This ended up being a letdown for me after very much enjoying most of the book. I won‘t go into why. It‘s worth reading to form your own opinion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely love this!!!! Edited to add, I like it so far particularly because I am Catholic. I‘m not surprised by the evilness. It‘s expected. (In no way, starting a religious discussion. Just sharing my viewpoint for others who might need the info)

This was an enjoyable read. What I loved most about the novel is Ruth. I look forward to getting to know her better and better in the series which I will continue. It ended up that I was less impressed with the murder mystery aspect. As has been typical for me, I figure it out soon and then, am like, “let‘s get on with and spill the beans”. I loved the other unrelated novel surprises although some events I did not buy. In sum, Ruth is great⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can‘t find this since my recent move. I‘m gonna soon buy a new copy if I can‘t lay my hands on it. It will be after finishing “The Burgess Boys” now.

I am so glad I‘m reading this before reading her new novel. I love it and now I am going to have to read Lucy Barton again and the following Lucy books. I have read “Olive Again”. I did not know they had been mentioned in Lucy Barton. Her characters and family relationships are fascinating. This book is reminding me of “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant” though so far.

I‘ve been searching for a while to find a mystery series I would love. Bingo! I love this book. I don‘t want to put it down. It‘s not just the mystery aspect but also my captivation with Ruth. She is such an interesting person.

Yes! This is next! I‘m excited about continuing to read all of these “Greatest Novels”. But, look at this edition! Isn‘t it beautiful?

This is a book that truly let me down. I love many aspects of it so I am rating it highly. I loved the writing. I loved Catherine. I do love all the Jane Austen “heroines” that I have met. Their strength and assertiveness is beyond their time. But, there are so many holes left in this story. Was there supposed to be a sequel? I have lots of questions. When I got to the last page, I said to myself: “Oh, no! This can‘t be the ending!”

This novel has been so hilarious to me. I love Catherine, “the heroine” so far. I have been absent from Litsy, reading all the volumes of “In Search of Lost Time” by Proust. It really was worth it.

I‘m thrilled to be back into my happy reading place. I am already liking this so much better than Volume IV

I hated this book so much that I actually quit it towards the end. I don‘t even know why I kept trying. But when he started with the “blacks” debutante ball, as if it was one of his comical elements, I was done and done. It‘s not even worthy of me going into it. Yuck!

I‘m excited about reading these. They seem really good.

This is actually Vol. IV. I had to give it thumbs up because Proust and anyone tackling “In Search of Lost Time” must read all volumes. But, for me, this has gone downhill and I don‘t have high expectations for the last volumes. His tangents this time were so illogical that they were grueling to read. I wondered about his sanity. Now reading the back story of this book, I feel fooled by him (won‘t spoil) & there‘s too much of the Verdurin socials

I am enjoying this book so much. I love his style of writing like he is having a witty conversation with me. I regret that he has only written one other book. Any other books that you have read that remind you of this one…for an enjoyable reading experience?

I shall see what Marcel is obsessing about this time. These long novels are focused on at the most 3 events in one locale.

Awe-struck for the 3rd time by this novel, in parts. The gravity of what Proust was saying didn‘t hit me until the end and the ending hit me square in the face. His tangents & extra people are a problem but this is absolved by his genius level depiction of human nature and in this one social relationships. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Awww….I‘m back to Proust, which has spoiled me, it‘s reading at its finest. On every page, I find that one profound statement (midst all the other wonderful prose) which takes my breath away. I‘m thinking: “I can‘t believe he just said that.” For me: “Jane Austen, you‘re great, but not even close to this level.

First of all, make sure not to get the “Signet Classic” edition because Margaret Drabble discloses the entire plot in the Introduction. (Sigh)
Jane Austen worked the magic of engaging me in the story to the extent that I felt I was visiting real people and the characters and relationships are intriguing. But she overdid it with unnecessary, irrelevant stuff, trying to tie up all loose ends. Ultimately, it was disappointing to me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wanted to come on here and let you know that to me , so far, starting Chapter 5, that I find, Emma and especially her father, Mr. Woodhouse, to be hilarious. Emma is not at all likable to me which adds to the humor. I also keep thinking about “A Room of One‘s Own” by Virginia Woolfe in which she notes that Jane had to write in the presence of her family. How did she come up with this? I love it.

I‘ve been so surprised how much I‘ve been enjoying this novel. Since I also loved “Persuasion”, I guess I am joining the ranks of being a Jane Austen fan. Her characterization of women is intriguing to me.

This book has won accolades, even being on the list of “1001 Books to Read before You Die”. But, for me, the jury is still out. On pg. 30 & the odds aren‘t good. The main character, a Nigerian, keeps doing what bothers me the most, referring pejoratively about people like me, a black American woman, while she is attending Princeton. Another thing makes me not like her, I‘ll see about THAT soon.

This second volume of “In Search of Lost Time” was amazing in too many ways for me to share briefly. In general, I have never experienced reading a book in which I had to sit and ponder about almost every page. The narrator ruminates about issues which we definitely know occur but seldom talk about out loud. He got too wordy towards the end but, for me, this book is excellent.

This is Volume II of “In Search of Lost Time” and I can‘t even deal with the fact that this story will end. In the midst of the story line, on each page, Proust shares a profound thought that blows my mind. I wait in anticipation as I am reading. This is among one of the best reading experiences that I have had.

I am determined to read/reread all of her journals. In my opinion, she excels in putting into words thoughts and feelings that are difficult to eloquently express. It is interesting, though, how like, Virginia Woolf, this process is so emotionally painful for her and she does not recognize her genius. Overall, I love having the chance to become intimate, through reading, with someone I will never meet.

Well, I ended the year with this, an appropriate title, although I changed in a totally opposite sense. I loved this book from the standpoint of how believable this monstrous change was to Gregor, his family and, to me, as the reader.

I not sure if this is a pan or a bail because I read almost to the very end and could not bring myself to finish.
I guess I was enjoying his writing style but I did not buy his characterizations and other things. It kept getting worse and worse. Ugh. Off to Goodwill

No. Birds and her religious views were not for ME. I own my bias

Finally, at the very end of the year, after bailing several books, I found an author and essayist that I loved. 2022 has to be a better year than this one was, regarding reading and most everything else for me. I love and agree with Emerson‘s perspective and look forward to studying his other works.

I can hardly believe I read 3/4 of this book and had to put it down. I could not tolerate any more of him. I kept thinking he might eventually improve as a person but he continued on and on with his terrible ways. His writing was what kept me going I guess. To me he was the epitome of self-derogatory and generally confused. I guess if one is interested in negative aspects of human nature this book would be enjoyable/

This quote is hilarious given I only believe 30-40% of what he has shared so far. As an old man, he gives detailed accounts about events which occurred in his early childhood to adulthood. I am really enjoying the book though. Written in the first person, it really seems like he is having a private conversation with me.

This dude seems so inept. But, he wrote a memoir that is deemed a classic and I am enjoying it. I think it‘s about the writing style and not the nature of his life.

Where do I find the books I “Add to Stacks” on Litsy?🤦🏽‍♀️
Seriously, my granddaughter who already loves books may want to know.

Books like this amazing book account for my obsession with reading. It‘s a book about all of the hidden truths in life that we do not want to acknowledge; truths about human nature, the toxicity of relationships, individual emotional struggles, family dysfunction and on and on. She speaks eloquently about these issues up to the very last page. It‘s added to the list of books I will never forget. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book called to me off one of my bookshelves. I‘m not even sure why I got it and did know I had it. It is certainly is one of my favorite kind of books to read, about families and their secrets. I get so happy and excited about these finds.

I really wanted to like this book. As a black person, I related to much of his struggle and recognize he was referencing life in the 1940s, but there was so much bothersome about this book for me. I became increasingly frustrated mainly by his naïveté. He did not get who he was until the end of the book and, by then, I really did not care. Then, his answer was to give into his invisibility. Why?

THIS is a book that puts me in mind of Faulkner‘s “Absalom, Absalom”. THIS is the kinda book that I love to read. It‘s unfolding and unfolding and I don‘t want to put it down. Where and how is it going to lead?

It‘s good that this was not the first Faulkner that I read. I hated it as much as I loved “Absalom, Absalom”. Hate is a strong word. I guess I was so disappointed. Lots did not work for me. It was so dark on different levels: the theme, the environment of the story, the characters. I did not like the repetitive sentences, probably a meaning I don‘t understand. I kept waiting for the point of it all. I certainly must have missed something.

I seldom read the same author in a row but I was having such a major book hangover after “Absalom,Absalom”. We‘ll see how it goes.

What an utterly amazing book by certainly a brilliant author. It deals with all aspects of human nature and relationships: love, lust, family issues, rivalry, greed...and on and on. Then, there‘s the characterizations which not only include complex people but also a house, the South and the Civil War era. It reads like an unfolding and once you get to the core, you find the never-ending branches that remain with you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are some things which happen to us which the intelligence and the senses refuse...occurrences that stop us dead...like a sheet of glass through which we watch all subsequent events...

(I surprisingly required a hip replacement)

Just like with Virginia Woolf, halfway through, I figured out Faulkner‘s language. Wow, what an amazing book including the writing, characterization and story. It can be understood once you realize that he goes on a tangent until he gets back to the main point of the sentence. (Haha, my husband does that; maybe why I‘m familiar.) It‘s written from different perspectives so it did not matter that I skipped ahead.

I just couldn‘t help myself! I skipped ahead to the end of the book. It was kinda worth it. Now I‘m going back to my original place. Although the writing is beautiful and the story is so compelling, Faulkner was getting too long-winded.

I can‘t get enough of her. I‘ll read this some along with Faulkner.

I am truly surprised at how much I am enjoying this book. Looks like there‘s more Faulkner in my reading future. His writing style is like Virginia Woolf‘s. You stop and say: Whoa! Did he just say all of that? 🤓

So ends my reading of Virginia‘s diaries. It seemed that all throughout this personal account of her last four years, she hinted at plans of eventually ending her own life. She shared more about her feelings than in her previous couple of volumes but much about her has surely been left out. She has intrigued me to learn more so next will be her letters. She was an amazingly complicated woman who captured my heart.

Well, I‘m finally ready to read Virginia‘s last diary. I know I‘m going to get emotional about the tragic ending. Being a psychologist, I keep wishing that someone could have helped her with her depression although she chose not to get the help that was available to her even back then. She was such a tremendously gifted woman who never recognized her value, which we profit from now.

Generally, this is a expression of man‘s struggle with the sudden death of his beloved wife. I love the way he was able to aptly interweave sharing tales about his present life, their individual lives prior to marriage, and their married lives. It did become boring and redundant towards the end as if he could not figure out the best way to end the book which is telling given that it is a book about endings.

This is THE book for true Mariah Carey fans. I‘ve loved her for many years but even more now. She explained the meaning behind her songs which she composed the music for, wrote the lyrics and perfectly sang. She is mostly definitely a prodigy. But also she shared a heartfelt story of her life. Most anyone can relate to some aspect to her journey. I surely could

I have been thinking about how to rate this book a couple of days. I decided that what I mostly liked about it was the concept, describing the lives of the 5 people who fell off the bridge. Other than that, I did not particularly like the people (not wishing them to die) and did not feel that there was any closure. I‘ll leave it at that. Blah ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely love Mariah as much as I love reading and books. Yet, even I, am amazed at how good this book is. I probably could stay up all night reading it to the end...