Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Cuilin

Cuilin

Joined May 2016

So many books,📚so little time. 🕰 Irish 🇮🇪 living in the US, Teacher, Vegan,
reading now icon
Augustus by John Williams
blurb
Cuilin
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
post image

What did you love or not about this novel? Was it too long?

AmyG I viewed this as a family saga. Also, historical fiction. 4h
Amiable Ha ha! I‘m the #ChunksterChallenge lady. No such thing as too long. 😀 I love a good literary multigenerational novel. (edited) 4h
Cuilin @Amiable same!!! 3h
16 likes3 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
post image

For those who joined the #BuddyRead or read the book since it‘s release please join in the discussion if you wish.

Amiable As someone who has lived within 5 miles of the shore for more than 50 years, I can‘t imagine a life without water. How difficult to have to navigate your entire life around avoiding it. 4h
Cuilin @Amiable I grew up on an Island never more than 2 hours from the sea, I agree the avoidance was interesting, even bathing! 4h
AmyG My first thought was it was a family belief that caused much fear in the hearts of it‘s members. With every drowning the family members believed this curse was inevitable. Mothers (Big Ammachi) feared for their children. Her husband wouldn‘t go to Church as he would have to travel by boat. 4h
See All 6 Comments
Cuilin @AmyG Yes, I‘m not superstitious so when they referred to it as a curse, I thought it was some sort of coincidence! 4h
Amiable The lengths that Big Ammachi went through to try to protect her children from water made me think of parents who have children with life-threatening allergies (i.e. peanuts and other foods, etc.)The amount of constant vigilance it takes to keep your kids safe is physically and emotionally exhausting. As well as the fortitude and faith it takes to let them out of your sight. 4h
Cuilin @Amiable I also love the relationship she had with her daughter 💗 3h
19 likes6 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

Reading about this writer for a different book I discovered this other novel of his and realized it would work for October‘s #BookedInTime @dabbe

Bookwormjillk That looks good and my library has it. 2w
dabbe Got it on the spreadsheet! 🤩 2w
Cuilin @dabbe thank you 🙏 2w
See All 12 Comments
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk Yay, I ordered it from ThriftBooks. 2w
julieclair I was thinking of reading this one, too! 1w
Cuilin @julieclair @Bookwormjillk maybe a few of us could read this together?? 7d
julieclair @Cuilin @Bookwormjillk That would be fun! Although now I think I may read The Building of Jalna instead. I just can't make up my mind. If y'all decide to do a buddy read, that might help me decide. 7d
Bookwormjillk @julieclair @Cuilin what did you have in mind? I have to give my copy back to the library early in the month. 7d
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk @julieclair read at your own pace discuss at the end of the month? 7d
julieclair That sounds good to me! @Cuilin @Bookwormjillk 7d
julieclair @Cuilin @Bookwormjillk This will be fun! 7d
46 likes12 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
post image

Wow! From that first line I‘m so amazed by the storytelling. How is everyone else? How far have you read? I read so much last weekend I thought I would finish it but life, work, and, reality continues to ruin my reading plans. Thoughts? I admit there been some 😭

@AmyG @Desha @Sapphire @Deblovestoread @Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain @Mitch @AllDebooks @Amiable @Cinfhen

AmyG I am on page 200….absolutely loving it. So detailed and well-written. 3w
Amiable Verghese is a master with words. 3w
Deblovestoread I started on audio but need to switch to print. Have a couple of books to finish first so it will be later this week. 3w
See All 16 Comments
Cinfhen I loved this book and was so awed by all the threads Verghese was able to weave 3w
AllDebooks It's beautiful. Started last night 3w
Sapphire I am reading on Kindle and it says 23% done. Loving it but life is making long reading sessions tough. 3w
Cuilin @Sapphire I hear you. Glad you‘re loving it. 3w
Cuilin @AllDebooks beautiful yes. 3w
Cuilin @Cinfhen I‘m really loving it too 3w
Cuilin @Amiable seriously masterful 3w
Cuilin @AmyG agrees 3w
AllDebooks Oh my, this book!!! 😍 I can't stop reading 3w
Mitch Really great storytelling and as the time shifts and the connections intertwine it avoids feeling forced and unreal. The scenes are so vivid - I‘m tight in there! 3w
Cuilin @AllDebooks same 😍 2w
Cuilin @Mitch agreed. 2w
72 likes16 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

@Cinfhen My #Top10SummerBookReads thanks for the tag @dabbe

Looking at these books again, makes me realize how much I really loved them especially, Fresh Water, Mayflies and Lie with me. These three made me 🥺😢😭

CBee Fresh Water was my 2022 absolute favorite book. It‘s possibly one of my favorites of all time 💚💚 4w
Cuilin @CBee 🙌🩷 4w
dabbe Okay, FRESH WATER is #stacked! 🤩😍🤗 4w
See All 13 Comments
BarbaraBB I LOVED Fresh Water, Far from the Madding Crowd and Mayflies so probably will love the others too. Taking notes! 4w
BarbaraBB @CBee Amen to that! Though I loved her two other books just or almost as much! 4w
Cinfhen I also LOVED Fresh Water and Mayflies so I must try your other summer favorites!!! Thanks for sharing and tagging 😊❣️ 4w
Cuilin @BarbaraBB that‘s good to know I own and haven‘t read yet 4w
BarbaraBB I hope you‘ll enjoy it 💖 4w
CBee @BarbaraBB I still haven‘t read Three but I plan to! And you and @TrishB mentioned Forgotten on Sunday which I hadn‘t even heard of 😊 4w
BarbaraBB It‘s just been translated and it is fantastic! 4w
Suet624 Forgotten on Sunday came very close to being as good as Fresh Water. I think you‘ll like it. 7d
Cuilin @Suet624 thank you for letting me know. Tempted to get my sister to send it to me. Otherwise I‘m waiting till next June 🤷‍♀️ 7d
Suet624 I ordered it through Waterstones. Got here very quickly. And it wasn‘t super expensive. 7d
57 likes13 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

Since my trip to Quebec in May and learning about La Grosse Île etc I‘m looking forward to reading about an immigrant‘s journey and narrative as they settled in Canada!! #BookedInTime Tag @Cuilin & @dabbe when you know your chosen book.

A link for starters https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/75796.The_Canadian_Immigrant_Experience

@dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks

jenniferw88 An area I know absolutely NOTHING about - I'll be going down rabbit holes tomorrow! 4w
Cuilin @jenniferw88 I live two hours from the border and I know very little 😞 4w
See All 36 Comments
Itchyfeetreader Gosh I might need help with this looking forward to others ideas ! 4w
LeahBergen ⬆️ Just a couple of recommendations from a Canadian. 😆 4w
Bookwormjillk Great pick!!! 4w
Cuilin @LeahBergen thank you, I was hoping a Canadian would jump in 🍁 🇨🇦 🩷 4w
Karisimo I read this a while back, it‘s earlier than the time frame (1667) but interesting! It‘s more light than literary. (edited) 4w
Deblovestoread Yay, something I know nothing about. Love exploring new times, places, issues. Thanks for the recs @LeahBergen 4w
julieclair Ooohhh… I just got back from a trip to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and heard a lot of interesting tales of immigration. Perfect timing! 🇨🇦 4w
rwmg Hmm, I don't think I've got anything relevant on my shelves but I'll have to look more deeply when LT comes back
4w
Cuilin @julieclair fabulous 4w
Cuilin @rwmg most of us need to do some research on this one. 4w
Cuilin @Deblovestoread 💕🇨🇦 4w
Cuilin @Karisimo 🇨🇦 sounds good 4w
Coffeymuse Vancouver Public Library has a list that gave me an idea for a book (In the Skin of a Lion by Odnaatje): https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/80402800/1594560369 4w
Cuilin @Coffeymuse thanks for the link 💕 4w
sblbooks I think this is set in the 60s but maybe a possibility 4w
Cuilin @thegreensofa oh looking forward to hearing about this one. 3w
rwmg @Cuilin @dabbe I might re-read this as the only thing I've got that seems relevant and fits the timeframe 3w
Cuilin @rwmg looks interesting, it‘s a series too. Have you read the series or just this book? (edited) 3w
rwmg As an adult I've only read the first 4 in the series. My grandmother loved the books and had the whole set. I used to read them when visiting her as a child but I don't really remember much about them from that time. 3w
Cuilin @rwmg I love that story!! Hope you enjoy this reread. 3w
dabbe Updated our spreadsheet! Let me know (@dabbe) of your books/scores/picks for all the books you've read for #BookedInTime so I can make our TBR spreadsheet SPECTACULAR! 🤩

Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sLpOtIgy6SwJkyU0wwno2MN4YUbe0ldjPwSusW3g...
3w
Bluebird Great topic! I‘ve nothing on my TBR pile, so will check out the links! Thanks! 3w
TheKidUpstairs A couple more recs from another CanLitten... 3w
Cuilin @TheKidUpstairs thank you 🙏 3w
Karisimo This would fit the prompt! 1w
Cuilin @Karisimo yes, looks good. 1w
49 likes36 comments
blurb
Cuilin
A Passage to India | E. M. Forster
post image

#Pemberlittens #hashtagBrigade I think there will be less mustachios in this one lol 😆

This is one of my absolute favorites, so looking forward to hearing what others think.

mcctrish The mustachios were their own character 👨🏻🥸👴🏻 1mo
Cuilin @mcctrish absolutely 💯 1mo
54 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
post image

We start tomorrow!!! I will check in on a weekly basis to see how we are all doing.

Bookwormjillk ❤️ 1mo
AmyG I already started. It‘s so very well written. 1mo
See All 15 Comments
Amiable I read this in June, so I‘m eager to hear what everyone else thinks of it ! 1mo
Tamra I have it in progress - loving it! 1mo
Cuilin @AmyG 🩵 1mo
Cuilin @Amiable 🩵 1mo
Cuilin @Tamra 🩵 1mo
LeeRHarry Haven‘t been able to get it to start reading in Sept - 🤞 I‘ll get to it at some point. Hope everyone enjoys it 😊 (edited) 1mo
SamAnne I‘m far down on the library hold list. Contemplating whether to buy it! 1mo
Cuilin @SamAnne I will never talk somebody out of buying a book. 😂 📚 >💰 1mo
Cuilin @LeeRHarry no worries 😌 1mo
SamAnne @Cuilin hah! You enabler! 😂😂📚📚📚 1mo
50 likes15 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image
TheBookgeekFrau Many - Cleopatra, Caesar (Julius and Augustus) Marc Antony, Cicero, Greek and Roman Gods, etc and so on 😂 1mo
dabbe Heck ya! Claudius, Augustus, Livia, Antony, Cleopatra, Germanicus, Caligula ... I could go on and on. Same as you, @TheBookgeekFrau! 😍 1mo
rwmg The Emperor Caligula puts in some appearances. His sisters Livilla and Agrippina get walk-on parts. (edited) 1mo
See All 15 Comments
Bookwormjillk I‘m honestly not sure 🤣 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau @dabbe It's like a star-studded night in Hollywood 🤣 1mo
dabbe @TheBookgeekFrau 🤩⭐️🤩 1mo
AnnR The book refers to Emperor Caesar. The timeframe of the story is well after the reign of the first emperor Caesar Augustus. Later on, the term 'Caesar' was used as an imperial title and not particularly a personal name. 1mo
jenniferw88 Domitian Caesar - Younger son of the Emperor.
Titus Caesar - Elder son of the Emperor.
Vespasian Augustus - Emperor of Rome
1mo
Cuilin @Ann_Reads lots of Caesars. 1mo
Cuilin @jenniferw88 more Caesars 1mo
AnnR @jenniferw88 @Cuilin Thanks for the information. I think the author of Tiger, Tiger purposely made the Emperor's identity vague, as this was a fictionalized account. I was confused at first though, thinking it was the first Caesar Augustus but the general time period doesn't match. (edited) 1mo
Bluebird Nope, mine had none (or at least none that I recognized!) 1mo
Deblovestoread Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Brutus, Herod are the ones I remember most. 1mo
thegreensofa The multiple authors in my book (short stories) all took real characters and some unknown relatives, filling in the blanks with their own imagination. They tried to keep true but admitted to jazzing things up just slightly to get some points of their stories across. I think it was forgivable. Sadly, no one is left from Pompeii to differ. 1mo
AnnR @Cuilin For future tagging, I changed my profile name to AnnR. Thank you. 4w
35 likes15 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Romans | Richard Platt
post image
TheBookgeekFrau I'm some what familiar with aspects of the Roman Empire. I want to read more bc I found the politics and back stabbing fascinating. I've already stacked a few books from this challenge. 1mo
Cuilin @TheBookgeekFrau I did too! We definitely have to repeat this one. 1mo
rwmg The books I read were Nos. 13 - 15 in a series, so I was familiar with the period and the main characters' social world. To date there are another 6 in the series I haven't read, so I will be back. (edited) 1mo
See All 19 Comments
dabbe I'm familiar with some aspects of ancient Rome, but not in such detail. It was challenging for me to know who was whom because they all kept renaming each other the same names like the kings/queens of England, and boy did they love to poison one other! Sheesh! ☠️ 1mo
Bookwormjillk It was not something I was familiar with, and I would love to read more about Pompeii. 1mo
Cuilin @rwmg that answers my other question. 😊 1mo
Cuilin @dabbe I had the same issue regarding names with Augustus. 1mo
rwmg @Cuilin @dabbe I've found reading almost anything with the Julio-Claudians it's best to have a family tree to hand 1mo
dabbe @rwmg Oh, yes, and I had one. I had to look at it over and over again! 🤣 1mo
dabbe @Cuilin It's like “Come up with some new names, people!“ 🤣 1mo
Cuilin @rwmg good idea. 1mo
AnnR I wasn't very familiar with the era, other than in a general sense. Although I liked the book, the descriptions were often brutal. I'm not sure if this is a time period I'd like to revisit. 1mo
jenniferw88 I think I studied it a long while ago, but have forgotten it. I'm definitely going to come back to it, as I enjoyed my book and it was #1 in a series. 1mo
Cuilin @jenniferw88 I enjoyed this era too 1mo
Cuilin @Ann_Reads yes some descriptions were brutal. 1mo
Bluebird I‘ve read a few books from this time period. I like a lot about it. The politics, the roman civilization, and Pompeii of course! (edited) 1mo
Deblovestoread I knew more about Julius Caesar than I did Augustus although broad strokes not in depth. I‘m very interested in this time period and will be reading more. 1mo
thegreensofa Yes, I have a fascination with Pompeii, so much so that I have been all over it and the nearby equally affected Herculaneum, and have also climbed Mt Vesuvius. I will definitely keep reading about this time period. Thanks to your challenge I found the book I read (and it resparked my enthusiasm again!). 1mo
Cuilin @thegreensofa I really enjoyed his time period too. I also read and liked a book set in Pompeii 1mo
30 likes19 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image
Itchyfeetreader I had high hopes for august and failed completely despite literally shelves of my husbands roman war fiction! I spent my time reading lovely palette cleansers so am unashamed for missing out and am ready for WW2 ! 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I was so excited for this, and the book never came from the library (even though when I first put it on hold the library said 2 weeks and that was before August started!) 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau I really enjoyed my re-read of When We Were Gods. It took place in Alexandria and Rome and focused on the plans & schemes of Cleopatra to marry Rome and Egypt for her and Julius Caesar's son to rule the world. 1mo
See All 24 Comments
Cuilin @Itchyfeetreader @ChaoticMissAdventures there‘ll be another opportunity as we‘ll probably circle back to this era with a narrower focus. 1mo
Cuilin @TheBookgeekFrau sounds great. Cleo featured in the second book I read for the prompt 1mo
rwmg I read 3 books in David Wishart's Marcus Corvinus series of mysteries:

Bodies Politic
No Cause for Concern
Solid Citizens

which took place in Rome and just south of Rome during the reign of Caligula.
1mo
dabbe Mine (I, CLAUDIUS) focused on the Judio-Claudian dynasty in the early years of the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE to Caligula's assassination in AD 41. Most of it was set in Rome, but some major battle scenes took place in Germany. 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau @Cuilin Stacked - I'm curious to read the happenings from his point of view bc he ended up being very underestimated as an enemy in my book. 1mo
Bookwormjillk I read The Day of Fire which took place on the day Mt Vesuvius erupted. 1mo
Cuilin @rwmg are there more in the series. They sound good. 1mo
Cuilin @dabbe Why did I think it just covered Claudius 🤦‍♀️ 1mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk Wolf Den was set in Pompeii but years before the eruption. It‘s a trilogy so it may go there. 1mo
Cuilin @rwmg thanks for the link. The first one‘s called Ovid! I may have to try it. 1mo
majkia I'm still plodding along with The First Man In Rome by Colleen McCullough. It's more than 1000 pages. I'm half way through. Enjoying it, seeing daily life in Rome of the time but it is taking forever to read it all. 1mo
AnnR Tiger, Tiger by Lynne Reid Banks was set in 3rd century Rome. (edited) 1mo
jenniferw88 Rome and Britannia AD 70 so during the Roman occupation of Britain. 1mo
Bluebird Mine was also during the Roman occupation of Britannia. 1mo
rubyslippersreads I‘m behind, but will catch up soon. 😊 1mo
Deblovestoread My book spans a period of time from before the death of Julius Caesar through the life of his appointed heir Augustus, the first Roman Emperor. It is the the period of transition from Republican to Imperial Rome. 1mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread My second book was about Augustus too. Have you watched the TV series Domina? It‘s about Augustus, but from the viewpoint of his wife, Livia. 1mo
Deblovestoread I haven't. Thanks for the tip! @Cuilin 1mo
thegreensofa Mine was about a pocket of civilisation in ancient Rome (Pompeii). Something we‘ll never know for sure, but so so fascinating! 1mo
30 likes24 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image
dabbe 💚💜💚 1mo
TheSpineView Perfect!🤩😍👍 1mo
31 likes2 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Bookstacks | Bucksport, ME (Bookstore)
post image

Here is a stack of eight books all set during the Second World War. Not sure which one I‘ll start with. What are you choosing from?
#BookedInTime September #WorldWarTwo @Cuilin

@dabbe @desha @rachel52 @rubyslippersreads @chaoticmissadventures @barkingmadread
@megnews @sblbooks @thebookgeekfrau @bookwormjillk @deblovestoread @jenniferw88

jenniferw88 I'm going to try 1mo
Bookwormjillk I had a few to choose from but settled on 1mo
See All 43 Comments
Cuilin @jenniferw88 sounds exciting! 1mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk looks good 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I am going to finally get to my July Bookspin - a novel set around Japan's invasion of Singapore and the lives of 3 people left after an attack on a small Singaporean village 1mo
sblbooks One hundred Saturdays looks really good. 1mo
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures that looks like a difficult yet interesting read. 1mo
AnnR @Cuilin, Looks like a good variety of books. My choices are varied, based on what I have sitting on my kindle. If one book isn't interesting enough, I'll move onto the next one on my list: Without a Country, Daughters of the Night Sky, The Shell Seekers and 1mo
Cuilin @sblbooks From the holocaust Museum in DC, I stacked the Opera Sisters and 1mo
Cuilin @Ann_Reads the Ragged Edge looks really good. I‘ve never read the Shell Seekers but it looks like something I‘d enjoy. 1mo
Mollyanna I think I‘ve decided to go with the latest Electra McDonell book 1mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna oh that looks good. 1mo
Mollyanna It‘s a fun series. 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau I have two sitting on my TBR shelf that I'm going to read -- The Last Bookshop in London and Faster. 1mo
AllDebooks Great selection of books to choose from, I'm going with Slaughterhouse Five and 1mo
julieclair @Ann_Reads @Cuilin I read The Shell Seekers years ago and really enjoyed it. 👍 1mo
julieclair I have been trying to decide between When Books Went to War and Escape from Paris. But now that I see The Winter Garden in your stack, I think I'll throw that into the mix, too. It has been sitting on my shelf for years. 1mo
Cuilin @TheBookgeekFrau the last bookshop looks attractive 1mo
Cuilin @julieclair all are compelling contenders 1mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks I‘m really intrigued by the Nine 🤔 1mo
Cuilin @rubyslippersreads I‘m curious about that. Child evacuation stories interest me. One of my favorites is 1mo
tdrosebud I have no idea what I might read, I have a lot on my shelves though, so it will be nice to knock something off of my TBR 1mo
AnnR @Cuilin I think The Shell Seekers starts out during WWII but then the story continues on into more contemporary time periods. @julieclair do you recall how much of the story is set during WWII? I'm wondering if it is just a couple of chapters. 1mo
Cuilin Same 👍 1mo
Cuilin @Ann_Reads @julieclair A Goodreads reviewer said every time they read the Shell Seekers it makes them want to pack up, move to Cornwall, bake bread, and tend a flower garden. Sounds delightful. I have no idea how much of it is set during WW2 1mo
AnnR Cuilin, Well that sounds delightful, at least based on the review. :-) 1mo
dabbe Our #BookedinTime spreadsheet is updated! Let me know if I missed any from above.

If you want to let me know your scores for any past books (Restoration Period/Ancient Rome) tag me and let me know (@dabbe). You can tell me if it's a pick/so-so/dnf/bail and give me a score from 0-5. I'll happily record them on our spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sLpOtIgy6SwJkyU0wwno2MN4YUbe0ldjPwSusW3g...
1mo
sblbooks @dabbe Oranges for Christmas was not restoration period. That one can be removed. I made one post for two different books, sorry for the confusion. The Great Fire of London was a three-star read. 1mo
dabbe @sblbooks Got it! Thanks. 🤗 1mo
Cuilin @dabbe thanks it‘s looking good 👍 1mo
willaful I'd like to have another try at The Enigma Game, which I think I started and didn't finish. I really loved Code Name Verity and Black Dove, White Raven. If this doesn't work out again. she has another WWII book called Stateless. 1mo
julieclair @Ann_Reads @Cuillin I don't remember how much of the book was set during WWII. It has been a number of years since I read it. I will say, I don't really remember it as a "war" book. 1mo
Cuilin @willaful Enigma game looks amazing. 1mo
AnnR Thank you, @julieclair. It is a fairly long book so I'll probably read it another time. 1mo
rubyslippersreads @Cuilin I got hooked on child evacuation stories as a kid, when I read my mom‘s old BOTM copy of 1mo
Cuilin @rubyslippersreads sounds delightful, I just stacked it. 1mo
DebinHawaii I think I am going with this one. It‘s set in Hawaii & I have read a couple of her other WWII novels & enjoyed them. 1mo
DebinHawaii Or I may go with this other book from the same author mentioned above that I have stacked: 1mo
Cuilin @DebinHawaii I‘d heard of Radar Girls both look good. 1mo
Cuilin @thegreensofa great 👍 1mo
72 likes43 comments
review
Cuilin
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
post image
Panpan

I did not enjoy this journey at all. I was so irritated with the structure. The time changes & sequences with little cliffhangers every two pages made my ADHD scream “Get To The Point!” It was completed through anger infused propulsion. I also didn‘t find much of it plausible. I didn‘t like the MC. I really thought it was going to be about a woman tracking arctic terns. Guess I‘ll have to find another book for that. #UnpopularOpinion.

AnnR @Cuilin Your opinion probably isn't all that unpopular. I actually tried reading this one when it was initially published. Well, I'll just say I DNFed it after 4 chapters. Thankfully I had borrowed it thru the library. So, I think your well thought out review nicely sums up my opinion too, though I didn't finish the book. 1mo
Cuilin @Ann_Reads thanks, you did well to stop after ch 4, it got worse. I got mine second hand so not too bad. 1mo
See All 8 Comments
Graywacke @Ann_Reads i got 80 pages in before quitting. @Cuilin you get credit for pushing throught 🙂 1mo
Cuilin @Graywacke I appreciate that, thanks it was certainly challenging 1mo
AllDebooks I don't think it was such an unpopular opinion 1mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks oh, the relief! 😊Seriously, I thought it was me, so many people loved it. 🤨 1mo
Suet624 Oh my. I really liked this one. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo
53 likes8 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Go-Between | L.P. Hartley
post image

This was my favorite read of 2022. It‘s in my top five best books of all time. The novel has one of the best opening lines,

”The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.”

#BookBinge #SmallTownSetting

Leftcoastzen It is an excellent book! 1mo
dabbe LOVE this book! It reminds me of ATONEMENT, too. 💚🩷💚 1mo
quietlycuriouskate Oh, so *that's* where that quote is from! 1mo
See All 10 Comments
Cuilin @dabbe apparently it was a great influence on him, and Atonement was an homage to The Go Between 1mo
Cuilin @Leftcoastzen yes 🙌 1mo
dabbe @Cuilin I wondered. That makes total sense! And, I read it (& ATONEMENT) in 2022 as well! 🤩 1mo
Cuilin @quietlycuriouskate yes, such a clever opening line, I mean you have to read on. 1mo
Deblovestoread On my shelf….this helps move it closer to the top. 💜 1mo
plemmdog I need to move it up in my TBR pile. 1mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread @plemmdog Enjoy, I‘ll be looking for your reviews. 1mo
55 likes2 stack adds10 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Scary Movie | Alan Trussell-Cullen, Peter Millett
post image

#TLT

I honestly try to avoid all horror movies but these I‘ve come across. I can‘t say I watched them in their entirety. 🫣

1 The Blair Witch Project
2 Silence of the Lambs
3 The Exorcist

@dabbe

If you wish to play consider yourself tagged.

blurb
Cuilin
Thunder Cake | Patricia Polacco
post image

#BookBinge #IncludesRecipes

Love, love, love Patricia Polacco‘s art and storytelling. This has a wonderful chocolate cake recipe.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 😍 1mo
Eggs Love Polacco and have used her books all through the years in all kinds of classrooms 🩷🩷 1mo
Cuilin @Eggs oh me too. 💕 1mo
48 likes3 comments
review
Cuilin
Lady Chatterley's Lover | D. H. Lawrence
post image
Mehso-so

My summary goes like this: Intriguing…. Boring, mild erotica, boring, WTF? boring, class resentment, mild erotica, racism, more mild erotica, misogyny, boring, WTF?, intellectual twaddle, WTF?, some more mild erotica, quick trip to Venice, boring. The end.

#Sundaybuddyread @TheBookHippie
I gave two stars for his mastery of language.

batsy Haha, nice review 😆 Lots of red flags in this one 🚩🚩 1mo
Cuilin @batsy I‘ve never annotated a book with so many WTF‘s? 😂 🚩🚩🚩🚩 1mo
TheBookHippie 💯👏🏼🏆 review!!! Oy and WTF every other paragraph … 1mo
See All 7 Comments
Deblovestoread Best review ever! 😂 1mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread 😊 🙏 1mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie yes!!! Every other paragraph was so problematic. 1mo
OriginalCyn620 🤣🤣🤣 1mo
48 likes7 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Delayed Rays of a Star | Amanda Lee Koe
post image

Went with a literal/obvious interpretation and chose an old Hollywood theme for September‘s prompt for #TitlesAndTunes #DramaQueen I‘m not sure I will actually get it read in September, but hopefully by the end of the year 🤞❤️ the 🎵

Cinfhen Fun choices!! Love the direction you went 🎶💜🤩📚 1mo
BarbaraBB Love that song 1mo
48 likes2 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

#BookBinge #ClothesOnCover

If you have not watched the movie version try to find it, it is adorable.

TheBookHippie I love it so much!! 1mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie so sweet 💗 1mo
DivineDiana It was an uplifting movie! 💖 1mo
Eggs Perfect 🤩 1mo
48 likes4 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Dancer: A Novel | Colum McCann
post image

Described as an erotically charged story of Rudolf Nureyev. I read this about 10 years ago when I overheard someone at a gym say they were disappointed and disgusted at this novel, (because of the gay depiction of their hero, Nureyev), well I ran to the bookstore. This is wonderfully written. 5 ⭐️

#BookBinge #Dancing

quietlycuriouskate Oooh, stacked! 2mo
Eggs One of the greats! 2mo
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian Ha, I love it when one person's negative review is a selling point for someone else! 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Cuilin @CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian oh me too. I told them at a later date that I got the book they “recommended” the look on their face was priceless. 2mo
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian @Cuilin ha that will teach them to not broadcast their homophobia 2mo
Suet624 This author can do no wrong in my book. 1mo
Cuilin @Suet624 seriously he‘s one of my favorites. 1mo
65 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

@TheSpineView thanks for the tag @dabbe

1 I think the Wednesday before Labor Day
2 Oh, there‘s so many, tagged book, Old School by Tobias Wolf, Malory Towers, Gentlemen and Player, by Joanne Harris, In Memoriam, by Alice Winn, The Chalet school series, Skippy Dies by Paul Murray, I‘m sure I‘m forgetting others. I love a novel set in a school, especially an old English public school.

Care to play?

dabbe Yay! 💙🖤🩵 2mo
TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 2mo
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Cuilin
The Wolf Den | ELODIE. HARPER
post image
Pickpick

Set in ancient Pompeii, this is the candid story of enslaved sex workers from a brothel, and their ability to cope, survive and out wit their captors. I absolutely loved the epigraphs beginning each chapter, this was clearly written by an avid Ovid scholar. I will definitely read the rest of the trilogy. #BookedInTime.

Cuilin @dabbe thank you so much, it looks great. I want to read so many off each list. I started Augustus today too. 2mo
Deblovestoread Stacked! 2mo
66 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
post image

#BookBinge #InvolvesAnimals in this case birds, as Franny Stone tracks the believed last migration of arctic terns to Antarctica.

Eggs Perfect 🐧🧊🤍 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty 😍 2mo
rmaclean4 I ❤️ this book. I hope you do to. 2mo
See All 8 Comments
Cuilin @rmaclean4 Not sure yet. The jury is out on this one. 2mo
BarbaraBB I hope you‘ll end up loving it too! 2mo
SamAnne @Cuilin if it makes you feel any better I panned the book. #unpopularopinion. I get why it is so loved however. (edited) 2mo
Cuilin @SamAnne oh my gosh, that does make me feel better, I can‘t quite articulate the problem I‘m having with this novel. 2mo
Suet624 Why did I think you would really like this one? Maybe because I did. 😂😂 1mo
74 likes1 stack add8 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Covenant of Water | Abraham Verghese
post image

Reminder, we start September 1st. All are welcome to join this low-key buddy read. Tagging those who expressed interest.

Bookwormjillk I couldn‘t wait and read it already read it but will join in discussions! 2mo
Amiable I read this book in June and would love to follow along with your comments and discussion! 2mo
Deblovestoread Can‘t wait! 2mo
See All 18 Comments
Cinfhen Hope to join in discussion! 2mo
squirrelbrain I‘m still waiting for this from the library; I was 5th in line, now I‘m 3rd so I‘m not sure if it will come in time… please still tag me though. 2mo
AmyG I am SO in. I can‘t wait! 2mo
SamAnne I will follow along. Perhaps,I can squeeze this in! 2mo
LeeRHarry I‘m still waiting on getting a copy from the library too 🤞 2mo
Cuilin @Cinfhen 👍 2mo
Cuilin @AmyG same! 2mo
Cuilin @Amiable 👍 2mo
Cuilin @SamAnne 👍 2mo
AllDebooks I've got my copy x 2mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks yay!! 🎉 2mo
65 likes1 stack add18 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

#BookBinge #InvolvesaWedding

Read recently but different edition, great narrative.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs Lovely cover 👏🏻💍🩷 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💍👗💒 2mo
46 likes2 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Dragon Rider | Cornelia Caroline Funke
post image

#bookbinge #involvesdragons

Vividly remember reading this to my girls ❤️

Eggs Beautiful 🤩 👌🏼👏🏻 2mo
60 likes1 comment
blurb
Cuilin
Pictures | Robert Mapplethorpe
post image

I guess a picture really is worth a thousand words. Missed them on an emotional level.

So happy to see them again. Yay ❤️ 🖼️

Christine Agreed! 2mo
AmyG 🙌🏻 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau Yayyyyyy!!!! 2mo
See All 8 Comments
JenReadsAlot Yes!! 2mo
BarbaraBB Yesss 🥰 2mo
Deblovestoread Same! Amazing how much the pic adds to the post. “Don‘t know what you got til it‘s gone” 🎶 2mo
ShelleyBooksie Same!!! I could not connect/engage without the.photos! 2mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
71 likes8 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

#BOOKBINGE #leastfavoritegenre

The tell all celebrity memoir

I‘ve read some I‘ve loved, (Stephen Fry‘s Moab is my Washpot), some I liked (Janis Ian‘s Society‘s Child) but mostly not attracted to anything celebrity related.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Eggs For most celebrities, I concur. 2mo
Suet624 When you say Washpot does that mean you didn‘t like it? 1mo
Cuilin @Suet624 I loved it!! ❤️ Stephen Fry 1mo
Suet624 Oh gosh. I misread it. I thought Washpot was an Irish word. I just saw it‘s the name of the book. Covid has slanted the meanings of things that I read. It‘s kind of funny and kind of not. 1mo
Cuilin @Suet624 oh it‘s confusing. It‘s a strange title for a memoir. 1mo
46 likes5 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

Whenever I tell someone historical fiction is my favorite genre they automatically think I mean World War II. I get an abundance of gift books on this era I could do a whole year long read from my own TBR pile. This is another broad prompt, choose your own location and interest area for WW2, 1939-1945 (Prompts will narrow as we move through the #bookedInTime reading challenge)

All are welcome

@LitsyEvents

dabbe I bet there are more historical fiction books about WWII than any other time period. 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe agreed, not sure if it makes it easier or harder to choose 🤷‍♀️ 2mo
See All 34 Comments
Bookwormjillk I‘ve read a lot of these too, but I‘ve been in a mood to read another since I visited a WWII museum last month. Thanks! 2mo
Deblovestoread I've read many, many books about WWII but know there are plenty more to choose from. 2mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk Where was the museum? Someone today said there‘s one in New Orléans. I‘d love to go. 2mo
AnnR @Cuilin Thank you for posting this early. This will be an easy one for me, as I have a variety of WWII ebooks just sitting on my Kindle. I took a long break from reading HF books set during the 1940s.
@Dabbe It sure seems like it. There definitely aren't as many HF books dedicated to WWI, in comparison.
2mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread Same, I have a pile but will still probably stack others. 🤦‍♀️ 2mo
Cuilin @Ann_Reads You‘re welcome, I took a break too but received like 5/6 for my birthday. 2mo
Bookwormjillk @Cuilin more in your neck of the woods- Wolfeboro, NH. It was well done if you‘re ever in that area. 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin That's the fun of research! 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
DebinHawaii Awesome. I have a plethora of WWII books in my #TBR so a great excuse to get one out of there & read! 🤗 2mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk you‘re kidding, I can get there in under 2 hours. Fabulous. Road Trip!! 2mo
Cuilin @DebinHawaii my plan also. I figured others may too. 2mo
rwmg I've only got one book which will fit this so it's an easy choice, especially as it's been sitting on my TBR shelf for a long time 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau Oh good a reason to grab something off my TBR shelf!! 2mo
Cuilin @rwmg Fabulous choice. Beautiful book. 2mo
Cuilin @TheBookgeekFrau seems to be for most. Yay! 2mo
AllDebooks @Cuilin thanks for posting early. There's so much choice on my tbr too 🤔📚🤓📚 2mo
SassyBookworm Ohhh can I join?! Idk what to do exactly but I am a HUGE WWII (& WWI) historical fiction fan!! Those are my main genres to read! 🤓 2mo
Cuilin @SassyBookworm absolutely, and welcome. Choose any book set during WWII, post, tag me and use #BookedInTime. I‘ll post questions at the end of September. Enjoy. 2mo
Mollyanna Like many others I have a bunch on my TBR, now to figure out which one. Might be 2mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna looks good 😊 2mo
julieclair Historical fiction is my favorite genre, too. But for this one, I may read non-fiction. Thinking about 2mo
Cuilin @julieclair both sound really good. Maybe there‘s time for two 😬 2mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks many of us are struggling with this issue. Both your choices look great. 2mo
Itchyfeetreader I must have something for this sitting in the tbr pile 2mo
Cuilin @Itchyfeetreader likelihood high. 2mo
majkia I'm amazed how few books I have for WWII. Mostly I have WWI. But I do have Above Suspicion by Helen Macinnes. 2mo
Cuilin @majkia sounds good 👍 2mo
Lizpixie I‘d love to be added to the tag list! I‘ve got a few Ancient Rome books & more than a few WWII books for next month! 2mo
Cuilin @Lizpixie wonderful, added and welcome. 2mo
51 likes34 comments
blurb
Cuilin
A Bad Case of Stripes | David Shannon
post image

#Bookbinge #stripesoncover

Big hit with my daughters when they were little. Remember? @Caitlin_Sheridan

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

TheBookHippie I love this book. 2mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie it‘s great. A hit in the classroom too. 2mo
Eggs We ❤️ David Shannon books🤗 2mo
caittfin ofcourse🌈 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💗💙💛🩵 2mo
40 likes2 stack adds5 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Big Plans | Bob Shea
post image
quietlycuriouskate Migrations ❤️ 2mo
TheBookHippie 🎉♥️ 2mo
AllDebooks You have some great books there 😀 2mo
See All 7 Comments
caittfin migrations is on my list too! 2mo
Cuilin @Caitlin_Sheridan you can borrow mine when I finish. @caittfin (edited) 2mo
TiredLibrarian I'm going to try The Wolf Den.
2mo
Cuilin @TiredLibrarian oh do. I‘d love to know what you think. I‘ve already finished it. 2mo
60 likes7 comments
review
Cuilin
post image
Pickpick

I cannot remember who on Litsy recommend this to me, but thank you. It was delightful. I heard Millie Bobby Brown in my head as the narrator probably because it evokes the spirit and tone of Enola Holmes. This clever novella manages to be both exciting yet light. I will definitely read more volumes. #moodreading Edit: @Jess_Read_This perhaps?

DebinHawaii It sounds charming! Stacking! 2mo
Deblovestoread I concur! 📚 2mo
Jess_Read_This Yay!! I‘m so glad you loved the series! Vol 7 comes out later this month. 🎉 I‘m so looking forward to it. (edited) 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Jess_Read_This Apologies too- I thought I was following you all along! Just rectified that. Litsy is a bit wonky for me now. I can‘t see any photographs 2mo
Cuilin @Jess_Read_This No worries, thanks for the recommendation. It was adorable. The whiteout is so upsetting. 😞 2mo
Jess_Read_This @Cuilin It‘s fixed and I absolutely love how you‘ve photographed the book! 2mo
Cuilin @Jess_Read_This thank you. (I‘m trying to up my photography game here on Litsy) 2mo
66 likes3 stack adds7 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

I wanted to open this immediately but I saved it as my reward for unpacking and getting travel laundry started. Thank you so much, Denise. 💗 I love the sweet corner bookmark too. You are so wonderfully thoughtful. 🫶🥰

I‘ll email you in a few day as I‘ve some ideas 💡 germinating. @dabbe

Suet624 Did you travel somewhere fun? 2mo
Cuilin @Suet624 My husband had a family reunion in Cleveland and then he and I went on to DC. Stayed at a hotel with a pool so we could do some sightseeing and relax poolside. 🤩 2mo
Suet624 How fun! Always fun to get away for a bit… 2mo
dabbe Yay! I'm glad you like it! Can't wait to hear what you have in mind! 🤩🤗😍 2mo
62 likes4 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Vanity Fair | William Thackeray
post image
SassyBookworm I just finished Just Haven‘t Met You Yet…that made me sing the Michael Bublé song ‘Haven‘t Met You Yet‘ in my head every time I read the title ?? 2mo
Cuilin @SassyBookworm that makes perfect sense to me. I only have to hear a word and I can burst into song. My husband though amused doesn‘t think it‘s normal. Lol 😂 2mo
KaylasReadingNook I‘m reading The Count of Monte Cristo and Revenge, And A Little More by Unlike Pluto describes the book to a tee 😂 2mo
See All 14 Comments
Cuilin @KaylasReadingNook perfect pairing “I just want revenge and a little bit more” 2mo
dabbe Perfect! Will do; thanks for the tag! 🤗🤗🤗 2mo
Deblovestoread Thanks for the tag! 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love that song!! 🎵 2mo
Desha Hi Cuilin! This is unrelated to this post but I saw on Cathythoughts‘ post that you will be hosting a reading of Covenant of Water in September? If so I‘m interested in joining! Thank you!💗 2mo
Cuilin @Desha yes of course, I‘ll post a reminder soon. 2mo
Desha Thank you!! 📚♥️ 2mo
julieclair Thanks for the tag! Having just recently visited with my grandsons, ages 3 & 1, The Itsy Bitsy Spider immediately popped into my head. 😆 It goes perfectly with the buddy read being hosted by @megnews this month. 🕷️🕸️🐷 2mo
Cuilin @julieclair As a preschool and Kindergarten teacher I love both Charlotte‘s Web and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. 2mo
JenDR Reading The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan - it has shades of the song Fancy by Reba McIntyre. 2mo
Cuilin @JenDR 👍 2mo
50 likes14 comments
review
Cuilin
post image
Pickpick

I‘m my arrogance I thought I‘ll read this over 3-4 days. And the Hardy gods laughed and said “no, you‘ll savor many sentences and read them 3-4 times, mwha ha ha!” ‘Tis true. Hardy is writer to read slowly, perfect for a chapter a day. Wonderful book if a little overwrought and melodramatic but it all adds to the flavor. Looking forward to seeing what the movie is like. #rereadingtheclassics

dabbe Agree 💯. LOVED this book. 💙🖤🩵 2mo
eeclayton I loved this book, too. Also loved the Carrie Mulligan movie, the music is especially beautiful 😍 2mo
Cuilin @eeclayton thanks may watch this evening. 2mo
AllDebooks Yes 🙌 definitely an author to be savoured. His depictions of the natural world are beautiful 😍 2mo
66 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

Normally at the end of a nine hour car ride I‘m 😱 but this was so absorbing I could have driven for another two ish hours to finish it. After seeing Oppenheimer we had more questions regarding the atomic bombs dropped on Japan. This thought provoking book is impressively researched, it reads like a novel, and has perfect narration.

TW⚠️ educational but you‘ll feel despondent and full of sorrow at mankind.

blurb
Cuilin
post image

Look at these sweet FREE journal/books they give you at the National Botanic Gardens in DC.

😍🫶🎄🌿🪴🌺🥀🌻🪷🌾

blurb
Cuilin
post image

Have I bitten off a little more than I can chew? Quite possibly. Though I‘m determined to finish them all. ❤️ classical literature.

Almost finished Hardy ch 43 #RRTC @AllDebooks

On chapter 5 of Lady Chatterley #SBR @TheBookHippie

2 ch‘s daily of Vanity Fair with the #pemberlittens

AllDebooks 😅 I finished the Hardy this morning 😍 I really want to join in #Pemberlittens VF #buddyread but I'm swamped with so many chunksters this month. 2mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks my toxic trait is joining too many buddy reads lol. I have others too. Loving Hardy by the way. 2mo
TheBookHippie 😂😂😂😂😂 solidarity !!! 2mo
See All 8 Comments
julieclair I have the same toxic trait! And the same book stack, except for the Hardy. But no worries, I have plenty of other buddy reads ready to fill that Hardy spot. 📚📚📚📚📚😬🤣 2mo
quietlycuriouskate Having been tortured with Hardy at school (he was the local boy made good), it was years before I picked up "madding crowd": wonderful book, it turns out! 2mo
Cuilin @TheBookHippie support appreciated. Right back at you. 🫶 2mo
Cuilin @julieclair what are we like? I have about 3 or 4 other buddy reads too. 🤦‍♀️ (edited) 2mo
Cuilin @quietlycuriouskate same. Not the local part but it was required reading in Ireland. Luckily I love Hardy. 2mo
57 likes8 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Vanity Fair | William Thackeray
post image

Looking forward to this buddy read. This is my edition of Vanity Fair at 731 pages 😳.

 @BarkingMadRead

#pemberlittens #hastagbrigade

Cuilin @BarkingMadRead lol 👿 2mo
dabbe @BarkingMadRead Yowza! 👹 2mo
See All 7 Comments
dabbe That's my cover, too! Though it's on Kindle. 😍 2mo
IndoorDame @Cuilin @dabbe interesting cover! Are those 2 different girls? 2mo
Cuilin @IndoorDame same I think. Mirror image. 2mo
47 likes7 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Romans | R. H. Barrow
post image

Thank you for your thoughtful responses for the July prompts and chats. Here is my short list for August #BookedInTime Roman Civilization. I promised @Caitlin_Sheridan I would start with The Wolf Den. Thank you all for being such amazing participants. Also thanks to @dabbe for composing a spreadsheet. (checkout previous posts & add your book) & @jenniferw88 for her expertise on the 1600‘s. You are all amazing. 🤩

rwmg My choice is part of a series which I had been reading but had paused (probably distracted by another series) so I will probably read others in the series as well. 2mo
See All 17 Comments
rwmg I may also read a more tangentially related book, a novel by Amin Maalouf about Mani 2mo
rwmg My online Reading Group's choice for September is also relevant, so I may read it early (UK title “Founding Fathers“, US title “Children of the Wolf“) 2mo
rwmg BTW, I know it's early but the novel I'm reading at the moment is about a Roman gladiator found frozen in Arctic ice and revived. Most of the first 2/3 of the book is his memories of his life in Rome as he regains consciousness. 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I am looking at this one, I read I, Claudius a few years ago and really liked it, this is said to be similar. 2mo
Bookwormjillk I‘m going to try 2mo
kspenmoll I have Pompeii as well @Bookwormjillk 2mo
Cuilin @rwmg they all look like interesting reads. 2mo
thegreensofa I‘m going to read a new release of short stories tied together, about what different people were doing when Mt Vesuvius erupted. Having been there and to Herculeum, I am interested in what it might have been like living there at that time. 2mo
Cuilin @thegreensofa I love that it‘s different writers. Looking forward to your thoughts. 2mo
DebinHawaii I‘m going with Murder at the Limes by Alex Wagner as it‘s on Kindle Unlimited & not too long, but I don‘t see it in the Litsy database. ☹️ I‘m going to request they add it. 2mo
Cuilin @DebinHawaii looks like it‘s a series too! Hope it‘s good. 2mo
rockpools Could I join you for the Roman read? I keep eyeing all of your posts, thinking I‘d like to give that a go… 2mo
Cuilin @rockpools absolutely, welcome. Good luck choosing a book!! So many to choose from. I will add your name and at the end of the month I‘ll post some questions. 2mo
rockpools @Cuilin Thank you 😊 2mo
54 likes17 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image
Itchyfeetreader I‘m easy I read on demand so a month out works for me but recognise a lot of folks here are more forward planning! 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I am pretty easy going on both of these questions. I don't mind planning farther out, I know that helps some people get books they want from the library (or often I have to order things from overseas I find interesting). But often I have something lying around, or can get what I want from my library in a couple of weeks. So either way there.
I think 2 so much depends on the time period! Some areas I have nothing, some a long TBR.
2mo
See All 18 Comments
TheBookgeekFrau I'm good with a month out and monthly reading schedule -- I feel like too much time and planning would have me putting it off thinking 'oh I've got plenty of time' 2mo
jenniferw88 I'm drawn more towards A with a month out. 2mo
sblbooks A. A set schedule, would give me more time to find a library book. B. Stay monthly. Thanks! 2mo
dabbe Ditto what everybody said; I like plan A. 😍 2mo
bookandbedandtea For question A I'd be happy either way. Whatever is easiest for you! For question B I like the monthly reading schedule. 2mo
AllDebooks I prefer to plan my reading so a set schedule works better for that. I prefer a monthly read. Thank you for all your hard work organising x 2mo
Deblovestoread I can make anything work. 😊 2mo
Karisimo Stay monthly, but I would like to see the plan for the year. 2mo
julieclair I would prefer seeing the plan for the rest of the year. And the monthly plan works well. Thanks for asking! And for hosting! 2mo
rwmg Monthly books is fine by me, but more advance notice (maybe quarterly) would be good to help me with sourcing books for periods when I don't have anything on my immediate TBR lists. 2mo
kspenmoll Stay monthly with a year ling plan 2mo
thegreensofa My vote is stay monthly, and any amount of notice would be good for me. I love this reading challenge thank you so much for coming up with it, and for running it! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2mo
Cuilin @thegreensofa 🙏😊 2mo
Mollyanna I‘m flexible. I like the monthly plan, but having time to select and find the books helps. I am really enjoying this group. I had gotten away from HF for a bit, and this has pushed me back into one of my favorite genres. Thank you @Cuilin for hosting and organizing. 🥰 2mo
Cuilin @Mollyanna Thank you 🙏 (edited) 2mo
35 likes18 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The Little Prince (Illustrated) | Antoine de Saint-Exupry
post image

#ThinkPositiveBePositive @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

To my fellow littens who are now unique in all the world.

Thanks for the tag @dabbe

Care to share a quote?

Suet624 💕💕 2mo
Deblovestoread Love this and thanks for the tag. 💜 2mo
dabbe 💙🖤🩵 Oh, how I love this book. Excellent quote. 2mo
See All 9 Comments
Cuilin @dabbe I was thinking of you. I love it too. Did you see the movie version on Netflix? Oh my heart!! 💗 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin No! I'll have to check it out! 🤗🤗🤗 2mo
AllDebooks Such a wonderful quote x 2mo
Cuilin @Suet624 💞 2mo
51 likes9 comments
blurb
Cuilin
The English Civil War | Timothy Venning
post image
AllDebooks I will definitely like to read more non-fiction of this time period 2mo
jenniferw88 Yes, I would. I'm trying to write a mystery series set just after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, so need a good understanding of what came previously! 2mo
jenniferw88 @AllDebooks I can recommend Anna Keay! I've read The Last Royal Rebel by her, and am currently reading this, which tied quite nicely into the aftermath of the events in The King's General 2mo
See All 44 Comments
Bookwormjillk I bailed on my book for this month and haven‘t gotten to another one yet. I‘m going to see what you all liked and try again! 2mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk 👍 not sure I‘d recommend mine, though I‘m glad I read it. It was quite bleak. 2mo
majkia Not my favorite time period so unless I find a book in my TBR already, probably not any time soon. 2mo
Cuilin @majkia valid 👍hope you‘ll enjoy August‘s Roman civilization prompt. 2mo
Bookwormjillk @Cuilin that‘s the one I bailed on. Just wasn‘t in the mood for something that intense 2mo
rubyslippersreads Yes. I want to read The King‘s General, plus I‘d like to read some novels by Stella Riley. 2mo
Cuilin @Bookwormjillk absolutely valid. Better luck next time. 2mo
bookandbedandtea Yes! I wasn't entirely thrilled with my book so want to try something else. But it did have me researching and it created curiosity in me to learn more so it was a success from that standpoint. 2mo
Cuilin @bookandbedandtea that‘s a success in my book. 2mo
Deblovestoread All UK history fascinates me so it is likely I will find myself reading in this time period again. Very interested in @AllDebooks choice and 2mo
Itchyfeetreader I would be open to it - loved the book of wonders a few years ago. I kind of like how there is potential for much more in this period. Thanks for running @Cuilin I might never have figured that out if I hadn‘t signed up to join in. 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau Yes! The older I get the fascinated I get with history. It's like I can suddenly see the bigger picture and how things connect and ripple through time. If my HS history teachers could see me now!! 😂😂 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I have added @AllDebooks pick to my TBR, not sure when I will get to it, as it is fairly lengthy, and I have a few of those I want to get already by end of year, but it sounds so intereting! 2mo
dabbe Yes, especially since people posted their titles. You know, here's a thought: I would love to put together a spreadsheet for us listing all of the cool books we read during each specific time period. Would anyone be interested in that? If so, reply to this comment with your tagged book, and I'll put together a spreadsheet! 🤗🤗🤗 I'll start here with mine. 3.5/5 ⭐️s. (edited) 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe thanks Denise 3/5 stars for 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin Perfect idea to give your score, too. If people want this, is it okay if I make you editor of the document since you're our fearless leader? 🤩🤗😍 2mo
Cuilin @dabbe I am more of a feel the fear and do it anyway leader! 😂 but yes we can be co-editors. I love the idea of this spreadsheet. 2mo
sblbooks Yes, I hope to get to this one I found on Libby, soon. 2mo
AllDebooks @Deblovestoread it is highly recommended 👌 2mo
AllDebooks @dabbe this is a great idea. Mine was a firm favourite at 4⭐️ 2mo
AllDebooks @jenniferw88 thanks for the recommendation 😀 2mo
AllDebooks @ChaoticMissAdventures hope you like it. I do love a good chunkster 2mo
Deblovestoread @dabbe Love the spreadsheet idea. 4.5 🌟 2mo
dabbe @AllDebooks Got it; thanks! 🤗 2mo
dabbe @AllDebooks Got it; thanks! 🤗 2mo
dabbe @Deblovestoread Got it; thanks! 🤗 2mo
rwmg @dabbe A great idea. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 1/2 for my book

I haven't come across much fiction about this period, but I am open to reading more biographies and history.
2mo
dabbe @rwmg So a 4/5, right? 😊 2mo
rwmg @dabbe 4.5/5 2mo
dabbe @rwmg Got it; thanks! 😊 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @dabbe love the spreadsheet idea! Admittedly I still have 75 pages to go but I am saying 4.25⭐ for 2mo
dabbe @ChaoticMissAdventures Got it; thanks! 🤗 2mo
dabbe @jenniferw88 Got it; thanks! 🤗 2mo
Karisimo I enjoy learning through reading so while it was fun to branch out, this time period isn‘t particularly interesting to me, so not likely to read more from this period. I would recommend the tagged though! 2mo
Cuilin @Karisimo 👍 Fawkes looks interesting too. 2mo
thegreensofa I would like to. But so much of it has gore elements. And also a bit bleak. If I do, it will be Middle Grade again. After having a personal heavy start to 2023 I am not brave enough for dark stories at the moment. But I am definitely now interested in the time period. 🙂 2mo
Cuilin @thegreensofa I hear you. Mine was dark too and I needed a palette cleanser. Thanks for joining in. Hope your next one for #BIT will not be as bleak and the rest of the year will be brighter. 2mo
Jess861 I will definitely be trying to find some more books in this time frame. I read too much WWII historical fiction so it was nice to enter a different time period. 2mo
Mollyanna My book is the first in a trilogy, so I‘ll definitely be reading more. I‘d like to delve into some non-fiction about the time frame too. @dabbe great idea for the spreadsheet. I‘m not quite finished so I can come back and up date the rating but here‘s the title 2mo
dabbe @Mollyanna I have it on our spreadsheet; when you have a score, let me know! 🩵🖤💙

Here's our spreadsheet link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sLpOtIgy6SwJkyU0wwno2MN4YUbe0ldjPwSusW3g...
2mo
34 likes44 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image
jenniferw88 I knew a bit but as a general overview of Britain. I learned more about how it specifically affected the aouth coast of England and Cornwall in particular. 2mo
AllDebooks I knew a bit about the Civil war. It was interesting to read a fictional account delving into the fragility of peace between Catholics and Protesants 2mo
rubyslippersreads I know a litter about the English Civil War from other Elizabeth Goudge books. 2mo
See All 16 Comments
bookandbedandtea I knew a bit about the topic but I realized while reading my book that most other books I'd read touching on the subject were actually after the fact and had more to do with the struggle between those trying to reinstate Charles II and those trying to prevent it. It was pretty interesting to read about the early days of the war(s). 2mo
Deblovestoread I knew a bit about the plague and a little about the civil war through other reading. 2mo
Itchyfeetreader I knew a bit - studied at school but that was all the politics I enjoyed how my book gave a sense of what being at home and a woman at home whilst war raged around and then people came home changed felt 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau Outside of the plague I knew nothing, it seems 😅 But it was interesting to connect the dots as to why the Puritans left for the new world. 2mo
dabbe I knew a bit--only because I taught a Restoration unit to my sophomore honors classes. I still have my hyperdoc linked below if anyone cares to look at it. The students basically knew nothing about this period and found it quite challenging only because they didn't know anything. So, I kept the unit as bearable as possible for them (and me 🤣).

Here's the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YLW8WqnzNuJ9OfNsEILPmLlzPo4Y1tR4/view?usp=shari...
(edited) 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I have read way more about Henry VIII and the Women queens - War of the Roses years, and didn't know much about this time. The book I am reading has a social climber, and it alternates between her POV and delving into the politics and social commentary of the time during Charles II so I have learned a ton about that time period - 975 pages worth! Even when the story is about Amber she is going through the plague and fire, and social climbing. 2mo
sblbooks I knew a little bit about the plague but not much else. 2mo
rwmg When I was child in the 1960s, there was a lot of building work going on in London, some of which uncovered plague pits so the plague and the story of Eyam was something that got talked about a lot and was covered in primary school projects, so I was familiar with the basic events. My book was very good about covering the social context of adapting to the new religious and social regime after the Restoration.

2mo
rwmg I read Antonia Fraser's biography of Oliver Cromwell a couple of years ago, so I was already familiar with the course of the Civil War from that and school 2mo
Karisimo I didn‘t know too much about this time! I read Fawkes by Nadine Brandes awhile back which was great- a magical realism twist on the time period, but I didn‘t remember the fate of Charles I which was prominent in my book! 2mo
thegreensofa I learnt so much. Being English I should have already known. What a violent repressive time it sounds like (from what was mentioned in my book anyway). So many things you weren‘t allowed to do! One law for destitute women and another for anyone with a standing. 2mo
Jess861 I knew a bit about this period but not much - it was interesting to learn about the plague that hit at that time. What I found particularly interesting was that this particular plague seemed to leave the elderly alone. Not sure if that fact is historically accurate though. (edited) 2mo
Mollyanna I knew a little about the time period, but really just the big facts. It has been interesting to delve into the daily life after the restoration and how things were for those that may or may not have been involved in Charles I‘s death. 2mo
26 likes16 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image
jenniferw88 Most of my characters were real, which surprised me as I thought Daphne had created the female MC whilst reading. I enjoyed it, and am tempted to try to rewrite from a different character's point of view. 2mo
BarkingMadRead I‘m the worst lol I put the book aside and never read it 🤣 I‘m reading about the American civil war, totally coincidental and doesn‘t at all count 🤣🤣 2mo
See All 31 Comments
Cuilin @jenniferw88 great idea. I‘d definitely read it!! 2mo
Cuilin @BarkingMadRead lol 😂 I understand something I would do too lol 😝 2mo
AllDebooks Mine was set in the aftermath of the Civil War, with several historic characters. A sequence of events is told through 4 different pov, with only 1 telling the truth. It was masterful writing and I really enjoyed it. I esp. Lik 2mo
AllDebooks Cont. Liked John Wallis, chief cryptographer to Cromwell, as a protagonist. I chose 2mo
julieclair I have not started my book yet, but am really looking forward to reading it. It may spill over into August. 😉 2mo
rubyslippersreads @julieclair I‘m glad I‘m not the only one who hasn‘t started yet. 2mo
bookandbedandtea My book centered around a cryptologist working for the king. The only real characters were the king and queen. Other Royalists and Parliamentarians were mentioned by were not present. @AllDebooks your book sounds very similar but better- I'm off to see if my library has it. Mine was 2mo
Cuilin @bookandbedandtea I loved, and also vouch for 2mo
Deblovestoread The war did not feature in my book and I don‘t believe any of the characters were real. The village felt removed from any national turmoil while dealing with the plague 2mo
Cuilin @Deblovestoread if I remember, they close the whole village to outsiders, correct? 2mo
Cuilin @AllDebooks when I figured out the twist I had to go back and re-read certain chapters. It was so good. 2mo
Deblovestoread Yes, they isolate the village keeping themselves within the boundary and others out with the help of patrons willing to bring supplies to the boundary line. 2mo
AllDebooks @Cuilin it is mindbending, for sure. 2mo
AllDebooks @bookandbedandtea ooh I'll look that one up 😊 2mo
Itchyfeetreader I enjoyed mine and there was predominantly a lot of based@on real people but heavily fictionalised! 2mo
TheBookgeekFrau Took place after the war, but there was mention of prosperity and a lightening of manner and dress after the return of King Charles II. All the characters were fictitious who mentioned historical figures in passing. 2mo
dabbe My book took place before the civil war breaks out. It's the first book in a detective series with Tom Tallant, (love his name) who is our ship merchant/detective. When the book opens, England is about to descend into civil war because of a savage conflict between King Charles I and Parliament. Discontent is boiling across the city and is ready to explode. Quite a few characters in this book really existed. (edited) 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @AllDebooks This sounds so interesting! Also glad to see someone else rea a doorstopper book for this prompt. Mine was just a bit longer at 975, but I might pick up your book too, it is such an interesting time. 2mo
ChaoticMissAdventures Mine started at the beginning of the war - Charles I then sort of skirts over the Parliamentary years, and most of the book is set after during Charles II, delving into how the war, and the changes in leadership effect things going forward, which was super interesting.
The main character was not real, but a good portion of the people surrounding her were, I did a lot of googling, Charles II had so many mistresses!
2mo
DebinHawaii I‘m about midway through but hoping to finish this weekend. Enjoying it so far. 2mo
rwmg My book was a YA novel by Jill Paton Walsh covering the same events as @DebLovesToRead 's choice, which I have read (LT says in 2010). I preferred this one as the language and characterisation felt much more authentic to the times as a first person narrative. It also deals much more effectively with the historical context of the changes in society due to the Restoration. 2mo
AllDebooks @rwmg 😍 2mo
Karisimo I read the tagged book. One of the main characters was a fictional catholic priest undercover who unsuccessfully attempted to free Charles I just before his death. 2mo
Cuilin @Karisimo I was wondering if you enjoyed it. It‘s on my TBR. 2mo
thegreensofa Mine featured the Civil War through Cromwell‘s laws spoken about by characters, and Cromwell‘s followers attending a court session and dissection. It wasn‘t a main feature of the book but was very interesting whenever it was mentioned. So much history! 2mo
Mollyanna I am about halfway through mine. It deals with the aftermath of the civil war and the great fire of London. It has a good combination of fictional and actual historical figures. I hope to finish soon 2mo
26 likes31 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

Each to their own but I could never. It begs some questions was this an airport impulse purchase?, are they not enjoying it ?, are they the dump it after you read it sort? Seriously it was sopping I don‘t know how they were able to turn the pages. Lots of readers at the pool makes my heart glad, kids too. 🥰

ChaoticMissAdventures Water accident and probably a bit too much drink? Hope they are having a lovely holiday and that book wasn't for them..... 2mo
Cuilin @ChaoticMissAdventures all of that!! 2mo
Ruthiella I loaned a paperback once to a work colleague who clearly read it poolside. It was WRECKED when he returned it. So I quietly trashed it and bought myself a new copy. 😂 2mo
See All 11 Comments
Cuilin @Ruthiella oh no!! my daughter lent a book to a boy when they were in high school. It got wet/destroyed and he replaced it!! 5 years later and they‘re now dating! 2mo
Soubhiville Ooo, that makes me cringe. 2mo
Cuilin @Soubhiville glad it‘s not just me. I wanted to rescue it. 🛟 2mo
dabbe 😢 for the soggy book.

But ... we could write a short story about this: “The Clue of the Water-Logged Book“ or something like that. Maybe in a Nancy-Drew style. 😃
2mo
Cuilin @dabbe I love it!! 2mo
dabbe @Cuilin 🤩🤣😍 2mo
SamAnne 😂😂😂🙄🙄 2mo
Cuilin Right? So glad it‘s not just me. 2mo
64 likes11 comments
blurb
Cuilin
Fell Murder | E.C.R. Lorac
post image

I‘m not moving except for snack and bathroom breaks till I finish this book. After days of travel and family reunion stuff and very little reading I finally have a day to myself. Vacation 🍹⛱️📚

LiteraryinLawrence Looks delightful! 2mo
Ruthiella Enjoy! 😃 2mo
dabbe 🖤💙🩵 2mo
Suet624 Lovely. 2mo
63 likes4 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

Book: Around the world in 80 days
Song: Voyage Voyage by Desireless

I had the song first but didn‘t want a non-fiction travel book. So I thought a reread of Verne after watching David Tennant‘s portrayal of Phileas Fogg. The show was fabulous if very different from the book. The song I first heard in a night club in France. I was 11! but that‘s a story for another day. #Titlesandtunes

Cinfhen I think I NEED to know the story….it sounds too good to miss 😁excellent pairing🙌🏻 2mo
Cuilin @Cinfhen Picture 15 Irish and 15 French exchange students. Most were between the ages of 14 to 18. Being the youngest at 11, when they wanted to go to a club they would surround me so the bouncer wouldn‘t notice my age. I‘d get in and just be in awe of this grown up world. I still love 80‘s French Pop music. Entrance gave you tickets for booze but I didn‘t drink but definitely danced. 2mo
Cinfhen That‘s great! Fun memories for sure 😉 2mo
43 likes3 comments
blurb
Cuilin
post image

This!!!

Anyone else skip introductions due to spoilers? I will only read one if I‘ve read the book before. I love reading one though when I‘ve finished the book and not quite ready to part with it.

psalva I always read the introduction last, particularly if it‘s a classic. I feel like those are more likely to be spoiled in the intro. 2mo
Cuilin @psalva I feel like the publishers of classical literature have a presumption that readers know all the plot points in a novel just because it‘s been around awhile. 2mo
Ruthiella Yes! I‘ve been burned before. And I HATE when bloggers, vloggers, podcasters etc. justify giving away plot spoilers (without a warning) just because a book is old. 2mo
See All 6 Comments
Tamra I read the Intro after! 2mo
Cuilin @Tamra me too. I hate spoilers!! 2mo
Suet624 I am with you. One too many books ruined by the intro. 2mo
53 likes6 comments