@LeahBergen on Litsy

The Anchoress | Robyn Cadwallader

And yet another book I‘ve had on my shelves for YEARS. I‘m loving it so far!

Suet624 Oh, that one is still sitting on my shelf. @saramoore sent it to me years ago. 😩 I think of her every time I see that book. 5d

Cathythoughts Oh that‘s great 👍🏻❤️ 4d

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LeahBergen @Ruthiella Extreme nun lit! 😆 4d

LeahBergen @Suet624 I wish she was still on Litsy! 4d

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I‘m on a bit of a historical fiction kick of late. 😆 4d

Suet624 @LeahBergen me too. 4d

Libby1 I adore this book! 3d

LeahBergen @Libby1 It was so good! 3d

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @Ruthie I ❤️ nun lit, but I‘m a bit worried it might be too extreme for me and my claustrophobia. 😳 16h

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads It‘s crazy to even contemplate (but it is a good read and not TOO claustrophobic). 15h

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Dial "M" for Murder | Frederick Knott

We had a fun night out at the theatre last night.

I‘ve never read the play but now I want to see the Hitchcock film!

AmyG All his movies are so good. 7d

Ruthiella Cool! 7d

LeahBergen @AmyG They are! And I don‘t think I‘ve seen this one. 🤔 7d

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LeahBergen @Ruthiella 😘 7d

Cathythoughts Fabulous evening 🥂❤️ 6d

MemoirsForMe Oh, Grace Kelly was so good in all of Hitchcock‘s movies. Enjoy! 6d

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It was! 6d

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I love her! 6d

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LeahBergen

The blank wall: a novel of suspense | Elisabeth Sanxay Holding

It‘s now October so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@quietjenn ‘s pick for us this month is The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Sparklemn, Bookbuyingaddict, willaful

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 1w

Tamra Thanks for the reminder, Leah! 1w

quietjenn Thanks! I remembered that it was my pick, but couldn't remember what I nominated 😂. 1w

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Gissy I am so behind but I know I will read them eventually. I have like what I read so far👌Plus I love Persephone editions 😍 1w

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah. I‘ve read this one and I loved it. I might have a reread. I look forward to people‘s thoughts on it. 👍🏻❤️ 1w

CarolynM I‘m going to be away most of this month so I probably won‘t get to this until November. But I will be following everyone‘s posts about it! 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra 😘 7d

LeahBergen @quietjenn That sounds like me 😆 7d

LeahBergen @Gissy You‘re never behind! Just read along as you can. 😊 7d

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I‘ve read it too and thought it was great! 7d

LeahBergen @CarolynM I hope you‘re travelling somewhere fun. 😘 7d

Sparklemn Can I be added to the list? 7d

LeahBergen @Sparklemn Sure! I‘ll add you to this one so I remember. 😆 6d

julieclair @LeahBergen Can you take me off the list, please? I always want to read these, but never seem to do so. I will still keep up with the hashtag, though, and may pop in from time to time. 💙 5d

LeahBergen @julieclair Sure! I do hope you pop in now and again! ❤️ 5d

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The Illumination of Ursula Flight | Anna-Marie Crowhurst

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of your bookshelves, wondering what to read next, and your eyes land on a book that you‘ve had for years? That happened to me with this one and it‘s so good!

Ursula Flight is a young girl in Restoration England, married off to a bit of a gruesome older husband, who wants to write and see the theatre and act and do so much more with her life. Her narrative voice is quirky and absolutely delightful.

DebinHawaii Beautiful cover! 😍 2w

Ruthiella It is wonderful when that happens! 😊 2w

LeahBergen @DebinHawaii It‘s pretty, isn‘t it? 2w

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LeahBergen @Ruthiella I do tend to let my books “age” for a while on my shelves. 😆 2w

Bookwomble "Letting them age" - I like that ? 2w

Tamra I love quirky! Stacked (edited) 2w

DGRachel The cover is gorgeous! 2w

Cathythoughts That‘s a great feeling when you find a good one that‘s been waiting for you x 2w

LeahBergen @Bookwomble Like fine wine 😆 2w

LeahBergen @Tamra The main character is a bit of a “saucy baggage”. 😆 2w

LeahBergen @DGRachel It is! 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It really is! 2w

rubyslippersreads I‘d read that for the cover alone. 1w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I really enjoyed it! 1w

CarolynM I absolutely do that! You just never know when the right time will be😊 1w

britt_brooke So pretty! 1w

LeahBergen @CarolynM Exactly! 7d

LeahBergen @britt_brooke It‘s a great cover! 7d

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LeahBergen

Susan Settles Down | Molly Clavering

pick

I‘ve finally finished our #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub pick. It was a lowish pick for me (is that a real rating? 😆). Like @quietjenn said, I went in with low expectations and it wasn‘t as bad as I thought it would be. And her work definitely doesn‘t have the charm of her neighbour, DE Stevenson … as @CarolynM said! You‘ve all pretty much summed up my thoughts on this book (and that‘s what I get for chiming in late 😆).

Ruthiella Lowish works for me! 😆 I will think twice about opting for Clavering again-this was my nominee! 🙊 2w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Oh, I wouldn‘t worry about it. I think we liked the other one we read by her a bit more, didn‘t we? 🤔 I‘ve still read way worse (and probably in the last few months 😆). 2w

CarolynM There were definitely some bright spots - I loved “the Infantry”, for example @Ruthiella 2w

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Ruthiella @CarolynM That‘s true! It was one of the few attempts at humor that was actually funny. 😅 2w

Bookwomble 💙🔖🏰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🤍 2w

LeahBergen @CarolynM They were pretty sweet! 2w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Yes, I found some of the humour to be a bit slapstick. 🤔 2w

LeahBergen @Bookwomble I specifically showed the bookmark just for you. 😆😆 #BookmarkMatching 2w

Bookwomble @LeahBergen You know how to capture my attention! 😄 2w

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LeahBergen

Can I Get There by Candlelight? | Jean Slaughter Doty

Look what I‘m reading, @Centique . You were the last person to post about this book … 8 years ago. 😆

A young girl discovers that she can visit the past while riding her pony, Candy (aka Candlelight). I can‘t resist a vintage time-slip story!

Tamra Looks like delightful escapism. 😍 2w

LeahBergen @Tamra That it is. And just what I need! 😆 (edited) 2w

Centique Wow! And thats the edition I remember! I love these - thanks for sharing Leah 😍 2w

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Cathythoughts Looks like it was written for you Leah 🥰 Enjoy 2w

rubyslippersreads I ❤️ this book! 2w

LeahBergen @Centique And I‘m enjoying it, too! 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 2w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I thought that you must‘ve read it! 2w

MemoirsForMe What a great premise! 🙌🏻 2w

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe It‘s a sweet little read! 2w

MaureenMc I had completely forgotten about this book! 😍 2w

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LeahBergen

Good Material: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel | Dolly Alderton

Well, here I go once again, starting my IRL bookclub pick just a few days before our meeting. Oops. 😆

TheBookHippie SOLIDARITY!!! 🙌🏼🫠 3w

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie 😂 3w

TheBookHippie @LeahBergen we meet Saturday …… I didn‘t start yet 🤣 3w

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sarahbarnes This is what happens every time someone gives me a deadline to read a book. 😂 3w

rubyslippersreads @sarahbarnes I know—it starts to feel like homework. 😆 3w

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie Yep, you ARE as bad as I am. We meet tomorrow. 😂 3w

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes @rubyslippersreads Right? Why?? 😆 3w

TheBookHippie @LeahBergen 🤣👏🏻💯 3w

TheBookHippie @sarahbarnes 💯 3w

TheBookHippie @rubyslippersreads I have issues with rules apparently 👀 3w

Cathythoughts Stop ! I know that feeling Leah. I must start my bookclub pick soon , as I picked it !So I‘ll have to prepare a little speel. I must catch up on Litsy, it will be great to get back to it. My yoga retreat was lovely and we had a great laugh too. (edited) 3w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Haha! I always seem to wait until the last minute. And I‘m so glad you had a wonderful time at your retreat. I think I could use one right about now now, too! 2w

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LeahBergen

Mr Wrong | Elizabeth Jane Howard

I‘m currently reading my 7th Elizabeth Jane Howard with @shawnmooney and this one is a volume of her short stories. We‘ve been working through her books in publication order (and may even get to the start of The Cazalet Chronicles next year 😆).

Ruthiella I plan at a minimum to read at least one Cazalet Chronicle volume a year. You may finish before I do! I have three more to go. 😆 4w

Tamra I‘ve had Cazalet on my TBR shelf for so long! 😬 I know I‘ll love it too. 4w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella 😆 The first Cazalet book was the very first EJH I bought … and I‘m still waiting to get to it YEARS later. 😆 4w

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LeahBergen @Tamra Right? Yeesh. 😆 4w

Tamra Love that cover by the way. 4w

BiblioLitten I have to read the second book in the Cazalet Chronicle this year. But might have to reread the first one to jog my memory 🤭 3w

LeahBergen @BiblioLitten That always happens to me with series 😆 3w

Bookbuyingaddict Oh the cazalet chronicles you are going to adore 🥰 my favourites - binge read them all In lockdown your in for a real treat 😍 have you read something in disguise & falling yet ?? Xxx 2w

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict I‘ve read Something in Disguise (loved it!) but haven‘t got to Falling yet. 😊 2w

Bookbuyingaddict ☺️😊🥰😍 2w

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LeahBergen

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

pick

I‘m late to review our latest #PersephoneClub read as I‘ve been travelling around the interior of British Columbia (and very close to the setting of this novel).

I loved it! And who was surprised by the “reveal”?? I felt like I could have continued on with Frankie‘s story just a little bit longer.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra It was a surprise to me! Didn‘t seem to be handled well all the way around. 😅 I felt like that about Frankie too, but I had to keep reminding myself the titular character is Hetty. I wonder if that was a publisher choice? I hope you enjoyed your trip! (edited) 2mo

willaful I would really have liked to see more of what happened to Frankie, but I came to the conclusion that the story was really about her finding her own values and voice and we could take the rest on faith. 2mo

CarolynM I was surprised, but it made sense to me. And I liked what the Afterword said about the consequences of parents behaving as servants to their children. I was uncomfortable all along with accepting that Hetty was bad, without any real evidence. I was hoping for those sitting in judgement to be in the wrong. 2mo

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rubyslippersreads I‘m even later than you, but will come back when I‘m done. 😺 2mo

Cathythoughts I loved it too. The reveal was a surprise to me too, but then on reflection it made sense. I felt for Hetty , but I‘d say she would be a difficult person. I loved the description of their first meeting in nature. Lovely writing. ❤️ 1mo

Cathythoughts Lovely picture ! I hope you had a great time on your trip x 1mo

MemoirsForMe Happy Travels! 🤗🚐❤️ 1mo

rubyslippersreads I was surprised by the reveal. As for Hetty‘s reputation, I think Frankie‘s parents were just trying to protect Frankie, and to keep her from growing up too fast. But that was difficult to do without divulging too much of the sordid gossip around Hetty, which at that time would have been very shocking. 1mo

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LeahBergen

Found in the Street | Patricia Highsmith

I‘ve been away travelling in our trailer and not doing much reading AT ALL but I still found time for buying a couple of new books.

(And attending the beautiful wedding of my much-loved niece/goddaughter ❤️).

#JohnnyBergen

BarbaraBB I am glad you‘ve had such a good time. Not even time for reading! Hi #johnnybergen 🐾 2mo

Amiable Traveling and enjoying the company of loved ones is (dare I say it ?) just as important as reading! 😀 2mo

Cathythoughts Books look great ! As does Johnny 🥰 2mo

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Tamra 🐶💙 I never get as much reading done traveling as I dream I will, but always manage to acquire more. 😆 2mo

dabbe #joyfuljohnny 🖤🐾🖤 2mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB @Amiable @Cathythoughts @Tamra @dabbe Thanks, all! 😘 2mo

rubyslippersreads What a cute bookstand. 🐶❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads 😆 2mo

MemoirsForMe ❤️🐾❤️ 1mo

Suet624 Wedding and traveling. Two of my favorite things. 1mo

Rissreadswithcats Love the bookstand! 😂 1mo

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LeahBergen

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

It‘s now August so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@LeahBergen ‘s pick (my pick!) for us this month is Hetty Dorval by Ethel Wilson. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 2mo

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 How is it time already??? Always look forward to a Persephone read. 😁 2mo

willaful Yay, my library bought this. 2mo

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Cathythoughts Thanks Leah ! I have my copy ready to go 😁❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @Tamra And how is it August?? 2mo

LeahBergen @willaful Oh, good! It‘s in print from a couple of Canadian publishers, too. 👍 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yay! This one looks like it‘s going to be a fast little read. 😊 2mo

Tamra @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I read chapter 1! 😳😱 Fantastic writing. 2mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I‘m excited to start now!! 2mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah. I‘m away at the moment, I will get on to it when I get home 😊 (edited) 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I‘m on my way out of town this week, too. We‘ll get to it when we get to it! 😆 2mo

Caryl Thank you, Leah! I need to catch up with my Persephone reads. Think I‘ll start with this one! 2mo

LeahBergen @Caryl And it‘s a nice short one! 2mo

Bookbuyingaddict Hi 👋 all & thanks again @LeahBergen for organising this 😀I was back in Bath 🛁 last month and of course popped in and purchased 3 greys for my collection 😆I‘m going to have to miss this one this month sorry 😢 I‘m just stacked with bookclub and buddy reads but il be jumping back in with the blank wall - happy 😃 reading il still keep track of everyone‘s thoughts much love ❤️ x x 2mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict See you for our next read! 😘 2mo

elkeOriginal I have a nonPersephone edition (the horror!) but looking forward to this thin lil read 2mo

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LeahBergen

Regency Buck | Georgette Heyer

I took this Georgette Heyer off the shelf today (but then had to check Goodreads to see if I‘d already read it 😆).

AvidReader25 Do you have a favorite Heyer? I‘ve only read two and would love to read more! 3mo

LeahBergen @AvidReader25 I don‘t really have a favourite as I‘ve enjoyed all the ones I‘ve read. 😆 Hmm… maybe The Grand Sophy, Sylvester, Cotillion, Friday‘s Child? I‘m really enjoying this one so far! It was her first novel set in the Regency era (the previous ones were set in the Georgian era) and I guess it kickstarted the Regency novel as a genre. 3mo

Cathythoughts I‘m loving the cover on the book 😍 3mo

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LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s pretty! 3mo

Reggie Lolol‘ed on the checking of Goodreads to see if you‘ve read it. There‘s a couple of books lately from back in the day that have left me thinking-have I? 3mo

CarolynM Sylvester is my current handbag book. I‘m not loving it as much as Sophy yet😆 3mo

AvidReader25 @LeahBergen Thank you!!! I loved The Grand Sophy so much. It was my first. I‘ll try the others! 3mo

LeahBergen @Reggie 😆😆 And I expect it will only get worse! 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Sylvester grew on me. Maybe it will for you, too! 3mo

LeahBergen @AvidReader25 The Grand Sophy was my first, too. 😀 3mo

AvidReader25 @LeahBergen I love that! It was so good. 💙 2mo

Bookwomble See now, you've been very tantalising with your bookmarks In your last few posts! Clear views would be appreciated by certain interested parties!🔖🧐😄 2mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble Haha! I‘ll endeavour to be better in the future. This was a Jane Austen bookmark 😆 2mo

Bookwomble @LeahBergen 😁 2mo

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LeahBergen

The God of the Woods | Liz Moore

Friday night reading (with wine and a thunderstorm).

Cathythoughts Looks, sounds perfect ⛈️ 🍷 📚 3mo

Aims42 A perfect setting for some reading time 🥰 3mo

kspenmoll Perfect accompaniment to a thunderstorm! 3mo

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Tamra What is Crust????! 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Aims42 @kspenmoll It was! 😊 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra It‘s a lovely cookbook from a Canadian bakery (of the same name) in Victoria, BC. 😊

Crust: Essential Sweets and Savories from Victoria's Beloved Bakery

3mo

Tamra 😍😋 3mo

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Lady Living Alone | Norah Lofts

Spinsterish Penelope Shadow becomes an overnight success as romantic novelist and can now afford her own house. The only problem is that she is deathly afraid of being alone at night and needs a live-in servant. Enter 20-year-old Terry, who seems to be perfect in every way … but is he really?

This is touted as a domestic novel that evolves into a thriller and I‘m here for it (thus the popcorn 😆).

Ruthiella I heard about this on Simon Thomas‘ podcast “Tea or Books”. I‘ve read a couple Norah Loft historical novels in the past, but this one seems a little different in tone. 3mo

rubyslippersreads You gifted me this one; I need to move it up my TBR list. (Terry sounds sus. 🤣) 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I read a ton of her historicals as a teenager because I could find them at flea markets and yard sales. 😆 3mo

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LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads 😆 I hope you enjoy it when you get to it! 3mo

Cathythoughts Absolutely stacking 👍🏻 Loving the popcorn vibe 😁 3mo

sarahbarnes 🍿 🍿 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @sarahbarnes It was a very popcorn-y read 😆 3mo

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LeahBergen

In the Distance | Hernan Diaz

My current read for my IRL book club and it‘s so good! It‘s one of my favourite niche genres: the “reinvented western”.

Sace Sounds so good. Just added to my wishlist! (edited) 3mo

Tamra This one has been staring at me from my TBR shelves! I hope it‘s great. 3mo

Ruthiella Apparently the author was influenced by Mary Shelly‘s Frankenstein when writing this. It does add an interesting layer conceptually. (edited) 3mo

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Tamra @Ruthiella wow, good to know. I‘ll be looking for the influence. 3mo

BarbaraBB Coming from you, that is good to know! 3mo

Trashcanman Hi Leah! 👋🏽 3mo

Cathythoughts I loved this book Leah ♥️ 3mo

Cathythoughts Great pic 🥰👍🏻 3mo

LeahBergen @Sace @Tamra @BarbaraBB I thought it was great but my book club was split almost exactly between “wows” and “ughs”. 😆😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was reading that, too. It‘s super interesting! 3mo

LeahBergen @Trashcanman Hello! 👋 I hope you‘re doing well! 😀 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy. I thought it was really good but the book club was split (half loved it and half hated it 😆). It made for a great discussion! 3mo

Suet624 Oh my gosh - I think of this book so often. There is a very special part 3/4 of the way through the book (I think) where he's wandering and you're wondering if you're losing your mind too. 2mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Yes! That part was so vivid with its repeating phrases! I actually checked the page numbers to see if it was a printing error. 😆 2mo

Suet624 I‘m glad you know what I‘m talking about. Just a brilliant thing to do. Also, it doesn‘t surprise me that the book club was split on the book. 2mo

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LeahBergen

Family Ties: A Novel | Celia Buckmaster

pick

A novel about the “impoverished semi-gentry of a country village, consisting of cantankerous parents and frustrated adult children… Each family quarrels with itself in the same laconic and polite way”. That quote from an early review sums up the plot perfectly. It seems to have a more wry feel to it than many of our other #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reads (and one of the best descriptions of an awkward tea party ever 😆).

I enjoyed it!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

Ruthiella I‘ve not started yet, but based on your review and @Tamra ‘s comments, I‘m really going to like this one. 😊 3mo

Tamra Wry is the perfect adjective! I am loving how each family is perfectly imperfect in their own ways. 😊 (edited) 3mo

CarolynM It does seem to have a slightly different tone from many of the others - makes village life sound less appealing. 3mo

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Tamra @CarolynM village life always seems appealing until everyone can hear & comment on you sneezing. 🤧🤣 3mo

Cathythoughts I like the sound of this ‘Wry‘ one. Great review ❤️👍🏻 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I hope you like it! 🤞 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra Yeah, I‘m not so sure that I‘d be the best fit for village life 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 3mo

Ruthiella About 80% read now. That tea party! 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Right? 😆 3mo

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LeahBergen

A Spring of Love | Celia Dale

Currently reading and thoroughly enjoying! Celia Dale is becoming a firm favourite of mine.

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾Book envy! 4mo

Cathythoughts Oh brilliant, I loved it. She gets better every time I read her , do you think ? ! 4mo

Cathythoughts It was another great gift from yourself x 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It was so good!! 3mo

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LeahBergen

The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal

pick

This was a fascinating look at post-WWII Austria, a time of which I knew very little about before reading this novel. We follow three exiles on their return to Vienna from America and try to figure out how their lives will intersect to explain the “accidental” death described in the prologue. So good!

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 I finished it last night and would love to be having a discussion about it. Pr Alder and Nina was an outcome which was very moving but as for poor Resi , what can I say. Another great persephone read. 4mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 I was very happy with the Alder and Nina outcome (and that little peek into their future together!) but poor Resi is right! What do you think of Kanakis‘ grief at the end? I was moved enough to think he really felt for her and she wasn‘t a complete “marriage of convenience”. I hope? 4mo

andrew61 Yes, it was curious. Kanakis seemed to want Resi as a trophy, a beautiful curio like the shepherdess, and that would allow him to then hide his attraction to young men like Bimbo. I think he may have been upset in the way he would have been if the shepherdess had been dropped at the loss of a beautiful object. The book continually emphasises Resi's beauty. 4mo

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andrew61 I thought the confrontation between Adler and Krieger was particularly dramatic. Krieger's admission of his activities in the war was shocking and Adler was remarkable in his response. I also liked the three sisters who were princesses. I will add Vienna to my list of places to visit. 4mo

Cathythoughts Great review Leah. I must start soon , then I can read the spoiler too 👍🏻😁 4mo

CarolynM Great review. It‘s not something I know anything about either. I‘m just about to start Part 2. I‘ll come back to your spoiler comment when I finish🙂 4mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 I definitely think you‘re right about the trophy aspect of his affection for her (look at how excited he was to think of dressing her). And that whole Adler/Krieger confrontation was so powerful! 4mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 I kind of wish I had three Austrian princess aunts 😆😆 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM I tried to not give too much of the plot away in my review 😆 4mo

Bookbuyingaddict Hi 👋 all great reviews and loving 🥰 following along however I‘m giving this particular one a miss but will join back in with the next 😀happy reading 📖 folks ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict No worries! We‘ll see you for the next one! 😘 4mo

CarolynM @LeahBergen @andrew61 I agree with you about why Kanakis wanted Resi but I think he would have been kind to her & they would have had a life that suited them both. I think he was grieving what might have been as well as the loss of beauty. I would have liked more about Professor Adler & how he felt about the changes in the people & the city. The circumstances of the fading aristocracy as represented by the 3 princesses interested me too. 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I thought the same thing about Kanakis and was (weirdly!) rooting for them. 4mo

rubyslippersreads @andrew61 I think that‘s it exactly. 3mo

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LeahBergen

Come Back, Lucy | Pamela Sykes

I just remembered to pull this off my shelves, @Centique , after I mentioned it on your time travel post. This is the American edition; does it look like it matches the ‘70s TV show at all? 😄

Centique Oh yes it does! In the show it is all because of the mirror she finds at her cousins house I think? I am going to a secondhand bookshop next week that specialises in children‘s books so I am going to look for this! 4mo

Centique Thanks for showing me your version! I love that art style too 😍 4mo

LeahBergen @Centique I hope you find it! Buddy read? 😄 4mo

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Centique @LeahBergen definitely! Fingers crossed! 4mo

Centique No luck so far sorry Leah. Ill keep looking! 4mo

LeahBergen @Centique Oh, darn! 4mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @Centique I think I have both of these books. I‘ll have to check. 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads And now I want to see them! 😆 3mo

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LeahBergen

The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal

It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 4mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 I‘ll get started on it soon. 4mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, I‘ll take it down from my shelf today. Looking forward to it x 4mo

See All 7 Comments

Cathythoughts I have this as a gift from you , two years ago ❤️🙏 4mo

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM It should be a good one! 🤞 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s right! I forgot about that. It was after we so enjoyed her other one. 😘 4mo

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LeahBergen

Noble Fragments: the maverick who broke up the world�s greatest book | Michael Visontay

We are out in our camper right now and I forced myself to do my duty and stop at a little independent bookshop. 😉

Here‘s my latest read!

Ruthiella Your sacrifice is noble! 😜 Hi Johnny Bergen! 🐶❤️ 4mo

Tamra And Johnny at your side for moral support! 4mo

dabbe #joyfuljohnny! 🖤🐾🖤 4mo

See All 24 Comments

squirrelbrain Is that not the whole reason to go camping - to buy books?! 🤣 Hi #johnnybergen! 🐶❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @Tamra @dabbe @squirrelbrain #JohnnyBergen sends his love! 😆😆 4mo

BarbaraBB So good to see #JohnnyBergen again! Hope you‘re having a wonderful trip while doing your duty 😀 4mo

CarolynM Well done you👏 Enjoy your trip💕 4mo

TrishB Of course ❤️ enjoy 🐶 4mo

youneverarrived 😂 enjoy your trip 🩷 4mo

Cathythoughts Have a lovely trip. Johnny is looking good 🥰 🐶 4mo

Reggie The 🐶 !!!! 🖤🖤🖤 4mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB He says “hello”! 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks, Carolyn! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @TrishB Right? 😘😘 4mo

LeahBergen @youneverarrived Thank you! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts He sends his thanks. He‘s been trying to stay off the snacks but not always doing so well. 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @Reggie He sends his love. 😆 4mo

Rissreadswithcats It‘s a tough job, but someone has to do it! 👏🏻 4mo

sarahbarnes Why else would someone travel if not to visit bookstores?? 📚 4mo

MemoirsForMe Happy Travels! 🐶❤️📚 4mo

britt_brooke Johnny! 4mo

vivastory Johnny 💙💙 4mo

Suet624 Johnny is looking just a touch older. 3mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 He‘s going to be 6 years old in a couple of weeks! 😮 3mo

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LeahBergen

The Luckiest Girl | Beverly Cleary

I don‘t know how I missed reading Beverly Cleary‘s teen books as a kid because I read so many of her books aimed at a younger audience. I‘m loving this!

@TheBookHippie , I see from a preview post that you‘re a fan, too. 😊

Andrea313 Her teen books are some of my favorites! If you're discovering them all for the first time, you have such a treat in front of you. And this is a gorgeous edition, I'm jealous! 😍 5mo

TheBookHippie Oh her teen books are my favorites!!!!! ♥️♥️♥️ they‘re such a zen!!! 5mo

vivastory I'm not sure I would have become a constant reader without Cleary's Ralph Mouse books. Some of my fondest childhood reading memories are rereading those books, 5mo

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Cathythoughts Oh that looks very sweet! Enjoy 🥰 5mo

LeahBergen @Andrea313 This one is so good that I‘m glad I also have a copy of Jean and Johnny waiting for me! 😍 5mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie It‘s just marvellous! I‘m going to need them all. 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @vivastory Oh, what a wonderful memory. I feel like that about a teacher who read Ramona the Pest to us. ❤️ 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s SO sweet! 😊 5mo

Andrea313 @LeahBergen I'll be curious to hear what you think of Jean and Johnny, its different to me in terms of tone. Have you read Fifteen (my favorite) and Sister of the Bride? 5mo

TheBookHippie @LeahBergen they are alllll good!!! 5mo

mrp27 Loved her teen books! 5mo

LeahBergen @Andrea313 I‘ll definitely let you know when I get to it. This is the first I‘ve read of her teen books! 5mo

nanuska_153 That edition 😍😍😍 5mo

LeahBergen @nanuska_153 It‘s so cute, isn‘t it?? 5mo

MemoirsForMe Beverly! 😍🙌🏻 5mo

Centique I am in love with that cover! 😍 Also Cleary is the GOAT 4mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Yes! ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Centique She‘s awesome! 4mo

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LeahBergen

The Trap | Catherine Ryan Howard

Up next.

I was feeling the urge for a speedy thriller and this one‘s off to a promising start!

vivastory I love this one. IMHO, it's one of Howard's best 5mo

BarbaraBB I enjoyed some of her other books. And when @vivastory says it‘s her best I am definitely stacking! 5mo

Cathythoughts Also stacking 😁❤️ 5mo

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LeahBergen @vivastory It was really good! I thoroughly enjoyed The Nothing Man and read one other (which one was it? 🤔). 5mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts It was a fun one! And she‘s an author from your part of the world, Cathy. 😀 5mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Yes 😁 she‘s a Corkonian ! Up Cork 👍🏻❤️ 5mo

vivastory @LeahBergen The ending 😱 💔 (edited) 5mo

LeahBergen @vivastory That twist really surprised me!! 😮 5mo

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LeahBergen

Sally-Ann | SUSAN. SCARLETT

pick

Beautician Ann is the perfect size to fit the ill and absent bridesmaid‘s gown at an aristocratic wedding and reluctantly steps in to fill the role. She meets the dashing best man (a Lord, natch) and sparks fly. This was a lovely little pre-WWII Harlequin Romance/Mills and Boon riff on a Cinderella story and I was down for all of it. 😆

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

CarolynM I got a bit worried when poor Bunny was at death's door 🫣🥲 I should have known that it would all turn out well in the end😃 5mo

Ruthiella Sounds like it‘s a perfect Susan Scarlett fairy tale! I hope to start it this weekend. 🤞 5mo

willaful Ah, Never No More. I should reread that. 5mo

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Cathythoughts Great review 😁❤️ 5mo

sarahbarnes Sounds adorable 🥰 5mo

Suet624 My mother was the only other person I‘ve ever heard use the word ‘natch‘. It brings up memories. 5mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 My mother said it, too, and that‘s probably where I got it from! 😆 5mo

Bookbuyingaddict Love the cover too looks similar to the apricot sky you told me about 😍 4mo

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LeahBergen

Days of Light | Megan Hunter

New book day!

Taking inspiration from the Bloomsbury group, this novel chronicles “six pivotal days across six decades” after a tragic event occurs on Easter Sunday in 1938.

It sounds like my sort of cup o‘ tea!

TheBookHippie It sounds so good!! 5mo

squirrelbrain I have the ARC of this…just didn‘t get round to reading it before pub day. 🤦‍♀️ 5mo

sarahbarnes Sounds good! 5mo

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Suet624 It does sound like your cup of tea. :) 5mo

merelybookish Sounds like my cup of tea too! ☕ 5mo

Tamra Ahhhhh, book mail. ♥️ I will for sure stack it when you give it a thumbs up. 👍🏾 5mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie It does, doesn‘t it?? 5mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain You‘re much better than me. I prefer my books to age for a while on my shelves, like wine. 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes It does! 5mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 😘😘 5mo

LeahBergen @merelybookish It certainly does! 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Here‘s hoping! 🤞 5mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous photo. Sounds good too. Stacked. 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 5mo

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LeahBergen

The Stories | Jane Gardam

Look what I found today, @Centique , and right after your glowing review! I also found another Beryl Bainbridge, @Cathythoughts . 👏

Just doing my best to support my local secondhand bookshop on #IndependentBookstoreDay , of course. 😉

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 A successful day! 5mo

BarbaraBB That‘s the only Bainbridge I read! I must find other books by her too! 5mo

Ruthiella I love it when a book you have just read about pops up like that! 😃 5mo

See All 14 Comments

Centique Yay! That is serendipity 😍 it is such a great collection - it was out there looking for you! 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra It was! 5mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB You might enjoy this one (it‘s quite dark!)

The Dressmaker: A Novel

5mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It‘s like magic! 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @Centique I think it was! 😆 5mo

BarbaraBB Thank you Leah, will absolutely check that one out. 5mo

BarbaraBB I wanted to stack it but see I did that already! 5mo

Cathythoughts Great finds Leah ! I think I have The Bottle one on Kindle .. 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! And it‘s always good to have a little stockpile of the authors we like. 😆 5mo

vivastory Just wanted to say “Hi!“ 💙 (Hope you are well, & Johnny too!) 5mo

LeahBergen @vivastory Hello!! All is well here and Johnny is as bad as ever! 😆 5mo

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LeahBergen

The Getting of Wisdom | Henry Richardson

My current read, and one I‘ve been meaning to get to for years, is this 1910 Australian classic about a country girl who is sent to a Melbourne boarding school.

Have any of my Australian friends on Litsy read it? 😀

Liz_M I'm not Australian, but I read this years ago. 6mo

Ruthiella Gosh, why haven‘t I read this? I‘ve probably always mixed it up with

My Brilliant Career

6mo

CarolynM I haven‘t read it, but I have seen the film😉 6mo

See All 12 Comments

LeahBergen @Liz_M Did you remember liking it? I‘m only a few chapters in but so far, so good! 6mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I think I may have confused it with that title, too 😆 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Haha! I only noticed that there was a film when I was looking at the different covers here on Litsy! Is it a popular Australian novel? Like Anne of Green Gables here in Canada? 6mo

Teresereading Yes - Year 11 English Lit 6mo

CarolynM It‘s thought of as a “literary” novel so I‘d guess most people who‘ve read it would have read it at school, like @Teresereading 🙂 I think Seven Little Australians would be closer to the Anne equivalent, in spite of the ending😭 6mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Oh! That‘s interesting! 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I have Seven Little Australians waiting on my shelf! 6mo

CarolynM Oops! I thought you‘d read it. Sorry for the spoiler🫢😬 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh, no worries. I‘d already heard it has a sad ending! 😆 5mo

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LeahBergen

Mrs England | Stacey Halls

I did a random grab from my shelves and this is what I landed on. I guess I‘m still feeling like staying in the “gothic” vibe after finishing The Shuttle! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Trashcanman Wow what a library! 😍 6mo

willaful Viragos! 6mo

BiblioLitten That library is such a dream!! 😍 6mo

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dabbe W🤩WZA! 6mo

Tamra Love the pic! 💙 I recall enjoying the tagged book. 6mo

CarolynM I love your shelves😍 So organised 6mo

LeahBergen @Trashcanman Thanks, George! 😄 6mo

LeahBergen @willaful I can never resist when I see them for a couple of $$s. 😆 6mo

LeahBergen @BiblioLitten @dabbe Thanks! The photo is from my “wedged into my corner reading chair” view. 😆😆 6mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Oh, good! It seems fun from the bit I‘ve read so far. 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! They‘re kinda/sorta organized to my own random system. 😆 6mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous picture. Book looks good 👍🏻❤️ 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 6mo

Bookbuyingaddict Also have that on my TBR ❤️ 😆 6mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Haha! 😆 6mo

tpixie Gorgeous cover 💚💚💚 6mo

LeahBergen @tpixie It‘s pretty, isn‘t it? 😄 6mo

tpixie @LeahBergen so very pretty 🤩 6mo

TrishB Gorgeous library ❤️ 6mo

Rissreadswithcats Your library! Do you have a book ladder? 🩷 6mo

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats No, but I‘ve always wanted one 😆 6mo

Rissreadswithcats Go on, just do it! Life‘s too short! What fun it would be!!!!!!! 6mo

Suet624 My heart exploded when I saw this photo!!! Love, love, love. 6mo

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats I think I need higher ceilings 😆😆 6mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Aww, thank you! 😘 6mo

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LeahBergen

The shuttle | Frances Hodgson Burnett

pick

Well, it seems that I agree with my fellow #PersephoneClub readers … this one was a melodramatic gem! Nasty Nigel is one of the vilest villains I‘ve come across in recent reading memory.

And I‘m very glad that a favourite author of my childhood has held up so well!

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 I got all the gothic vibes. It was a super fun read. 6mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Totally! And it was. Especially the “rescued after lame horse/twisted ankle, take shelter in a remote crumbled cottage” part. 😆😆 So good! 👏👏 6mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Have you read her other novel published by Persephone? It‘s also good fun!

The Making of a Marchioness

(edited) 6mo

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Tamra @LeahBergen no, but I saw it on the flap and immediately put it on my TBR! 💕 6mo

JenlovesJT47 Haven‘t read it yet but starting it soon! 6mo

CarolynM It is a gem! The Making of a Marchioness was one of the first Persephones I bought because it‘s mentioned in one of the Nancy Mitfords (can‘t remember if it‘s Linda or Polly reading it) but I haven‘t read it yet. I will be doing so very soon! (edited) 6mo

Cathythoughts Great review! ‘ A Melodramatic gem‘……I love it ! I really enjoyed it too. ❤️ yes, definitely getting Marchioness, Thankyou. (edited) 6mo

Cathythoughts @CarolynM I‘ll have to get Marchioness. 👍🏻❤️ 6mo

LeahBergen @JenlovesJT47 I hope you enjoy it, too! 6mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @CarolynM @Cathythoughts I think you all will really enjoy Marchioness if you liked this one! (edited) 6mo

rubyslippersreads I just started this, and it‘s making me look forward to the new season of “The Gilded Age.” 6mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I haven‘t watched that series yet! 🫢 6mo

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LeahBergen

Bookish: The Life-Changing Power of Reading | Lucy Mangan

I loved Lucy Mangan‘s first reading memoir, Bookworm, so I just had to order her new one!

Andrea313 Running to order it, too! I also really liked her first and Reading About Reading is one of my all-time favorite genres. Thanks for the rec! 6mo

TheLudicReader I love books about books. 6mo

Ruthiella Can‘t order from Blackwell‘s anymore. 😭 6mo

See All 9 Comments

LeahBergen @Andrea313 One of my favourite genres, too! 😘 6mo

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader Me, too! I always seem to reach for one when I don‘t know what I feel like reading. 6mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Oh no! Is it a tariffs thing?? 6mo

Cathythoughts So lovely Leah ❤️ 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts 😘 6mo

Trashcanman 👋👋👋👀 6mo

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LeahBergen

Mouse House | Rumer Godden

pick

Thanks to @TheBookHippie and #ChildrensClassicRead2025 for reminding me that I had this sweet (tagged) book waiting on my shelves. And, as others have mentioned, the illustrations are gorgeous!

I always pick up these New York Review Children‘s Collection editions when I spot them in used bookshops.

TheBookHippie I do too!!! I love these little books!! 6mo

merelybookish Me too!! I found one a few weeks ago: The Lost Island. 6mo

Leftcoastzen Such great little books ! 6mo

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rubyslippersreads I ❤️ Charlotte Sometimes, but haven‘t read any of the others. Those are adorable editions. 6mo

mrp27 😍😍😍 6mo

sarahbarnes Those little ears! ♥️ 6mo

LeahBergen @merelybookish Oh, that one sounds like I need it, too! 😆 And it‘s illustrated by Richard Kennedy (apprentice to the Woolfs at Hogarth Press). 6mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen They really are! 6mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Charlotte Sometimes is a fave! 🥰 6mo

LeahBergen @mrp27 😘 6mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes Right?? 6mo

MemoirsForMe Ditto on the beautiful illustrations! 😍 6mo

CarolynM What pretty little books! 😍 6mo

Cathythoughts Adorable 🥰 6mo

RobinMcElveenAuthor Love those covers! 6mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe They‘re just so nostalgic! 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @RobinMcElveenAuthor They really are lovely little editions! 6mo

tpixie What a delightful collection! Great covers! 6mo

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LeahBergen

Death Comes As the End | Agatha Christie

A couple of vintage finds from my recent little road trip! 💚

Centique Oh theyre both beautiful - in totally different ways! 6mo

LeahBergen I thought so, too. I‘d never seen the Christie cover before! @Centique (edited) 6mo

TrishB How lovely ♥️ 6mo

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Cathythoughts Beautiful ❤️ 6mo

youneverarrived Lovely 🥰 6mo

LeahBergen @TrishB @Cathythoughts @youneverarrived Thanks, all! 😘 6mo

elkeOriginal Love the Christie cover! 6mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal It‘s so vibrant! 6mo

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LeahBergen

The shuttle | Frances Hodgson Burnett

It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@Cathythoughts ‘ pick for us this month is The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra I‘m so behind! 😅😅 6mo

Cathythoughts Thankyou Leah. I felt a bit guilty about the length of it … so I made a little start already… I think it‘s going to be a good one 🤞🏻😬 6mo

andrew61 Looking forward to it Leah although not sure when I'll start. Will be interesting as I've been aware of her children's books so like richmael Compton another writer who straddles both adult and children's fiction. 6mo

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willaful I hadn't realized it was a long one, I'll get started too. 6mo

Bookbuyingaddict Thank you ☺️ can‘t wait for this one ☝️ I ordered it (not Persephone ) and the type is tiny so I‘m sending that back and supporting dear old Persephone , I shall start it after Iv finished the new hunger games book 📕 much love ❤️ reading pals x. Xx 6mo

daena I‘ve got my copy, starting real soon! 6mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Nah. You keep to your own schedule and enjoy all your reading! 😘 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I wouldn‘t feel guilty! You‘ve inspired me to FINALLY pluck it down off my shelves. I‘ve owned it and wanted to read it for years! 😆😆 6mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 And like Noel Streatfeild, too! 6mo

LeahBergen @willaful It is pretty long but I bet it‘s a quick read! 6mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict The Persephone edition has nice big type. I need that, too! 😆 6mo

LeahBergen @daena Yay! 👏👏 6mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts long is good Cathy! 😁 6mo

Tamra @LeahBergen I‘m going to start it tonight and make it a priority. It sounds good! 6mo

Gissy I read Family Roundabout really like it.I‘m so behind in my reviews🤦🏽‍♀️I ordered the book so I waiting for my copy😃 6mo

CarolynM Looking forward to it 🙂 6mo

LeahBergen @Gissy I really enjoyed Family Roundabout! 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Me, too! 6mo

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 6mo

HardcoverHearts I look forward to seeing your thoughts about this one! 6mo

LeahBergen @HardcoverHearts It‘s one I‘ve been looking forward to for ages! 6mo

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LeahBergen

Fear Stalks the Village (British Mystery Classic) | Ethel Lina White

An idyllic village full of Tudor cottages and cobblestone streets is turned upside down when its residents are hit with a series of poison pen letters. I‘m a mere 50 pages in but it‘s thoroughly compelling!

rabbitprincess And a great cover on that one! I love the British Library Crime Classics reprints. 6mo

LeahBergen @rabbitprincess This really is one of their great covers! 6mo

Cathythoughts Sounds great. Stacked ❤️ 6mo

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Tamra Oooooh I like the premise! 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Tamra So far, so good! 🤞 6mo

CarolynM This kind of sounds like the film Wicked Little Letters, although that wasn‘t a crime story. 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I thought so, too, when I started it. I enjoyed that film! 6mo

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LeahBergen

Illyrian Spring | Ann Bridge

A springtime read from 1935 and I‘m really enjoying it!

Lady Kilmichael, a renowned artist, leaves her remote husband and adult children to go on a painting trip to the Dalmatian coast without telling any of them her whereabouts. While there she ends up taking under her wing an unhappy young man whose family has forbidden him to pursue his art. Methinks love is in the air!

(I‘m also intrigued by this peek at what would later become Croatia).

Leftcoastzen Yay green Virago! 7mo

Tamra 💚 7mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Tamra You usually can‘t go wrong with a green Virago and it‘s been a while since I‘ve read one! 6mo

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Cathythoughts Beautiful cover 💚 6mo

CarolynM That sounds very good 🙂 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts The old Viragos always have such pretty covers! 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM It is! I haven‘t read this author before. 6mo

MemoirsForMe This story reminds me of Anne Tyler‘s Ladder of Years. Enjoy! 📖 6mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I just read the plot summary and it does seem similar! I‘ll keep an eye out for that one at the bookstore (or big used book sale we have coming up in my city 😆). 6mo

MemoirsForMe It‘s a great book, though your protagonist may be luckier in love.🤭Those big used book sales are so much fun. Our annual one here is in Sept. Even if they are detrimental to my shelf space. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 6mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I try to have a bit of a shelf “clear out” before the big sales come up as I usually come home with a box full! 😆 6mo

Bookbuyingaddict I‘m going to Croatia 🇭🇷 on 27th I‘m now going to order this I do love ❤️ to read a book set in or about the country I‘m visiting thank you 🙏 🥰😘 6mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict I really enjoyed it! I guess it‘s popularity and success started a later travel boom in Croatia. 6mo

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LeahBergen

A Good House for Children | Kate Collins

How I spent this grey and snowy Sunday afternoon: book, fuzzy blanket and hot chocolate.

This book is getting spooky! 😆

Bklover Sounds cozy! 7mo

Ruthiella Perfect afternoon! 📚☕️😊 7mo

CarolynM That mug of chocolate looks so good 😋 7mo

See All 15 Comments

TrishB Perfect ❤️ 7mo

ShelleyBooksie Gorgeous mug 7mo

Tamra Nothing better! 😊 7mo

AmyG Sounds like the perfect day. 7mo

Suet624 I‘m ready for the snow to stop. However, we‘re getting a bunch on Wednesday. 7mo

LeahBergen @Bklover @Ruthiella @TrishB @CarolynM @Tamra @AmyG It was pretty great! 😊 7mo

LeahBergen @ShelleyBooksie Thanks! It‘s from a local potter. 7mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 It‘s warming up today but winter isn‘t over by a long shot here, either! 😆 7mo

Cathythoughts Looking very cosy 🥰 I love the mug too. 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! It‘s an old fave. 😊 7mo

Cathythoughts Leah I received a package from you. Thank you 🙏 I‘ll wait till the birthday to open it. 🥰😘😘 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, good! I was worried that it wouldn‘t make it on time for your birthday! 7mo

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LeahBergen

Birnam Wood | Eleanor Catton

My “currently reading” stack.

I was initially a bit underwhelmed by Birnam Wood (for my IRL book club) but then the plot kicked in and I‘m hooked!

Cathythoughts That‘s great you‘re enjoying Birnam Wood. I have to say I loved it ❤️ 7mo

charl08 I have shelf envy: all those lovely spines. 7mo

Ruthiella Yes, Birnim Wood is sneaky like that! 😆 7mo

See All 11 Comments

Tamra I‘ve wondered about Birnam Wood - seems I‘d best stack! (edited) 7mo

BarbaraBB I ended up loving it 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @Tamra @BarbaraBB I‘m about 2/3rds through and really enjoying it! Yes, @Tamra , give it a chance! 7mo

LeahBergen @charl08 Haha, thank you! I have my reading chair and little table set up in front of these shelves as I like them, too. 🥰 7mo

BarbaraBB @Tamra I think you‘ll love it too! 7mo

Suet624 Have you finished Birnam Wood? Curious what you thought about the ending. 6mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 It was a bit over the top crazy, wasn‘t it?? Everyone in my IRL bookclub wasn‘t too enthused about how it ended. 😆 6mo

Suet624 Yeah, I‘m with your book club. 😊 6mo

65 likes11 comments

LeahBergen

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

pick

Middle-aged spinster, Miss MacFarren, is reduced to taking in a lodger at the end of WWII. Mrs. Bankes comes highly recommended and seems perfect but problems arise on the very first day. To save her beautiful house filled with antiques, Miss MacFarren must find a way to somehow rid herself of this horrible tenant and a course of “domestic warfare” begins. I loved it and think it‘s now my favourite book by this author!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

TheBookHippie Oh I love the Stafford dogs! 7mo

ShelleyBooksie Love those bookends!! 7mo

Tamra Cute! 😍 7mo

See All 12 Comments

Ruthiella I found the start unbearably tense… the damage 😱the poor birds 😱 Mrs. Manders 😱! But, at the 30% mark, relief (and romance) is in the air. I hope (suspect) the comeuppance will be satisfying! 😆 7mo

rubyslippersreads Gog and Magog! 7mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie @ShelleyBooksie @Tamra Thanks! 😄 7mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was so anxious at the start! 😬😆 7mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Pretty close! 😆 7mo

CarolynM Lovely review and fantastic photo😍 I‘m about 50 pages in and I agree it feels a bit tense so far @Ruthiella 7mo

MemoirsForMe Stunning bookends! 😍 7mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! I can‘t wait to hear if it gives you “tchotchke anxiety”, too. 😂 7mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Thanks!😊 7mo

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LeahBergen

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

As someone who collects (odd) antiques myself … this book is giving me anxiety.

Miss MacFarren, please get rid of the “bull in a china shop” lodger. I fear for the safety of your Gallé cats! ??

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Leftcoastzen What quirky cats ! 7mo

Ruthiella Those are quite quirky!😹Thanks for the research. I‘m also quite worried about the lodger… It doesn‘t bode well. 🙀 7mo

quietjenn I think the cats are a little worried too 😹 7mo

See All 12 Comments

Cathythoughts A bull in a china shop lodger …. Oh no 😳😂 7mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella They are quirky! I had to look them up and couldn‘t believe how “modern” they looked for the era. They are circa 1900 but look almost 1980s. 😆😆 7mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella And yes, the lodger has me biting my fingernails! 7mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn 😂😂 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s seriously making me anxious! She‘s broken all sorts of things, got cigarette burns on others, and now she‘s using the expensive cats as doorstops! 😂😂 (edited) 7mo

CarolynM Those cats give me the creeps🥺 Looking forward to starting the book, though🙂 7mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I had to look them up after the description of them in the book! 😆 7mo

elkeOriginal Lodger 😬 but cats🥰 6mo

Rissreadswithcats I love these cats! Very funky! 🩷💙 6mo

73 likes12 comments

LeahBergen

Thursday's Child | Noel Streatfeild

Book mail of the day!

willaful An old fav of mine... 7mo

kspenmoll I just got Jane recently! 7mo

LeahBergen @willaful I have a lot of Streatfeilds but somehow have never read this one. I‘m looking forward to it! 7mo

See All 10 Comments

LeahBergen @kspenmoll It looks fascinating! 7mo

Centique Look at that cover - so so sweet 😍 7mo

LeahBergen @Centique It really is! 7mo

Cathythoughts They look lovely Leah 🥰 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 7mo

tpixie Great cover on the left! The Jane book looks interesting! 7mo

LeahBergen I love that cover, too! @tpixie 7mo

73 likes10 comments

LeahBergen

Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata

I thought I‘d read just a few pages of this book (from my niece) tonight before bed and I‘m finding it totally hard to put down!

Reggie Awwww I loved this book. 7mo

BarbaraBB Such a lovely and sad read. 7mo

LeahBergen @Reggie @BarbaraBB It‘s so good! 7mo

See All 8 Comments

Cathythoughts Oh great ! I loved this and it has stayed with me. ❤️ 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I really enjoyed it! 7mo

sarahbarnes This is on my list! 7mo

MemoirsForMe I‘ve had this on my shelf forever. Must get to it! 7mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe @sarahbarnes It was a good, quick read! 7mo

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LeahBergen

Seven Lean Years | Celia Fremlin

It feels like time for a Fremlin! 👏👏

andrew61 Love that shelf. 7mo

Leftcoastzen Carefully curated shelves! 👏😁 7mo

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 7mo

See All 6 Comments

Cathythoughts Enjoy ! I really enjoyed this one. ❤️ I really enjoyed everything of hers I‘ve read. 7mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 @Leftcoastzen Thanks, you two! 😘 7mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts Good old Fremlin! 7mo

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LeahBergen

Absolutely and Forever: An electrifying new novel for fans of Maggie O�Farrell | Rose Tremain

Look what arrived today, @Cathythoughts ! I‘m absolutely thrilled as I‘ve been wanted to read this since reading your wonderful review.

Thank you so much, my friend! 😘😘

Cathythoughts You are so welcome Leah. I hope you will enjoy it. What a lark 😂 the Christmas tree !!! My granddaughter designed the card. 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I was wondering if it was your granddaughter, Sophy, when I read the back but I wasn‘t sure about the surname! 😆 I love it even more now!! 😘😘 8mo

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LeahBergen

Godmersham Park | Gill Hornby

I‘m just starting Godmersham Park after recently watching (and thoroughly enjoying) the new BBC series based on her previous novel, Miss Austen.

I always find myself hauling out, and flipping through, a bunch of my Austen biographies whenever I‘m reading anything about Jane!

rubyslippersreads That cover! 😍 8mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads They‘re so good. I‘m glad that there‘s a third one coming out with this cover style, too! 8mo

Rissreadswithcats That cover is divine! 💚 8mo

See All 6 Comments

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats It really is! 8mo

Bookwomble My eye was drawn to your bookmark 💚 Excellent play! 👨🏻‍🍳👌🏻 7mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble That‘s high praise coming from the master matcher! 😆😆 7mo

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LeahBergen

Untitled | Anonymous

Happy Birthday, @rubyslippersreads !

I hope you have a ‘royally‘ bookish day (yes, I went there 😆). All the best to you, my friend!

🎂 📚 🎂 📚 🎂 📚

HardcoverHearts Happy birthday, @rubyslippersreads ! I hope it‘s a great one. 8mo

Cathythoughts A very Happy Birthday @rubyslippersreads I hope you have a wonderful day 🥰🎂🎁 8mo

dabbe HB, @rubyslipperreads! 🤩🤩🤩 8mo

See All 11 Comments

rubyslippersreads What a lovely picture! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. 😘 8mo

rubyslippersreads @HardcoverHearts @Cathythoughts @dabbe Thanks! 8mo

Ruthiella Happy Birthday @rubyslippersreads ! 🥳🥳🥳 8mo

JessClark78 Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎉 8mo

quietjenn Happiest of birthdays to you, @rubyslippersreads 🎉 8mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads There‘s a little gift coming for you in the next couple of days. Tracking shows it to be in your general vicinity. 😆 8mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen How exciting! I‘ll be watching for it. 😃 8mo

rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @JessClark78 @quietjenn Thank you! 8mo

55 likes11 comments

LeahBergen

Odd Girl Out | Elizabeth Jane Howard

It‘s time for another Elizabeth Jane Howard (the sixth that @shawnmooney and I have buddy-read together)!

sarahbarnes Fun! I want to read more of her. 😍 🍷 8mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous golden picture. Sounds good , stacking. 💛 8mo

BarbaraBB Gorgeous photo! 8mo

See All 7 Comments

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes I‘ve loved everything of hers that I‘ve read! 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB Thanks! 😘😘 8mo

Bookbuyingaddict I love ❤️ ejh and really enjoyed this one ☝️ she‘s up there in my favs now along with Mary Wesley , what a lovely edition mine was a battered old 60s paperback from a charity shop 🤣 8mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Thanks! She‘s definitely one of my faves, too! 8mo

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LeahBergen

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

It‘s now February so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@CarolynM ‘s pick for us this month is Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Teresereading Still waiting for my copy to arrive 📚 8mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading I hope it arrives soon. 😀 8mo

daena Can‘t wait to get started. Waiting on my copy too! 8mo

See All 14 Comments

Tamra Off the shelf! Thank for your the reminder. 😊 8mo

julieclair Looking forward to it! 8mo

CarolynM Hope it‘s a good one🤞 8mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, my copy was meant to arrive a couple of days ago. So I should have it Monday Looking forward to it ❤️ 8mo

LeahBergen @daena @Tamra @julieclair @CarolynM @Cathythoughts This is one I‘ve already read and really enjoyed. I hope you all like it, too! 8mo

Caryl I started it last night and I'm quite invested in the characters already! Great pick @CarolynM! (edited) 8mo

LeahBergen @Caryl I found that I was, too! 8mo

Teresereading My copy‘s arrived! 8mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Yay! 👏 8mo

elkeOriginal Real life has really messed up my reading but I am still here and hope to catch up on our group reads (furrowed too) at some point📚 8mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal No worries! My life is a bit that way, too, at the moment. As long as we check in with each other every so often … right? 😄 8mo

55 likes14 comments

LeahBergen

Darling | India Knight

Look what I‘ve started reading, @CarolynM ! And I‘ve already had a good laugh over the list of things that Uncle Matthew hates.

😆😆

CarolynM Oh, so did I, especially at the things I hate too😆 8mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic ❤️ 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 8mo

See All 15 Comments

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh, God … the dinner party with “Twats” parents! 🤣 8mo

CarolynM The Kroesigs didn‘t need a lot of updating😆 8mo

kwmg40 I love the Penguin Books mug! 8mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Nope 😆 8mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 Thanks! I have a few of them and they‘re always a favourite. 8mo

kwmg40 @LeahBergen I have a couple too and I'd love to collect more, though there's no more room in our kitchen for additional mugs. 😄 8mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 That‘s my problem, too. 😆 8mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Just finished and loved it! I did approach the ending with increasing dread though because… you know. 😭 8mo

CarolynM Yes, I do know, and I was a bit apprehensive too. I thought the whole Fabrice episode didn‘t work so well without the war, but the very end she pulled off quite well. I was also a bit disappointed she didn‘t tackle Jassy running away. As a whole, though, it was great fun. I‘ve just started watching the recent TV version - it‘s good, but Linda and Fanny are both miscast. Andrew Scott as Merlin is fab. 8mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Yes, a hotelier doesn‘t seem quite in the war hero category, does it? 😆 And Fanny‘s character (like Jassy‘s) is given a bit of short shrift. I was just looking up that recent TV version last night and adding it to my list. 8mo

CarolynM Let me know what you think of the TV version if you watch it. Some of it I thought was very good (Dominic West is a wonderful Uncle Matthew, for example) but I was a bit annoyed by it too. I don‘t want to say more in case you watch it. 8mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I‘ll definitely let you know when I watch it! 8mo

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LeahBergen

The Ministry of Time: A Novel | Kaliane Bradley

I‘m halfway through this for my IRL bookclub and still not sure if I‘m liking it. 😆

Suet624 Uh oh. 8mo

Leftcoastzen I have it and have seen mixed reviews 8mo

ferskner This is my favorite book of last year but I know a lot of people who didn't like it! The last paragraph wrecked me. 8mo

See All 13 Comments

Hooked_on_books I had mixed feelings about it. I really liked the idea and thought some bits were done well, but it didn‘t really work on the whole for me. 8mo

mcctrish I have this to read soon 8mo

Cathythoughts Bookclub books can be challenging 😘 8mo

Centique I had mixed feelings too. I love a time travel book so its in my wheelhouse definitely and some parts were really good but something about the pacing and the plot made it feel higgledy piggledy 8mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Indeed. 😆 8mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen I‘ve finished now and I was underwhelmed. 😬 8mo

LeahBergen @ferskner For some reason it didn‘t really work for me. I will always find it fascinating how books “click” differently with different readers! 8mo

LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books @Centique I‘ve just finished and my feelings are mixed, too! I always enjoy a good time travel story but found this to be a bit all over the place. I kept thinking I should be loving the two main characters more. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 8mo

LeahBergen @mcctrish I hope it works for you! 🤞 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yep! 😆 8mo

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LeahBergen

The Snowstorm | Beryl Netherclift

Three children visiting a kooky old aunt at their ancestral Tudor manor discover a snow globe that connects them with the children who used to live at the house in the past.

I‘m LOVING it. 🧡🩵

(US title: The Snow Ghosts).

Ruthiella Nice coordination of the teapot to the cover! 😍 9mo

TheBookHippie Love the teapot!! 9mo

curiouserandcurioser Your teapot is beautiful:) this book sounds good! 9mo

See All 26 Comments

thegirlwiththelibrarybag This sounds amazing! Love the cover too. 9mo

rubyslippersreads This is the second book by this author I covet. (The other one is Greensleeves.) 9mo

wordslinger42 That sounds like such a good story! I‘ll have to try and find a copy. 9mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🫖 🧡 9mo

Tamra What an entertaining premise! 9mo

Cathythoughts Sounds like a lovely story 🥰 🥰❄️ 9mo

Cathythoughts Loving the teapot/orange colours. 9mo

DimeryRene How did you even find this book? It looks so old! 9mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Thank you for noticing. 😉😆 9mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie Thank you! It‘s one of those little “tea for one” sets. 9mo

LeahBergen @curiouserandcurioser Thanks! And I‘m thoroughly enjoying the book. 9mo

LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag It‘s really good! 9mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I want that one, too! It‘s stories, I believe? 9mo

LeahBergen @wordslinger42 I think it‘s easier to find under the US title. 🤞 9mo

LeahBergen @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you! 😘 9mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I can‘t resist vintage children‘s time slip novels. 😆 9mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! The teapot was a gift from my brother and sis-in-law quite a few Christmases ago. 😄 9mo

LeahBergen @DimeryRene 😆 I had heard about it for years and eventually found an edition online that I liked enough to buy! 9mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen I think so. Alas, at the prices I see, I don‘t think I‘ll be adding it to my shelves anytime soon. ☹️ 9mo

sarahbarnes This sounds just lovely. 9mo

DimeryRene @LeahBergen I love it! Now I want to look for one. 9mo

kspenmoll This sounds wonderful! 9mo

Centique That looks like a beauty! 9mo

90 likes8 stack adds26 comments

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LeahBergen

Joined May 2016