 2mo

Cuilin @Jess861 oh life!! It can really mess up my reading too. Join in whenever you can. 🩵 my favorite book of all time is set during the famine

Star of the Sea

2mo

dabbe @Cuilin Oh, you'd love it! 🤩 2mo

julieclair For those who use StoryGraph, I have set up a challenge: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/2cdac7b0-0085-4e6b-b601-f63cbd6... I find it helpful for keeping track of what books I might want to read for each prompt. 2mo

Cuilin @julieclair thanks, I filled in my last book for this year!!! Challenge completed ✔️🎉 2mo

kspenmoll Thanks. @julieclair for the storygraph set up & thanks @Cuilin for hosting this again! 1mo

julieclair @Cuilin Congrats! 👏🏆 I still have a few unread books for 2024. 1mo

julieclair @kspenmoll 🩵💙🩵 1mo

49 likes23 comments

Cuilin

Goodnight Mister Tom | Michelle Magorian

#MiddleGradeMonday @Karisimo

Mr. Tom technically is not William‘s grandfather, but he certainly loves and protects him like he is. Beautiful classic novel.

Karisimo Sounds great! Thanks for sharing! 2mo

42 likes1 comment

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Thoughts?

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 2mo

Librarybelle I was a little surprised by the Mafia mention, honestly. I‘m sure there are connections in England with the Mafia, but I hadn‘t really thought about it. As for Napoleon and the statues…though this is written decades after, it‘s still a huge piece of British history, a source of pride. It made sense to me for Napoleon to be the statue—destruction of a hated enemy. He‘s still not really well liked in parts of the world. 2mo

Cuilin The mafia mentioned caught me off guard too. Like what? I thought that was Italian American history. 2mo

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Read4life I remember thinking early on the first time I read this that there was something in the bust. The mafia connection felt like it came out of nowhere when I read it. 2mo

CogsOfEncouragement I suspected right away, it reminded me of The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.

I was surprised so many people would want a N bust. I don't have any warm feelings for him.

The mafia mention didn't surprise me, Doyle taking the time to define what it was caught my attention.

So many good feelings from L in these stories yet the tv adaptations tend to lean into a ton of animosity from L to SH which I find interesting. 2mo

eeclayton The friendliness between Lestrade and Holmes was a pleasant surprise for me too, in this one and other stories as well, seeing how their relationship is shown in adaptations. @CogsOfEncouragement 2mo

Cuilin @eeclayton yes!!! The movie adaptations especially have them pit against each other. 2mo

Cuilin @CogsOfEncouragement I just watched the Granada YV adaptation with Jeremy Brett, and they seem friendly in that one. And then the BBC has them be on friendlier terms but the Robert Downey Jr. movie it‘s like they‘re enemies. 2mo

dabbe Part of the fun of reading the canon for me is seeing certain relationships develop, like the one between Lestrade and Holmes. I believe he features in more of the stories than any other police detective. His relationship with Holmes in the BBC series was an affable one and done very well IMHO.

I also think Doyle did write about the time period beyond just England. He's had the Mormons, the KKK, and now the Italian mafia in his stories. 2mo

30 likes9 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Thoughts?

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 2mo

Librarybelle I think it is a reflection of attitudes, and really attitudes today of otherness. 2mo

Cuilin @Librarybelle I was thinking the same thing that nothing much has changed, unfortunately. 2mo

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Read4life I agree that it really hasn‘t changed much. 2mo

CogsOfEncouragement I was thinking about this as I read, especially his description of being so ugly. Seemed like all Italians basically knew each other, though it would make since they might gravitate to the same neighborhoods where they could speak their heart language, as people still tend to do. I lack knowledge of the history of Italians in England. 2mo

Cuilin @Read4life 😔 2mo

CatLass007 I know that filmmakers and authors today are still accused of perpetuating stereotypes. All Italians are members of the Mafia, everyone in Boston supports the IRA, indigenous people are primitive or drunks or whatever the latest stereotype is. So, no, humans haven‘t changed much at all. 2mo

CatLass007 But there‘s more. Didn‘t the bust-smashing Italian Mafia guy have a nickname? It seems like everyone connected with the Italian Mafia in the movies and on television has a nickname. I enjoy reading a good mystery or thriller, but I don‘t remember reading anything with Italian Mafia guys, much less ones who have nicknames. 2mo

dabbe It seems that anyone who is “foreign“ born without white skin receives some sort of prejudice in these stories. I'm reminded of Tonga, the Indian islander who has the poison darts in THE SIGN OF FOUR. He was also described as small, ugly, dark-skinned, and able to get in tiny places. These bias portrayals even reminded me of the razor-wielding orangatang in EA Poe's “Murders in the Rue Morgue.“ 2mo

27 likes9 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Thoughts?

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 2mo

Librarybelle This was another fast read. I‘m not familiar with the perception of Napoleon from Italians, since he is from Corsica, and I vaguely recall animosity between the two countries (I‘m not up on my European feuds unless they involve the Tudors). 2mo

Cuilin @Librarybelle yeah I thought this was a fast and good read also. It‘s interesting regarding Napoleon, as an Irish person it was a case of “an enemy of your enemy is your friend” so I think Napoleon was probably more popular in Ireland than in many parts of the world. lol (edited) 2mo

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Read4life I enjoyed this one. I vaguely remembered it from reading it years ago. 2mo

CogsOfEncouragement I enjoyed it. The newspaper man so upset, concerned that he wouldn't get a chance to write about the interesting story because it happened to him, and he feared he was too shaken to write was a fun aspect. Then using the paper to place the culprit at ease to continue his search for the pearl was also entertaining. 2mo

CatLass007 I rarely am able to follow the clues Conan Doyle supplies. This time was different. I suspected that something was hidden in one of the busts and that the nationality of the person smashing them was a red herring. Of course, I didn‘t know what was hidden because the pearl was also a work of fiction by Conan Doyle. It‘s a nice change being able to keep up with Sherlock. 2mo

Cuilin @CatLass007 for some reason I thought there was going to be a map with clues inside the bust. 2mo

CatLass007 @Cuilin Ha! I think there‘s a reason they are called short stories. 2mo

dabbe A little late to the party this time around. After rereading this one, I remembered how I felt cheated a bit since none of us had any clue about a stolen pearl until Holmes was in the process of explaining how he solved it. Therefore, we basically had zero chance to solve the crime as far as knowing what was in the Napoleon busts. 2mo

27 likes9 comments

Cuilin

Europe Between the Wars | Martin Kitchen

#BookedInTime

Those who do not learn from history, are bound to repeat it!!

Thanks to @PathfinderNicole and @majkia among others for suggestion.

Cuilin @dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks
@thebookgeekfrau @bookwormjillk @spellboundReader @deblovestoread @jenniferw88 3mo

Cuilin @mollyanna @jess861 @kspenmoll @ncsufoxes @Bluebird @julieclair @majkia @karisimo
@tdrosebud @rwmg @pathfindernicole @debinhawaii @alldebooks @covertocover
@itchyfeetreader @thegreensofa @ann_reads @rookpools @lizpixie @amiable @Desha @Sapphire @deblovestoread @bookwormjillk @Mitch @SamAnne @alldebooks @lil1inblue @litsyEvents 3mo

AllDebooks Oooh, this is going to be a good one 😊 3mo

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Mollyanna This is a great one! I have Shrines of Gaiety currently checked out from the library, so that will probably be my choice. 3mo

majkia I've got Bright Young Dead by Jessica Fellowes I'll try to get to. 3mo

Amiable And unfortunately too often those of us who do know history still have to repeat it because of the uneducated. 😖 3mo

dabbe Got the column created and the books listed above are on it! 🤩 3mo

Cuilin @AllDebooks agreed 👍 3mo

Cuilin @Mollyanna fabulous 👍 3mo

Cuilin @majkia fabulous 👍 3mo

Cuilin @Amiable yes 😔 3mo

Cuilin @dabbe thanks Denise. 🙏 3mo

sblbooks My current read will work for this time frame.

Bermondsey Bookshop

3mo

julieclair Great theme! So many choices. I have updated the StoryGraph challenge, for those who are using it: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/f6f6ac21-909a-4d7e-9e1c-2084aab... 3mo

rwmg I have been reading Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton series set in 1920s Yorkshire, so I may read the next one:

A Snapshot of Murder: The tenth Kate Shackleton Murder Mystery

3mo

Cuilin @julieclair thanks I‘ve updated mine. 3mo

Cuilin @sblbooks sounds like a fabulous cozy read. 3mo

Cuilin @rwmg I love the sound of the series. 3mo

julieclair @rwmg Oh, I love the Kate Shackleton books, but haven‘t read any for awhile. Thanks for reminding me about them! 3mo

60 likes19 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of Black Peter | Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3mo

Librarybelle It was an odd statement about killing versus murdering someone—based on the intent. I‘ve never thought of it that way…another thing to ponder. It seemed odd to me that Holmes let the inspector arrest the wrong man, only later to tell the inspector it was wrong. But, Holmes said a couple of times he did not have all of the facts of the case. Still seems strange that he appeared to be in agreement initially. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement Hmmm, it was self defense, right? It was definitely more force than necessary, but maybe if one gets so comfortable using a harpoon maybe one loses sight of how dramatic it is to use it on a man with murder in his eyes?

I felt SH knew in that moment he couldn't convince Hopkins that it wasn't Neligan, he needed to gather the convincing evidence for Hopkins to see his mistake. Neligan was not in comfort, but would be okay for another day or so. 3mo

See All 7 Comments

dabbe I also think Holmes was ticked off at Neligan for not telling the entire truth, which could be why he let him go to jail for a bit. I also don't know if I take Hopkins word that it was self-defense; he could just as easily been the first to grab the harpoon and then have Carey pull the knife after. We'll never know totally because Carey is dead. Perhaps kill means just to end a life, while murder implies absolute intent. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe Interesting point that maybe SH was annoyed with Neligan. Let him learn to not provide partial info that doesn‘t add up to the clues left at the scene. 3mo

dabbe @CogsOfEncouragement I think SH in the past has even let the bad guy go (if he wasn't a murderer) as long as he was honest with his story. I swear, if Sherlock asked me to tell the story and leave nothing out, I'd sit up straighter in my chair and say, “Yes, sir!“ 😂 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement @dabbe LOL! Right? 3mo

28 likes7 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of Black Peter: No. 34 | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

I thought this was an interesting statement by Watson

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3mo

Librarybelle Watson brings up examples of this, and yet we‘ve also seen cases that the client is clearly wealthy. We‘ve also seen cases that involve the lower classes of society. It‘s an interesting thought by Watson. I‘m still thinking about it. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement I feel like SH is there for the puzzle and not the purse. One that stands out to me right now is the governess that he helps, Watson lets us know that she ended up as a head of a good school - telling the reader without telling the reader that SH must have made this happen as she was unable to get a better job than the governess job previously, though she was too bright for it. @Librarybelle 3mo

dabbe Agree 💯 with @Librarybelle and @CogsofEncouragement. The case has to be interesting enough for Holmes to take it--no matter who the client is. We've seen him take on all kinds and types of cases as we are at the 29th short story and the 3rd novel! 27 stories and 1 novel to go! 🤩 3mo

AnishaInkspill I‘m left with the impression Holmes takes on other cases by how he interacts with others, but I‘ve read only 2 so far 3mo

28 likes5 comments

Cuilin

The Adventure of Black Peter: No. 34 | Arthur Conan Doyle

#NoPlaceLikeHolmes

Apologies for some basic questions this week. I had a hard time concentrating.

@pageshifter @AnneCecilie @indoordame @librarybelle @theAromaOfBooks @Aimeesue @kelli7990 @5feet.of.fury @Read4Life @AnnR @mom2bugnbee @pageturner1 @eeclayton @erzascarletbookgasm @aroyse @dabbe

Cuilin @cuilin @mollyanna @Tineke @Larkken @StayCurious @kimrenee @alldebooks @CogsOfEncouragement @catlass007 @CrystalE02 @curiouserandcurioser @Larkken @BeeCurious @Blackink_WhitePaper @Sace @Daisey @RayHallucinogen @Born.A.Reader @Chrissyreadit @Fr3NcHtOaSt @Anishalnkspill 3mo

Librarybelle I agree. Holmes‘ method of deduction is an art. Yes, it‘s observation, but the way he does it is an art form onto itself. In this story, he creates a position to lure the murderer out. 3mo

CogsOfEncouragement Watson greatly admires SH. This friendship is part of what makes these stories so fun for me. I tend to agree with Watson, even though SH has his faults, I admire the artistry. I wasn't at my best with this one and only saw how all the pieces fit together after, but I thought the clues we had for this one were pretty good. 3mo

dabbe This one was quite grotesque for me. The picture in my edition included Holmes trying to stab the pig. 😑 And that seemed to be the big clue that SH deducted--that only an extremely strong man could have killed Peter with a harpoon, not the wimpy Neligan--whose dad HAD to have been involved in the bank crimes--even though the 10-year-old Neligan wanted to believe he was totally innocent. 3mo

AnishaInkspill this is an interesting question, I'm thinking yes and no. Yes, because Holmes has that level of abstract thinking that bypasses others (example here, Hopkins and the footprint, and later the notebook). No, because art is about creating, or for me it‘s about creating, and here Holmes is not creating he is deducing. 3mo

25 likes5 comments

Cuilin

The Works of Robert Burns; with an Account of His Life, and a Criticism of His Writings, &c | Robert Burns, James Currie

#PoetryMatters #villain @TheSpineView

Can‘t tell you how much I love this poem.

TheSpineView 😍😍😍 3mo

lil1inblue 💛 💖 💛 3mo

dabbe It's a whoah one. 🧡 Robert Burns, too. 🧡🍁🤎 3mo

Cuilin @dabbe 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 3mo

32 likes4 comments

Cuilin

Valley of the Kings: The 18th Dynasty | Terrance Coffey

#WhereareyouMonday Ancient Egypt @Cupcake12

I started this on audio this morning the story seems interesting. Not sure about the narrator. We‘ll see if I‘ll continue.

#BookedInTime #TimeofthePharaohs @dabbe

dabbe On the spreadsheet! 🤩 3mo

49 likes1 comment

Cuilin

Robert Browning | Robert Browning

#PoetryMatters @TheSpineView #villa

TheSpineView Good one!🤩🤩🤩 3mo

dabbe 🤎🍁🧡 3mo

lil1inblue 🤎💜🤎 3mo

35 likes3 comments

Cuilin

Candy Cane Murder | Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, Leslie Meier

#DaysDedicatedTo #candy

*This looks like a good cozy mystery.
* Anytime anyone from Ireland visits me this is the candy I ask for. When my sister came in May, she brought so much candy and between my daughters and I it is all gone.

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs You have great ‘taste‘ in candy 🍫 3mo

45 likes1 comment

Cuilin

Complete Sonnets | William Shakespeare

#PoetryMatters @TheSpineView #vile

I‘m probably not the only one that will think of this sonnet.

TheSpineView Perfect! 3mo

dabbe 🧡🍁🤎 3mo

39 likes2 comments

Cuilin

Sandwich Library | Sandwich, KENT, United Kingdom (Library)

#DaysDevotedTo #Sandwich

* Sandwich MA on Cape Cod is beautiful.
* Apparently I am the target audience for this novel about a menopausal woman with grown-up children. I have not read it.
* I had the most delicious mozzarella, tomato, pesto sandwich on a baguette at an Orchard farm café called Pippin‘s in Vermont yesterday.

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

CBee I absolutely loved this book - I don‘t have grown children as I started a bit later, but I most definitely am menopausal 😵‍💫 3mo

Amiable My library hold for this book just came in today! I‘ll be picking it up tomorrow on my way home from work. 3mo

Luke-XVX Not that far from where I live!!(sandwich the place) 3mo

See All 16 Comments

Cuilin @CBee Menopause is not for the faint of heart. 😮‍💨 3mo

Cuilin @Amiable it‘s got such mixed reviews on Goodreads I‘ll be interested to know your take. 🤞 (edited) 3mo

Cuilin @Luke-XVX Are you on the Cape? I‘m in NH. 3mo

Luke-XVX Oh no the Sandwich in the UK. Cute coastal town 3mo

Cuilin @Luke-XVX beautiful. Wish I was close to there. 3mo

Eggs Love this post😍 I‘m 15 years beyond the “Pause” (it should be called the Full On Curse or something) but post-pause is heavenly 3mo

CBee @Amiable I hope you like! 3mo

CBee @Cuilin I wish I‘d known that there were stages. At this point, just throw the whole pie at me and be done with it - this years long crap is awful 😥🤦‍♀️😵‍💫 3mo

Cuilin @Eggs thanks. 😊 3mo

Cuilin @CBee same. The struggle is real. 3mo

CBee @Cuilin sending you love and solidarity ♥️👊🏻 3mo

Cuilin @CBee right back at you 👊 3mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo

66 likes16 comments

Cuilin

Agatha Christie | Laura Thompson

#DaysDevotedTo #Authors

An author I always enjoy.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs Excellent choice of course 😍🧡🥳 3mo

38 likes1 comment

Cuilin

O�che Shamhna | Marie Whelton

Oíche Shamhna Shona daoibh!!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!! Anybody else break into the candy already? Just me?

AmyG Hahahaha I have been eating candy all month. 3mo

Cuilin @AmyG oh thank goodness I‘m not the only one. 😆 3mo

MaureenMc Wait, there are some times of the year when you don‘t eat candy?? 😳 3mo

See All 7 Comments

Cuilin @MaureenMc lol I bought candy specifically for trick-or-treaters. I even bought candy that I don‘t particularly care for. Why am I eating it? 3mo

MaureenMc @Cuilin 😂 3mo

dabbe My #HHS chocolates are almost gone. I just opened them yesterday. 🤩 3mo

kspenmoll Candy! Yes eat along with the trick -or-treaters!!!! 3mo

33 likes7 comments

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Joined May 2016