Welcome to Litsy!

The Serpent King | Jeff Zentner

Look what arrived today, @TheLudicReader ! I always look forward to reading your list of yearly favourites. Thank you for the cute card and stickers, too. 😘😘

The tagged book (from your list) is one that‘s definitely piqued my interest now!

TheLudicReader I made one stupid error, misnaming Midnight is the Darkest Hour. 😬 Glad it finally arrived! 1w

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader Only one error is pretty impressive in my books! 😄 1w

ShelleyBooksie Agree @LeahBergen - I always look forward to the list as well ♡ 1w

Cathythoughts ❤️ 7d

68 likes4 comments

Women's Weird 2: More Strange Stories by Women, 1891-1937 | Melissa Edmundson

Happy Birthday, Lynn! I hope your day is filled with all your very favourite things! 📚🎂📚🎂📚

#49bdaygiveaway

wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for entering! 🥳 1w

48 likes1 comment

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

pick

It might just be my mood right now but I found this to be an absolutely charming and touching read. I even enjoyed the silliness of the novel-within-a-novel written by 16-year-old (recently thwarted in love) Miss Granby although, as others mentioned, it does perhaps go on a bit too long. A frothy confection as sweet and old-fashioned as a china patchbox full of lilac cachoux. 😉

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

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

Ruthiella I‘m glad you liked it! It was touching, but somehow I also felt a little sad about the unrequited love aspect of it. 1w

Tamra Terrific review! Of course as a 16 year old nothing resembling love is silly! I couldn‘t be paid any amount of money to go back. 😅 (edited) 1w

willaful @Tamra You remind me of this scene from Gaudy Night:

“Would you have your youth back if you could, Harriet?”

“Not for the world.”

“Nor I. Not for anything you could give me.

Gaudy Night

See All 21 Comments

Tamra @willaful 😂 I just stacked it - perfect! 👍🏾 1w

Cathythoughts Gorgeous review Leah ❤️ 1w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It seemed unrequited but then it also seemed like they carried on this idealized version of youthful love purely for the nostalgia of it (and carried on with their best lives). Alicia was the one most invested in their love affair (sending S the poems to send to A each year) and I think that‘s why Adeline sent the Venus and Adonis statue to her at the old age home. You think? 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra @willaful Oh, how DEEPLY I felt my love as a 16 year old. 😆😆 1w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 1w

Ruthiella Interesting perspective! Yes, I can see that and it makes me feel better. Thanks! 😊 1w

Tamra @LeahBergen 💔💔 1w

Tamra @LeahBergen yes, nice description! Preserving that pure adoration & devotion of a first love. Adeline cashed in on it in fact with her writing career. Yay Adeline! 😆 1w

elkeOriginal THOSE BOOKSHELVES OF YOURS ARE RIDICULOUS. le sigh 📚💕😻 1w

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It still makes me feel a little wistful, though 😆 1w

LeahBergen @Tamra I love that she cashed in on it so well! 😆 1w

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Haha! Thank you! 😘 1w

rubyslippersreads A charming and touching read is exactly what I need right now. 1w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Are you affected by the fires at all?? Are they close to where you live?? 😬 1w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen My area is okay, but I have a friend staying with me because she had to evacuate. But we‘re safe, so that‘s the main thing. 1w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads How awfully stressful! Sending you love! ❤️ 1w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen 😘 1w

julieclair Can‘t wait to start this! 4d

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The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou | Eleni Kyriacou

Thank you so much, @TheKidUpstairs , for these wonderful #LittleChristmasSwap gifts! I‘m so glad you picked this book for me as I‘ve been dying to read it after seeing all the rave Litsy reviews. And Dairy Milk is THE BEST. ❤️❤️

And a big ‘thank you‘ to our host, @bookish_wookish ! ❤️❤️

#LCS

bookish_wookish 🎄🎄 2w

squirrelbrain It‘s such a good book! I have the ARC of her new one to read - it doesn‘t come out until early May. 2w

Cathythoughts I really enjoyed that book ! My favorite chocolate too 🥰 2w

See All 10 Comments

Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain A new one ! Yay ! 2w

TheKidUpstairs I was so excited to see it on your TBR, I read it last year (probably because of @squirrelbrain review!) and really liked it. I hope you do too! 2w

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain Ooo, I‘ll have to check that one out! 2w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts You just can‘t beat a good old Dairy Milk! 2w

LeahBergen @TheKidUpstairs I saw that you had reviewed it, too, and I‘m so happy you chose it! Thanks again! 😘 2w

squirrelbrain I know @Cathythoughts - I‘m excited to read it. Although I have many more ARCs to get to before that one. 2w

squirrelbrain It was a real surprise to me when I loved it so much @TheKidUpstairs - it was quite ‘under the radar‘ - I hope you love it just as much Leah! 2w

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Anne of the Library on the Hill | Catherine Little

@rubyslippersreads , we certainly DID have a common theme this Christmas, didn‘t we? 😂

Thank you so much for these lovely books and chocs. The tagged picture book is gorgeous and the Anne stories look like they might be a bit wacky but fun. We‘ll definitely have to compare notes!

Merry Christmas to you and the kitties, my friend! 😘😘

rubyslippersreads I think some of the stories will be quirky. It will be fun to compare notes. Merry Christmas to you, and I hope Johnny Bergen found his stocking full of doggie treats! 🐶 4w

rubyslippersreads Your Elf on the (Book)Shelf has his eyes on your candy. 🤣 4w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads He‘s a greedy little thing. 😆 4w

Cathythoughts Gorgeous and delicious gifts ❤️ 4w

Cathythoughts Yes 😂 beware of that Elf 4w

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Tatting | Faith Compton Mackenzie

@ReadingRachael , thank you so much for my wonderful #JolabokaflodSwap gifts!

I‘m so happy that you chose this book for me as the publisher (Handheld Press) is shutting down and it will soon be out of print again. I love the pretty bookmark and the chocolates are perfect! Merry Christmas to you! 😘

And a big thank you to @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting, as always! 😘

#JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024

Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰 4w

Tamra I love the sound of the novel! Merry Christmas Leah! 🎄 (edited) 4w

ReadingRachael I am so glad you like it! The book sounded so interesting and unique. I am curious to hear what you think of it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday ❤️ (edited) 4w

See All 12 Comments

sisilia This is awesome! Merry Christmas! 4w

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It is! 🥰 4w

LeahBergen @Tamra And Merry Christmas to you, too, my friend! 😘😘 4w

LeahBergen @ReadingRachael I absolutely love it! Thank you so much! 4w

LeahBergen @sisilia Merry Christmas to you, too! 😘😘 (edited) 4w

Centique 😍 Ghiardelli is the BEST chocolate IMO. We dont have it here so it is always something we buy a big bag of in the US. Enjoy! 4w

erzascarletbookgasm I really like the book cover. Merry Christmas Leah! 🌟❤️ 4w

tpixie Sad about the publisher… the book looks great! Merry Christmas 🎁📘🎄 4w

MaleficentBookDragon Happy Jólabókaflóð! That is a very pretty bookmark. 4w

74 likes12 comments

The Christmas Book | Enid Blyton

And look at those endpapers!

The children learn about the lore and traditions of Christmas, from the pre-Christian era (top left) to the “modern day” (lower right). Well, sort of modern day … the book was published in 1944. Look at the plane overhead. 😬

kspenmoll The illustrations are wonderful! 1mo

elkeOriginal Delightful! 1mo

Tamra Gorgeous! 1mo

Cathythoughts So lovely 🥰 4w

MemoirsForMe 😍😍😍 4w

55 likes5 comments

The Christmas Book | Enid Blyton

This is such a sweet book!

Two children return from boarding school and excitedly join their family in celebrating a traditional Christmas. In the process (and after all their questioning) they learn the history of how this season came to be celebrated.

DebinHawaii Beautiful! ❄️💙❄️ 1mo

Leftcoastzen Wonderful cover ! 1mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous ❤️ 4w

Centique What a treasure! 4w

62 likes4 comments

Sylvia Plath's Tomato Soup Cake: A Compendium of Classic Authors' Favourite Recipes - 'I couldn't possibly love this book more!' (Nigella Lawson) | Various

Today‘s read is this pretty little book (although some of the recipes are making me feel a tad bilious after one too many rum punches at last night‘s Christmas party 😆).

TheBookHippie Omg NEED!!! 1mo

Tamra How fun - love it! And I am with you on the tad bit too much on the Xmas cheer last night. 😂 (edited) 1mo

sarahbarnes That rum punch really sneaks up on you! 1mo

See All 11 Comments

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie It‘s a fun one! 👍 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @sarahbarnes And I was warned about that punch, too, but it was very tasty 😆 1mo

CarolynM Sounds like a quiet day‘s reading is in order😆 1mo

tpixie @LeahBergen too tempting!! 🍹 Fun book 📕 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Indeed. 😆 1mo

LeahBergen @tpixie It was such a pretty punch 😆 1mo

tpixie @LeahBergen 😝 1mo

Centique Rum punch! I feel like ive missed a trick by not having rum punch at Christmas. (Im not sure ive ever had it, though ive had fruit punch with vodka 👍) 4w

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Christmas Crimes at The Mysterious Bookshop | Otto Penzler

Here are a couple of more, recently purchased, Christmassy books.

(And now I just need to find the time to read them!)

BookishMadHatter I really wanted The Dead of Winter too, but with the Canada Post strike didn't bother to order anything at all lately. I hope you find/steal some reading time 1mo

rubyslippersreads Great covers! 🎄 1mo

sarahbarnes 🌲🌲🌲 1mo

See All 6 Comments

mabell Those look fun! 1mo

LeahBergen @BookishMadHatter I know! That strike really cut into my book buying. 😆 1mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads @sarahbarnes @mabell 😘😘😘 1mo

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A Book for Christmas | Selma Lagerlof

“But what shall I do on Christmas night if nobody has given me a book?…”

What, indeed?? That quote is from the title story of this little collection I just bought. Selma Lagerlöf was the (first female) winner of the Nobel Prize in 1909.

Ruthiella Sounds perfect!!🤩 1mo

Tamra That does sound perfect! 👌🏾 1mo

merelybookish Sweet cover! 1mo

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB Lovely! And I loved her

G�sta Berling's Saga

1mo

Cathythoughts What lovely book 🥰 1mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @Tamra @merelybookish @Cathythoughts It‘s a pretty little thing! 1mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I‘ll look that one up! 1mo

58 likes7 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

@TheKidUpstairs , my #LittleChristmasSwap arrived safely! Thank you so much. 😘😘

@bookish_wookish
#LCS

bookish_wookish 🎄🎄 1mo

TheKidUpstairs Yay! So glad it came 1mo

47 likes2 comments

The Godwits Fly | Robin Hyde

Amazingly enough, my IRL bookclub has picked a Persephone book for our current read (after 27 years together). And no, it WASN‘T my pick. 😆

I was going to ask you, @Centique , if you‘d read this classic New Zealand coming-of-age novel but I see you are the only other person to post about it on here! I‘m really enjoying it.

Ruthiella You have strong Persephone vibes! Your IRL book club has sensed them. Use your powers for good, Leah! 😜 1mo

Tamra You lucky book clubber! 😃 1mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella 😆😆 1mo

See All 11 Comments

LeahBergen @Tamra I am! But I hope the rest of the club actually likes it or it may be our last. 😆 1mo

Tamra @LeahBergen bahahaha Why do I doubt that? 🤔 1mo

Cathythoughts 27 years! That‘s one strong bookclub ❤️ book sounds good ! 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s a great bookclub with a mix of women and men! 1mo

Centique Im so glad youre enjoying it. She was an incredible woman. I recall it being quite a long read and - being so close to her real life - a bit messy and complicated - but so beautifully written 😍 1mo

LeahBergen @Centique It really rambles along quite beautifully, if that makes sense! 1mo

CarolynM Ooh, interesting, she says, immediately adding it to her pending #PersephoneClub order 😆 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM 😆😆 I‘m working on my order, too! 1mo

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Blue Sapphire | D E Stevenson

Look at my wonderful #StuffedStockingSwap from @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego !

Two ‘much-wanted‘ books from my Litsy TBR, those cute bookish socks, the pretty tin of chocolates, cookies I‘ve never seen before (!), and that Olaf bookmark. The Christmassy book sleeve is SO sweet. Thank you so much; I love it all! ❤️

And a big thank you to our organizer, @Avanders ! 😘
#SSS

Amiable Those socks! 😍 1mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego H💚 H❤️ H💚 1mo

Avanders Ooh love those socks! ♥️🎄 1mo

See All 11 Comments

Tamra Those socks! 😍 1mo

TrishB Very cool ♥️ 1mo

elkeOriginal Blue Sapphire looks good! 1mo

LeahBergen @Amiable @Avanders @Tamra They‘re awesome! (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen @TrishB Yes! ❤️ 1mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal It sounds good from the back blurb, too 👍 1mo

Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰🎁 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It is! 😘 1mo

70 likes11 comments

The blank wall: a novel of suspense

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

Our voting has trickled off so it‘s time to announce what we‘re reading next year … TA-DAH! 🎉

Anyone is welcome to read along with us at any time, of course.

#PersephoneClub

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

Cathythoughts Good job Leah ! Thankyou and I‘m loving the choices ❤️ 1mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah. Some good books to look forward to🙂 1mo

Bookbuyingaddict All books 📚 mentioned were worthy I think so hard to whittle it down , thank you 🙏 so much Leah look forward to reading along with you and a merry happy 😃 Christmas to you all 🥰🥰😘x x. X x x x 1mo

See All 23 Comments

Teresereading I‘d like to join you 1mo

BarbaraBB I have only read the tagged one and am looking forward to be inspired by all of your reviews. Just ordered Emmeline by the way - thanks to you 😀

1mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 1mo

Tamra Thank you, Leah! 😘 1mo

quietjenn Woohoo! Here's to another great year of reading together! 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM @Bookbuyingaddict @Tamra @quietjenn We‘re going to have fun!! 👏👏 1mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Please do! Would you like me to add you to the tag list? 1mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB I can‘t wait to hear what you think of it! 1mo

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 1mo

julieclair Yay! Lots of fun reading ahead. Thanks so much for organizing us, Leah. 💙 1mo

elkeOriginal Excited! Love this list 📚 1mo

elkeOriginal (and orders have been placed in midst of excitement🤦🏼‍♀️) 1mo

LeahBergen @julieclair It‘s going to be great! 👏 1mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 😆😆 Of course they have! 1mo

Caryl What a wonderful list of titles. Thank you for organizing! I'm hoping to participate more. 1mo

LeahBergen @Caryl That would be wonderful! 😊 1mo

daena These look great, fabulous assortment! 1mo

LeahBergen @daena I think so, too! 😊 1mo

JenlovesJT47 I‘d like to join! 🙋🏻‍♀️ 3w

LeahBergen You‘re more than welcome!! I‘ll try to remember to tag you when we start reading in February 😆 2w

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The Secret of Helmersbruck Manor | Eva Frantz

Twelve-year-old Flora and her mother go to the seaside village of Helmersbruk to spend their Christmas holiday in a cottage on the grounds of a beautiful, but rundown, old mansion. Well, that‘s about all I needed to know to buy it. 😆

I may wait until next year to read it as it‘s formatted with an illustrated chapter for each day of Advent.

(Translated from Swedish).

thegirlwiththelibrarybag How gorgeous! 1mo

CarolynM Love the idea of a book as an advent calendar! Maybe I should get one for next year too🤔 1mo

Tamra How fun!! 1mo

See All 15 Comments

Cathythoughts Sounds great! I love the cover ❤️ 1mo

MaureenMc Awesome! The cover is 🤩 1mo

LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Tamra @Cathythoughts @MaureenMc Pushkin publishes some very nice children‘s books! 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I think you should 😆 1mo

Centique That is beautiful 😍 1mo

LeahBergen @Centique Isn‘t it? 😄 1mo

tpixie Oh! An advent read! Fun!! I put it in my calendar for next year. Thanks ☺️ (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen @tpixie Chapter one is December 1st! 😄 1mo

tpixie Ok!!! Thx 😊 1mo

elkeOriginal This looks & sounds amazing! 1mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I was definitely intrigued! 1mo

kspenmoll Sounds lovely! 1mo

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Emmeline | Judith Rossner

pick

Oh, Emmeline. 😬

I can‘t say much else right now but I can hardly wait to discuss this with you all!

#PersephoneClub

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

Tamra I have to get started! I‘ve been preoccupied by Belle Greene. 😬 It‘s up next! 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Oh, good. I need to discuss it with someone! 😂😂 1mo

elkeOriginal Your shelves kill me every time 😵😉 1mo

See All 42 Comments

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I may have a problem 😆 1mo

Suet624 This photo is so abundant. 1mo

elkeOriginal A beautiful problem 💕 1mo

Cathythoughts I need to get going with Emmeline, I should have time this weekend ❤️ 1mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 I like that word choice! 😊 1mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal 😘 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yay! 👏 1mo

CarolynM Hoping to get started soon. 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Good. I really need some input. 😂 1mo

andrew61 Exactly half way through Leah after a very disturbing chapter. All I can say, head in hands, is dear oh dear oh dear. 1mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 Right?? 1mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Just finished it Leah , I did see that ending coming 😳.. It was that first moment of meeting when she looked into his eyes, I thought she recognised something. Then his age , his boyishness, , I got suspicious… great book 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I suspected, too, and thought, “Noooo, it is NOT going there…” Haha!! 1mo

Tamra I did not see the end coming! 🥹 I went down the rabbit hole and found the circa 1970s documentary. Based on the maker‘s description, it appears he brought the story & Nettie Mitchell to Rossner‘s attention. Applause to Nettie for illuminating the shame of shunning. @Cathythoughts 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts I read another article by someone who did a deep dive into the genealogy and the dates and ages of her husbands don‘t match up. It seems like the whole story has had a bit of “local folklore” added to it over the years. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo

Tamra @LeahBergen I got the same impression from the film, i.e. folklore. (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Interesting! I‘m definitely going to watch it (you know… after my wrapping, baking, etc 😂). 1mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 😅 Indeed! We could always use an extra week. 1mo

Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeahBergen I read it as fiction , only after finding out it was true. It seemed a little far fetched , but truth is stranger than fiction. I took from it the danger and sadness of secrets , so many secrets ( shame ) buried over time wounded and festering. I wondered about the mother too , what happened to her and her relationship with Emmeline over the years. I liked the first half where Em‘s character had time to be explored. 1mo

Cathythoughts I must look up the film 👍🏻 @LeahBergen @Tamra 1mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Tamra Stop ! There‘s some work in Christmas 😂 I‘m feeling like super woman 😂 so much to get done. 1mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts I suspect it has essences of truth in it. I agree with you, the point is secrecy, shaming, social norms, poverty, patriarchy, etc. So interesting Mrs. Bass had her own similar secret, who better to be suspicious & judgmental, even though she did give warning? But how could it not be lost on a barely teen? 1mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts🦸‍♀️ 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts I definitely think there must be a bit of truth to it somewhere, just as you say. And I was wondering about the apathy of the mother, too. A fascinating read! 1mo

Tamra @LeahBergen @cathythoughts the documentary highlights how desperate impoverished families were. I‘m thinking some of the apathy would stem from that; a woman/mother in those circumstances had to be dog tired and perhaps felt hopeless & helpless. However later in the story I got the impression the mother suffered from mental illness or dementia? (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra That‘s true. It‘s like she gave up and just couldn‘t handle or face anything more in her life. And yes, I think she definitely had some sort of mental illness/dementia going on at the end. And wasn‘t that sister a nasty piece of work? 😆 1mo

Tamra @LeahBergen good lord yes! I wanted to slap her. 😜 1mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Tamra Yes , I agree that the mother had some form of mental illness, she seemed to shut down. 1mo

CarolynM @Cathythoughts @Tamra I‘ve just finished & I‘m so glad I can talk to you about it, now that I‘ve recovered the power of speech. There is so much to be outraged about, not least the “morality” that kept poor Emmeline so ignorant she was completely vulnerable to a predator & had no hope of understanding the “warnings”. And the victim blaming from start to finish! It is horrible to think that any of it could be true, but we know that it could. 😭😤🤬 (edited) 1mo

Tamra @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen agreed - so much fault to go around! I find the shunning without regard to the truths of the matter particularly disturbing (to the degree it occurred to the real Em). Reminds me of The Scarlet Letter as well. Humanity seems to have a penchant for shunning/ghosting/shaming/canceling, which is so effective in coercing conformity to norms since we‘re a social co-dependent species. 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra @Cathythoughts Right?? I was waiting impatiently for others to finish it!! 😆 It was just infuriating. All of her “sins” were completely unintentional and yet her family treated her as if she was evil to the core and out to specifically humiliate them. Gah!! 1mo

rubyslippersreads @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen The description of Matthew as “tall and broad-shouldered” without her being able to see his face, somehow made me think of Mr. Maguire. 3w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra @Cathythoughts it seemed as though anyone who should have protected her preyed on her instead. 3w

Tamra @rubyslippersreads so true. There were no safeguards. 😞 3w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Oh, my God. Right??? And did you figure out if you‘d read this one before? 😆 2w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen If I did, I don‘t remember anything about it. (It‘s hard to imagine I‘d forget the “twist.”) 2w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I know! But I also know I read this book in the ‘80s. How did I forget that, too?? 2w

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen It was so horrific , we blocked it out. 😏 2w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I think so! 😆 2w

53 likes42 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

@ReadingRachael , all three #JolabokaflodSwap packages have arrived safely! Thanks so much! ❤️

#JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024

MaleficentBookDragon

ReadingRachael Yay!!! 1mo

49 likes1 comment

Saplings | Noel Streatfeild

Okay, #PersephoneClub … I‘ve adjusted our order a bit so here are my two (randomly grabbed from my shelves) suggestions for August. Vote away!

@quietjenn will now choose our October suggestions and @rubyslippersreads will choose for December. You two can post as soon as you‘re ready!

Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

1mo

Tamra Hooked me with “enigmatic idol is also a treacherous opponent.” 👀

1mo

CarolynM I‘m going with

1mo

See All 21 Comments

elkeOriginal Tough one as Saplings is on my tbr but Hetty Dorval sounds like a gal I want to meet!

1mo

elkeOriginal p.s. I love your non-grey Saplings cover 😉 1mo

julieclair I, too, vote for

1mo

quietjenn Since I already own it, I'm going with

Saplings

1mo

elkeOriginal @quietjenn fights the tide 🙌🏻 1mo

andrew61 Thanks Leah, I'll try and work out some options this week. 1mo

Cathythoughts I want both ! But I‘ll go for

1mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 Oops, you won‘t be nominating books this upcoming year (as per our rotation) but rather at the beginning of the next year. But please do vote on each of the options (like this one)! We have voting posts open for February, April, June, and August so far. 😊 1mo

andrew61 Gives me time to ponder the catalogue over a mince pie . 1mo

rubyslippersreads I‘m really torn, but since I own it,

Saplings

1mo

Cathythoughts Do we get to vote on our own choices? I will if I can X 1mo

Cathythoughts @andrew61 Just had a mince pie with cream… one of my favourite things about Christmas 👍🏻 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts We usually don‘t vote on our own choices because we save your vote to be a tiebreaker in the event of a tie. Aren‘t we scientific? 😆 1mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Well that‘s good to know. Very scientific 😂 1mo

quietjenn @elkeOriginal probably I'll be making another purchase 😂 1mo

elkeOriginal @quietjenn This group is sneaky that way! Causing purchases 🤦🏼‍♀️😆📚 1mo

Tamra @elkeOriginal 😂 truth! 1mo

LeahBergen And the winner is Hetty Dorval! 1mo

45 likes21 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

And they‘re all sent!

#StuffedStockingSwap #SSS @Avanders
#JolabokaflodSwap #JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024 @MaleficentBookDragon
#LittleChristmasSwap #LCS @bookish_wookish

bookish_wookish Yay! 🎄 2mo

Avanders 👏🏼👏🏼🎄☃️❤️ 2mo

51 likes2 comments

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

I‘m really enjoying the beginning of this book, #PersephoneClub people!

I Googled some images to see what Lowell looked like as a mill town and look … a little doffer. So young! 💔

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

Tamra She is cute, but the pic makes me thankful for child labor laws, in as much as they are passed and enforced. 🫤 2mo

Leftcoastzen Oh my gosh , what a photo. 😳 2mo

elkeOriginal 🥺 2mo

See All 14 Comments

LeahBergen @Tamra Exactly. 😞 2mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @elkeOriginal Right? 😢 2mo

Cathythoughts Yes, so young, the poor girl. My copy arrived from Persephone yesterday, I‘ve just read the first few pages , very engaging. 2mo

LeahBergen It is engaging, isn‘t it? I must‘ve been in the mood for some historical fiction as I liked it right away. @Cathythoughts 2mo

rubyslippersreads I may have read this before (in which case I look forward to a reread), but I could also be confusing it with another novel about the Lowell Mills,

Call the Darkness Light

2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I KNOW I‘ve read it before (in the 1980s) as I recognize the cover on the mass market paperback. I don‘t remember a thing, of course 😆😆 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I also recognize the cover of Call the Darkness Light but I don‘t THINK I‘ve read that one 2mo

Cathythoughts Hi Leah , I just went to post you something for Christmas and the lady said , no post to Canada as there is a strike. I‘ll keep an eye on the situation and send it when the strike is over. ❤️🌲 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, how thoughtful you are! Thank you, Cathy. 😘 Yes, this stupid strike has been going on too long! 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, and I sent you a little book directly from Blackwell‘s. 😘 1mo

Cathythoughts Thankyou Leah ❤️ that‘s very kind. As soon as the strike is over, I‘ll send on my gift… 👍🏻😁 1mo

58 likes14 comments

Emmeline | Judith Rossner

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

@andrew61 ‘s pick for us this month is Emmeline by Judith Rossner. 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!

AND… are we ready to choose our 2025 reads? See below: 👇

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

LeahBergen Our next book “suggesters” are: February: @CarolynM , April: @Cathythoughts , June: @elkeOriginal , August: @Gissy , October: @LeahBergen , December: @quietjenn (edited) 2mo

LeahBergen Let‘s start with @CarolynM and @Cathythoughts … please make a post with two suggestions for us all to vote on. 👏👏 (edited) 2mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah. Emmeline is in the post for me from Persephone 🥰 I‘ll have a look now and get a post up in the next 24 hours. ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo

See All 24 Comments

Tamra Thanks for the reminder Leah! 😄 2mo

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 2mo

elkeOriginal Oo! Checking the shelf for ideas! 2mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah. I'm looking forward to Emmeline. I'll try to post my suggestions later today. 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I read the first chapter and I‘m really liking the feel of it! 2mo

LeahBergen @Tamra No prob!😘 2mo

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 2mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Isn‘t it exciting? 👏 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks, Caroline! And I‘m liking the first chapter of Emmeline. 👍 2mo

daena I‘ve gotten behind this past year, but looking forward to getting back in the swing this coming year. 2mo

LeahBergen @daena Good to hear! 😘 2mo

LeahBergen Okay, @elkeOriginal, you can post your picks for June! @Gissy , you can post your picks for us for August now. 😄 2mo

Bookbuyingaddict Hello 👋 everyone hope your well Iv just ordered mine today 😀il keep you posted , it won‘t arrive until 12th December - happy 😃 reading and happy 😃 pre Christmas 🎄 madness x x x x x 😘 2mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Happy reading to you, too! It‘s starting out well, so far! 2mo

elkeOriginal How are we doing on our choices? I keep obsessively checking in hoping to vote on things 🤦🏼‍♀️😆 1mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Haha! I‘m just holding off until @Gissy comes back on and reads my message. She is the next one up to suggest two books for us. If she doesn‘t answer (or doesn‘t want to do it), I‘ll adjust our list! I think I‘ll give her the rest of the weekend to respond? 1mo

elkeOriginal 👍🏻 Just excited to see more choices! 1mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Me, too. I love the voting. 😆 1mo

LeahBergen Okay, I‘ll adjust our list of people suggesting books to vote on as we haven‘t heard from @Gissy yet … I‘ll move up into the August spot and @quietjenn can suggest our October reads. @rubyslippersreads , you now have December. Is that okay? 1mo

quietjenn Sounds like a plan! I'll try to post mine in the next day or so. 1mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn Great! Thank you. 😘 1mo

49 likes24 comments

Silent Nights: A British Library Crime Classic | Martin Edwards

Friday night at my house!

willaful Oh my goodness, I am so jealous of that Kitty Barne book! 2mo

dabbe #silentnightperfectnight 🧡🤎💛 2mo

CarolynM @willaful Me too, it looks fab! 2mo

See All 10 Comments

BarbaraBB Perfection 🥰 2mo

LeahBergen @willaful @CarolynM It‘s my first by this author and so good! A group of pre WW2 children are sent to a rented holiday house over Christmas with their “young and happening” aunt and decide to put on a play. 2mo

LeahBergen @dabbe @BarbaraBB I‘m enjoying myself immensely 😆 2mo

Cathythoughts Looks nice there Leah ! 🥂 2mo

TrishB Lovely ❤️ 2mo

Tamra Beautiful seasonal reading! 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @TrishB @Tamra 😘😘😘 2mo

59 likes10 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

@StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego dropped off my #StuffedStockingSwap today (we live in the same city and Canada Post is on strike) and included the SWEETEST care package!

I‘ve had some sort of stomach virus and warned her (via @Avanders ) that she might not want to be in close proximity to me for the next few days. I hope you didn‘t see my goblin-like form when I opened the front door (I thought it was a parcel I was expecting from The Bay). 😂 ⬇️

LeahBergen Thank you SO MUCH for your thoughtfulness, @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego ! I haven‘t been dressed in days. 😂 2mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Hope you feel better soon. 2mo

LeahBergen @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego The ginger ale and chicken noodle soup will definitely help! 😘 2mo

See All 25 Comments

Avanders Awwww 😍🤗 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Hope you feel better soon, Leah! ❤️ (edited) 2mo

rabbitprincess Get well soon! ❤️ 2mo

Bookwormjillk That‘s so sweet! Litsy friends are the best. 2mo

CarolynM Hope you‘re feeling better soon, Leah💐💕 2mo

Suet624 I hope you feel better soon. 💕 2mo

Tamra 😔 Feel better! 2mo

quietjenn Hope you're on the mend. 💜 2mo

bthegood Get well soon 💗 2mo

Bookwomble I hope you're soon feeling more comfortable, Leah ❤️‍🩹 2mo

Cathythoughts I hope you feel better soon Leah ❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @Avanders @rabbitprincess @CarolynM @Suet624 @Tamra @quietjenn @bthegood @Bookwomble @Cathythoughts Thanks, everyone! I‘m almost back to normal! 😘😘 2mo

LeahBergen @Bookwormjillk so true! 🥰 2mo

TheLudicReader Hope you‘re feeling better. 2mo

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader I am! Thank you! 😘 2mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego So apparently I forgot to include one of your gifts. Oopsy. I have an Amazon package arriving at your place tomorrow. 2mo

LeahBergen @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego It looks like there is already plenty in there, but thank you! Yes, I peeked before hiding it away. 😄 2mo

Jess861 That's so awesome!! Fellow Canadina here and I was looking at Purolator costs to send mine out but they are kind of outrageous (in my opinion)....I'm at a bit of a loss lol 2mo

LeahBergen @Jess861 I was so excited! I‘m thinking of trying UPS to send mine out but I haven‘t checking the price yet. 😬 2mo

Jess861 @LeahBergen I just went and checked UPS for myself - still pretty pricey, lol....I guess I might not have a choice though. 2mo

LeahBergen @Jess861 I know! I had already purchased everything! 2mo

LeahBergen @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Oops! I forgot to let you know that the Amazon package arrived. Thank you! 😘 2mo

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego ❤️💚 2mo

57 likes25 comments

LeahBergen @Aimeesue @batsy @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @julieclair @Kimzey @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @MrsK @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @Tamra @Teresereading @willaful @kwmg40 2mo

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

Here it is: our 2025 #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reading schedule!

Thanks for all the nominations and speedy votes. It looks like we‘ll be having another enjoyable year together! 👏

And, as always, anyone is welcome to join in at any time to read along with us and discuss, of course.

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 2mo

Ruthiella Awesome. Thank you @LeahBergen for organizing us. Looking forward to another fun year of reading together! 2mo

See All 19 Comments

kwmg40 Thank you! The list looks great. 2mo

Tamra Thank you! 😍😘 2mo

quietjenn Thanks for keeping us in order! Should be fun. 2mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah 😘 Looks like we‘re set for another great year of FMB reading😍 2mo

Kimzey Thank you! Can‘t wait! 2mo

Cathythoughts Lovely Leah ❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @kwmg40 @Tamra @quietjenn @CarolynM @Kimzey We‘re gonna have fun! 😄 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I hope you can pop in for a couple, Cathy! 😘 2mo

julieclair What a great list! Looking forward to another fun year. 😀 2mo

LeahBergen @julieclair Me, too! 😘 2mo

Ruthiella @bookandbedandtea This is the 2025 schedule. Only one book every other month to keep it manageable. 😃 3w

bookandbedandtea Sounds fun! Thanks for adding me! 3w

LeahBergen @bookandbedandtea Welcome aboard! 😁 3w

bookandbedandtea @LeahBergen Thank you! 💜 3w

LeahBergen Here‘s our schedule for this year, @JenlovesJT47 ! 2w

JenlovesJT47 Thanks!! 🤗🧡 2w

51 likes19 comments

The Librarian | Salley Vickers

My current reads.

I‘m not sure why the tagged book has such a low rating on here as I‘m really enjoying it. I haven‘t allowed myself to read the reviews yet though so we shall see as I get closer to the end, I guess! 😬

Suet624 Yeah, I‘m finding reviews often mess up the whole thing. If you‘re enjoying it that‘s great. (edited) 2mo

rubyslippersreads I have this book; I‘ll have to read and see. 😏 2mo

Cathythoughts That‘s a crazy low score 😳. Lovely inviting covers on both 🥰 2mo

See All 10 Comments

Vansa I absolutely loved this book till the end! 2mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 That‘s all that matters! 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads You will! 😄 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 2mo

LeahBergen @Vansa Oh oh! 😬 2mo

Centique Theyre both so beautiful! 2mo

LeahBergen @Centique Pretty little things, aren‘t they? 😄 2mo

65 likes10 comments

LeahBergen @Aimeesue @batsy @CarolynM @catebutler @Cathythoughts @elkeOriginal @erzascarletbookgasm @Jess_Read_This @jlhammar @julieclair @Kimzey @LeahBergen @Lizpixie @MrsK @quietjenn @rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @Tamra @Teresereading @willaful @kwmg40 2mo

Sally-Ann | SUSAN. SCARLETT

Okay, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub … here are my picks for May 2025.

Vote away!

Ruthiella Another tough choice! Another coin toss and it lands on

2mo

Teresereading Cute covers-Sally Ann 2mo

See All 16 Comments

willaful I've already read Sally-Ann so I'l vote for

Dear Hugo

2mo

Cathythoughts I‘m voting

2mo

CarolynM I love Molly Clavering, but I can‘t go past another Susan Scarlett🥰

(edited) 2mo

Sace I must vote for Sally-Ann 2mo

kwmg40 I‘ll go with Sally-Ann! 2mo

AlaMich I love Sally-Ann‘s green coat! 2mo

quietjenn For me, it's

2mo

Tamra Super covers, as always!

2mo

rubyslippersreads I can‘t resist the cover of

2mo

Kimzey Okay, Sally-Ann for me too! 2mo

julieclair Tough choice. But I suppose I‘ll jump on the Sally-Ann bandwagon. 😄 2mo

elkeOriginal Dear Hugo sounds so charming! 2mo

LeahBergen And the winner is Sally-Ann! 2mo

53 likes16 comments

Harlequin House | MARGERY. SHARP

Okay, #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub , with our November book we come to the end of our year of reading!

Are we in for another round? Here‘s our next group of selectors (according to our records):

January: @rubyslippersreads
March: @quietjenn
May: @LeahBergen
July: @CarolynM
September: @Cathythoughts
November: @Ruthiella

If we‘re all in, let‘s start with our January and March “pickers” posting their two choices for us to vote on. 😃

kwmg40 I‘d love to do another round! 2mo

Ruthiella Oooh! I get to vote next year! I‘ll put my thinking cap on. 2mo

See All 37 Comments

jlhammar It‘s been wonderful reading with you all, but I‘m going to sit this next year out (trying for less screen time in 2025, but may check-in now and again). Have fun voting! 2mo

rubyslippersreads I‘m in! I‘ll have to come up with my two choices. 🤔 2mo

CarolynM Yes please! I love our FMB reads and chats. I‘m going to go choose my suggestions right away😊 2mo

Kimzey Yay! I‘m up for another round, in spite of being behind on this year‘s reading. 📖 ⌛️ 2mo

quietjenn I'm game! I ❤️FMB Club! I'll work on my suggestions and try to post them soon. 2mo

julieclair Yes, I‘d love to do another round. 😃 2mo

Tamra @Kimzey me too! 😅 I am up for it nonetheless. 😁 2mo

Kimzey @Tamra I‘m glad I‘m not the only one! 😊📚 2mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 Yay! 👏👏 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It‘s fun to pick, isn‘t it? 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @jlhammar No worries! I hope you pop in and out when you feel like reading along with us! 😘 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Yay! 👏👏 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I can hardly wait! 👏 2mo

LeahBergen @Kimzey Oh, behind doesn‘t matter at all! 😘 2mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn Yay! I‘m excited for your picks! 😘 2mo

LeahBergen @julieclair Awesome! 👏 2mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Kimzey Oh, behind or not … it doesn‘t matter at all! Just pop in when you have the time. 😘 2mo

Cathythoughts Hi Leah , I wonder if someone would like to pick the September book. I havnt been great for participating this past year. I‘d still like to pop in and out … but I‘d love someone else to pick September… is that ok ? 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Sure, Cathy. No problem! I‘ll bump @Ruthiella up the list to do the September pick (is that okay with you, @Ruthiella ?) 2mo

LeahBergen Hi, @batsy ! I know you‘ve been taking some time off from Litsy and I hope you‘re doing well. You will have our November 2025 pick (if you like). No worries if you don‘t, of course! If you get back to me too late (and I get the next person on the list to take your place) we‘ll just slot you in somewhere when you‘re back. Miss you, my friend! 😘 2mo

Ruthiella Fine with me. 😃 @batsy I miss you too. Hope all is well. ❤️ (edited) 2mo

Cathythoughts Thanks for that Leah, I‘d love to stay on the Persephone list please. But I know I can‘t commit to both. 😘 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s great, Cathy! I was hoping you‘d still be in for #PersephoneClub! I‘ll probably wait until next month (when we‘re reading our final pick of the year) to start the voting choices. 2mo

elkeOriginal Looking forward to y‘all helping me work through the FMB books on my shelf! 2mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Me, too! I have sooo many waiting. 😆 2mo

Cathythoughts Oh yes , of course, Thanks Leah , next month 👍🏻😘 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella You can post your September picks now … or whenever you‘re ready! 😘 2mo

LeahBergen Hi, @Kimzey ! We‘ve had a bit of a shuffle in our picking order (see the chatter above ☝️) and you‘re now in charge of our November selection. You can post your two books for us to vote on now (or whenever you‘re ready). 😀 2mo

LeahBergen Hi, @Kimzey ! Just tagging you again here in case you missed my message (above). 2mo

Kimzey @LeahBergen Oh, sorry! I did miss the post. I‘ll give it some thought and make suggestions. I have my IRL book club tonight, so it might be tomorrow. Thanks for asking! 2mo

LeahBergen @Kimzey Oh, good! Tomorrow is fine. Have fun at book club tonight! 2mo

Jess_Read_This So dreadfully late to this. I kind of took a longer hiatus from social media than I intended to. Please count me in for the next round to join in on reading! 1mo

LeahBergen @Jess_Read_This I‘m so glad you‘ll be back reading with us again! 😘 1mo

52 likes37 comments

Harlequin House | MARGERY. SHARP

pick

Well, this was a charming little romp! It somehow reminded me of Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day but, in this case, it‘s more of a “Mr Partridge Lives For Six Months”. 😆 Look at him on the cover and spine of my edition!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Ruthiella I‘m only about 25% done, but I‘m also getting Miss Pettigrew vibes! 2mo

Tamra 🤣 Fabulous cover art! 2mo

See All 10 Comments

kwmg40 I agree with @Tamra. That cover! 😍 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Glamorous young lady, down-at-the-heels middle agester, cocaine… 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @kwmg40 It‘s quite something, isn‘t it? 😆 2mo

elkeOriginal As always you have an amazing edition! 2mo

CarolynM A perfect retitling! And I love that dust jacket😍 2mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal @CarolynM I wonder if the flat was painted in these “harlequin” colours? 😆 2mo

quietjenn Love the illustrations, especially on the spine! Thanks for sharing. 2mo

63 likes10 comments

The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading | Sam Leith

I‘ve been dipping in and out of this book lately and it‘s marvellous!

LeeRHarry Sounds fab - have requested it from my library - thanks for the rec! 😊 2mo

BarbaraBB Gorgeous edition! 2mo

AnishaInkspill this sounds interesting, thanks 🙂 2mo

See All 6 Comments

rubyslippersreads This looks wonderful! 2mo

Cathythoughts Beautiful.. the cover ❤️ 2mo

kspenmoll This sounds wonderful! 2mo

73 likes5 stack adds6 comments

The Tea Ladies | Amanda Hampson

@CarolynM What a lovely surprise! I‘m having the birthday that keeps on giving. 😆

I‘m so excited to finally try a Dornford Yates as I know you‘re a fan and I‘ve had The Tea Ladies stacked since your review (it‘s not published here until next year).

The card (titled “Looking for Bookworms” 😆) is the best! Thank you so much, my friend, I love it all! 😘😘😘

Tamra So pretty! Hoping to find an audio version of the tagged novel - sounds fun! 3mo

CarolynM Hope you enjoy💕 3mo

CarolynM @Tamra It‘s on Audible in Australia and no indication it‘s exclusive so should be available in libraries once it‘s released in your territory 🙂 I just listened to the preview and it sounds good - nice characterisations. 3mo

See All 8 Comments

Tamra @CarolynM 👏🏾🤞🏾 I flagged it in my library system to notify me when they receive it. 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I so will! I was doing a bit of reading about Yates and see that he did both comic and thriller type novels. This seems to be one of the thrillers! 👏 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I checked Audible Canada and it‘s available here; here‘s hoping you don‘t have to wait too long! 3mo

CarolynM His “thrillers” are funnier than his “comic” novels if you ask me 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Ha! Now I‘m even more excited! 😆 3mo

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The Master Key | Masako Togawa

@BookishMadHatter !! Thank you so much for this wonderful #AllHallowsReadSwap !

I‘m so excited for both books (they‘re perfect!) and the candies are awesome (yes, I‘m a Smarties pig). How did you manage to colour coordinate this so well? 😆 I love it all!

Thanks again to @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting another great swap! 🎃

#AHRS

BookishMadHatter So happy you like it! I got all the sizes of Smarties I could find so you'd have a pack for every situation lol. Happy Halloween! 3mo

LeahBergen @BookishMadHatter 😆😆 And I‘ve already crammed the small packs into my mouth! 3mo

Cathythoughts Very nice ♥️ 3mo

56 likes1 stack add3 comments

Women's Weird: Strange Stories by Women, 1890-1940 | Melissa Edmundson

@AshRob22 !! Thank you so much for this AMAZING #HauntedHollowSwap package! The “reading ghost” cross-stitch is absolutely stunning. I adore it!

You chose some perfect reads for me and I love everything else: the hair scrunchies, pumpkin mug, earrings, bookmark, skeletal servers 😆, and candies! Perfection! Happy Halloween, friend! 🎃🎃🎃

Thank you once again, @wanderinglynn , for organizing this great swap! 🎃🎃🎃

#HHS #HHS24

wanderinglynn Fantastic! 🎃🖤👻🧡 3mo

AshRob22 💛🎃🧡👻🖤 @LeahBergen it‘s always such a pleasure crafting & picking for you. Happy Halloween my friend 📚 3mo

MaureenMc The cross-stitch is amazing 🤩 @AshRob22 3mo

See All 6 Comments

ShelleyBooksie Awesome cross stitch!!! 3mo

LeahBergen @MaureenMc @ShelleyBooksie I love it!! 😍 3mo

rubyslippersreads Those little witch girls remind me of Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. 2mo

56 likes6 comments

The Lost Ones | Anita Frank

My current pre-Halloween spooky read. I‘ve had this one sitting on my shelves for ages!

Ruthiella Looks like a perfect book for this time of the year! 👻 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella And it‘s shaping up to be pretty good so far! 3mo

54 likes2 comments

real ones: a novel | Katherena Vermette

Thank you, @TrishB (my fellow Scorpio 😆), for this lovely birthday book! It sounds so good and the cover art is fabulous. And it was longlisted for this year‘s Giller Prize, too!

I hope your birthday was as good as mine is shaping up to be! 😘😘

TrishB Glad it arrived! You got some fabulous books so far 📚 have a brilliant rest of the day 😘 3mo

Tamra Anxious to read this one! 3mo

squirrelbrain Sounds wonderful! 3mo

See All 12 Comments

youneverarrived Happy Birthday Leah 🩷 that‘s a beautiful cover. 3mo

Billypar Happy birthday!! 🎂🎉 Looks like a great birthday book haul 📚 3mo

quietjenn Happy birthday, Leah! I got it was wonderful. 🎉💜 3mo

LeahBergen @TrishB I did! Thank you! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra It‘s been getting some good reviews! 3mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain It does! 3mo

LeahBergen @youneverarrived @Billypar @quietjenn Thanks, everyone! 😘😘 3mo

Suet624 Happy belated birthday! 3mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Thank you! 😘 3mo

48 likes12 comments

Kick the Latch | Kathryn Scanlan

@Cathythoughts ! Thank you for this wonderful birthday package!

The books both sound amazing and I‘m thrilled to get a copy of your husband‘s folk opera (signed, to me, too… Thanks, John!). And what a sweet little bookmark and card. I love it all, my dear friend! 😘😘

squirrelbrain Ooh, I loved The Safekeep! ❤️ 3mo

BarbaraBB Me too! 3mo

MaureenMc Happy birthday! 3mo

See All 9 Comments

youneverarrived How nice 😍 3mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB Good to hear! 👍 3mo

LeahBergen @MaureenMc Thank you! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @youneverarrived So nice! 🥰 3mo

Cathythoughts Happy Birthday Leah ❤️ Have a lovely day. I‘m so delighted you like your presents … I look forward to your thoughts on the Safekeep .. whenever you may get there. Lots of love to you on your birthday Xxx❤️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks again, Cathy. You are always so thoughtful! 🥰 3mo

42 likes9 comments

Blue Castle: The Original Manuscript | Lucy Montgomery

Thank you so much for these lovely birthday gifts, @rubyslippersreads ! 💙🩵

I‘ve already been flipping through The Blue Castle manuscript and it‘s so cool! The Mischief Makers (Daphne Du Maurier!) sounds absolutely intriguing. Yes, let‘s do a buddy read (but I shan‘t share my chocs). 😆

You‘re a dear friend. 😘

rubyslippersreads So glad you like everything. I hope you‘re having a great day! 🎂 3mo

JenlovesJT47 Happy birthday! I love The Blue Castle 🧡 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I love it all! 😘😘 3mo

See All 6 Comments

LeahBergen @JenlovesJT47 Thank you! And yes, it‘s a favourite of mine! 🥰 3mo

bthegood Hope your birthday was a good day! 🙂 3mo

Cathythoughts So lovely. No , don‘t share your chocs 😂👍🏻 3mo

45 likes6 comments

Minor Hauntings | J. Baker

I‘ve been having a lot of fun working my way through this anthology of ghost stories (all with ghostly children 😱).

@Bookwomble Care to take a guess at the MR James story included in this collection? Or the ubiquitous Elizabeth Gaskell? 😆

Bookwomble I'm pretty sure the Gaskell will be The Old Nurse's Story, one of the stories Dickens commissioned for a Christmas edition of Household Words, and one of my favourite ghost stories. I haven't read all of James's stories, so I'm on a bit of a sticky wicket here, though I do have his Complete Ghost Stories to hand, so... Just going from titles, two stories suggest themselves, but I'm going to guess A School Story🤞 3mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble The Gaskell is correct (and I just read it again … so good) but the M.R. James story is Lost Hearts. I don‘t think I‘ve read it before? 🤔 3mo

AlaMich Excellent bookmark! 👻 3mo

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Bookwomble @LeahBergen If I get any right, it's a win 😄 I couldn't have guessed the James from the title, but it's in the corrected edition I have, so I'll get to it eventually, perhaps around Christmas. 3mo

Tamra Boo! 👻 3mo

LeahBergen @AlaMich Thanks! 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Boo back to you! 👻😆 3mo

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The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading | Sam Leith

My #AllHallowsReadSwap arrived today! Thank you, @BookishMadHatter ! I‘m very excited! 😘😘

*and*

A lovely birthday card from @rubyslippersreads . Thank you so much! 😘😘

#AHRS #AllHallowsRead
@MaleficentBookDragon

rubyslippersreads You‘re very welcome! 😘 3mo

BookishMadHatter I'm impressed that it made it with time to spare with the way our mail has been lately lol. Hope you like it! 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads It‘s so pretty! 3mo

See All 9 Comments

LeahBergen @BookishMadHatter I know I‘m going to love it. You‘re always such an amazing swap partner! 3mo

Ruthiella Happy Birthday! 🥳🥳🥳 3mo

Tamra Happy Birthday & Bookday! 😄 3mo

MemoirsForMe Happiest Birthday wishes to you! 🤗🎂🎉❤️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @Tamra @MemoirsForMe Thank you! My birthday is on Monday but I like to say October is my birthday MONTH. Or, as I tell my husband, it‘s my birthday until Christmas. 😆😆 3mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 😆👏🏾👏🏾 3mo

53 likes9 comments

The Far Cry | Emma Smith

pick

I enjoyed this story of Teresa, swept away to India by her father when her mother (who abandoned her) threatens to come back into her life. Her father is cold and self absorbed but the boat journey (which I loved reading about) and her time in India opens her eyes to an entirely new world.

#PersephoneClub

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

CarolynM I think you‘re being rather generous to Mr Digby. He is appalling and he is making me very angry. It‘s hard to believe Lillian could possibly be a worse parent. 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM You‘re so correct and I did want to use some rather harsher descriptors for him. 😆 I can‘t wait to hear what you think of Ruth… 3mo

Tamra Definitely has raised my eyebrows a few times! 3mo

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andrew61 Yes Mr Digby leaves a lot to be desired as a parent, although I was shocked by his ultimate fate. Love your silver box. 3mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Horrible little man. 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 Thanks! It‘s a little nod to India. 😁 3mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 And I was shocked, too, but is it bad to say that I‘m “glad” for Teresa‘s sake that both he and Ruth died? 😂😂 It left her with some caring people at last! 3mo

Cathythoughts Great review and photo.. I‘m loving the silver box too. I‘ve only started the book and enjoying so far 👍🏻 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! I hope you end up liking it, too. 3mo

56 likes9 comments

Classic Ghost Stories: Spooky Tales to Read at Christmas | Various

My #HauntedHollowSwap has arrived!! Thank you so much, @AshRob22 ! 👻 🖤 👻

#HHS #HHS24
@wanderinglynn

AshRob22 🕸️AMAZING🕸️ Hope you loooove 👻 3mo

Bookwomble I'm going to have three guesses, if that's ok, as to what some of the stories are, and will be equally pleased to be wrong as right ? So, Dickens, "The Signalman"; Wells, "The Inexperienced Ghost"; hmm, James is trickier due to the number of ghost stories he wrote, but I'll roll the dice on "Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad"! ? 3mo

wanderinglynn Yay! 🎃🧡 3mo

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LeahBergen @AshRob22 I know I will!! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble Correct for Dickens but wrong for Wells (The Red Room) and James (A Warning to the Curious). I had to go back and check as I‘d only just pulled it from my shelf. 😆 My guess was the exact same for Dickens and James but I didn‘t know enough about Wells‘ tales to hazard a guess! 3mo

Bookwomble @LeahBergen One out of there ain't bad! 😁 The Dickens was a shoe in, but I thought I'd get the Wells right! I have The Red Tin in a couple of collections I haven't yet read 😏📚 My other guess for James would have been Casting the Runes, which would have still been wrong. A Warning... seems obvious now! Good game; lucky it's the taking part that counts 😄 3mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble That Dickens is always a shoe in! And we‘ll have to try this game again with another of my anthologies. 😆😆 3mo

Bookwomble @LeahBergen You're on! 😁👍 3mo

56 likes8 comments

The Musgraves | D. E. Stevenson

@merelybookish !!! What an absolutely beautiful surprise! 😮

Thank you SO much for thinking of me (and my DE Stevenson collection). These are gorgeous! And I loved your card and the 1920s art attached to the puff envelope, too. 😆 You know me well!

You‘ve brightened my day, my friend. 😘😘

willaful wow! 😍 3mo

Kimzey Beautiful books! How exciting! 3mo

Ruthiella Simon Thomas would be so jealous! Beautiful editions. 😍 3mo

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Tamra Looks like they have found the perfect home! 3mo

mabell Wow, how lovely! 3mo

merelybookish My pleasure! Felt sad to leave them in a messy antique store and knew where they'd be loved. 🙂
3mo

LeahBergen @willaful @Kimzey @Ruthiella @Tamra @mabell I love them! 😍 3mo

LeahBergen @merelybookish You‘re a book hero!! 😆 I just adore them. 😘😘 3mo

squirrelbrain How lovely! 🥰 3mo

TrishB There is a parcel on the way from Shelf Life Books 😁 delivery will be Wednesday! 3mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain Aren‘t they? 😍 3mo

LeahBergen @TrishB Aww, thank you! 😘😘 There‘s one on its way to you, too! 3mo

TrishB Thank you too 😘 that‘s exciting! 3mo

LeahBergen @TrishB Oh, and Shelf Life Books is my closest little independent bookshop. I love it! 🥰 3mo

Cathythoughts Lovely gifts 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yes! 🥰 3mo

TrishB That‘s brilliant! 3mo

LeahBergen @TrishB It is! 🥰 3mo

61 likes18 comments

Untitled | Anonymous

And away they go with Canada Post! 🎃🎃🎃

#AllHallowsReadSwap #AHRS @MaleficentBookDragon
#HauntedHollowSwap #HHS24 #HHS @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Yay! 🎃🧡 3mo

rubyslippersreads Your gift is on its way from Amazon. No peeking until your birthday. 😉🎂 3mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Squeee! 👏👏👏 Thank you, thank you!! 😘😘 3mo

43 likes3 comments

Victoria's Daughters | Jerrold M. Packard

My current “Royal Biography Buddy Read” with @shawnmooney !

👑👑👑👑👑

BarbaraBB Your home looks like Gladstone‘s Library 🤍. My next read here will be a Perspehone one, just because it seems so fitting! 3mo

Leftcoastzen Nice! 3mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB 😆 I wish!! What Persephone will you be reading? I just started

The Far Cry

3mo

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BarbaraBB I already finished it. I thought I‘d love it but am a bit underwhelmed to be honest. I will check out The Far Cry!

Someone at a Distance

3mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB Oh, too bad. I liked that one. 3mo

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen I know you did. That‘s why I felt sure I would too 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo

tpixie Lovely Library 📚 and your book looks very interesting 🤔 3mo

Gissy Beautiful collection! 😍📚👌 3mo

LeahBergen @tpixie @Gissy Thank you! 😘 3mo

tpixie @LeahBergen 💛🩶💛 3mo

Cathythoughts Beautiful photo of a beautiful collection ❤️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 3mo

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Pet | Catherine Chidgey

pick

This read like a disturbing ‘80s version of Are You There, God? It‘s Me, Margaret and I couldn‘t put it down. 😆

thegirlwiththelibrarybag That‘s quite an enticing review! Kid me loved Judy Blume! 3mo

Gissy I want to read that one. I have heard good reviews in YouTube. Louise Savidge YouTuber said it was good. I follow her and her son Simon Savidge. 3mo

sarahbarnes Yes! 😁 I loved this one too. 3mo

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Ruthiella Now that‘s a combo I didn‘t think of! But you are right. 😆 3mo

squirrelbrain Yes, perfect comparison! 3mo

BarbaraBB Sucha good book! 3mo

Suet624 This author 💕💕💕 3mo

Cathythoughts I loved it. What about that scene when she is in the teachers house 😮😳 ( I‘ve forgotten some names 🙈) dresses up as the teacher and is all ‘ OK People, People‘ I often think of that scene. 3mo

Cathythoughts I‘ll never forget that white pants suit ! 3mo

LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I did, too! 3mo

LeahBergen @Gissy It‘s a good read! 3mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes It was gripping. 😁 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @squirrelbrain I think it was the first period and first bra shopping that reminded me of Blume. 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB It was! 3mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 I want to read more by her now! 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yes!! It was just so bizarre! 😆 3mo

TheKidUpstairs So good, eh? Did you really have the matching pen?! I love that! I'm on the hold list for her newest

The Axeman's Carnival

3mo

LeahBergen I really enjoyed it and must try some of her other books. And yes, I‘ve collected these pens for about 30 years, whenever I travel. 😆😆 @TheKidUpstairs 3mo

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The Far Cry | Emma Smith

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

@Aimeesue ‘s pick for us this month is The Far Cry by Emma Smith. 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, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 4mo

willaful Doesn\'t look like this one\'s available for me. :-( 4mo

LeahBergen @willaful Oh, too bad! Maybe through Interlibrary Loan? 4mo

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Cathythoughts Thanks Leah ! I must get the book , I don‘t have this one lined up 🙈 ! I‘m on it 👍🏻❤️ I can get it on kindle 👍🏻 (edited) 4mo

Tamra I‘ve started and it‘s promising! 😃 4mo

rubyslippersreads I have the ebook, but still need to catch up on the last Persephone book! 😂 4mo

willaful @LeahBergen Oh, I didn\'t even think of that! I\'ll check. 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yay! I‘m glad you found it. 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Good to hear! 👏 4mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I‘ve been playing catchup for the last few weeks! 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @willaful It looks like there‘s an ebook available (if you read that way).😀 4mo

quietjenn Looking forward to it! 4mo

Aimeesue Gosh, I hope I picked a good one! 😁 4mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn Me, too! 4mo

LeahBergen @Aimeesue I‘ve had it waiting on my shelves for YEARS… so it will obviously be your fault if I don‘t like it. 🤣 4mo

Aimeesue @LeahBergen 😂😂😂 3mo

39 likes16 comments

Spam Tomorrow | VERILY. ANDERSON

pick

I‘ve been MIA from our reading groups for a while as we‘re still travelling around in our trailer (it‘s time to head home now though as the leaves are falling!) I‘ve managed to read all three and heartily enjoyed them.

The Native Heath : a fun and frothy slice of village life
The Children Who Lived in a Barn: nice try, Mr and Mrs ‘We Forgot to Come Home to Our Children‘ 😆
Spam Tomorrow: a witty and heartfelt exploration of life on the Homefront

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Caryl, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Ruthiella, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

LeahBergen #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub 4mo

LeahBergen #PersephoneClub 4mo

Tamra Happy safe travels home! 4mo

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AmyG Safe travels. Your trip sounds so fun! 4mo

Ruthiella One post-three reviews! Very efficient! 😆 Safe travels! 4mo

Suet624 Was starting to be concerned that you hadn‘t posted any reviews! 4mo

willaful Cool that you got to read them on your journey! 4mo

jlhammar Fun! Hope you have a great trip back. Love your Children Who Lived in a Barn mini-review 😂 4mo

sarahbarnes Welcome back! Hope you enjoyed your travels! 4mo

quietjenn Nice! Hope you've had a lovely trip. Get back safely and enjoy! 4mo

BarbaraBB I hope you‘ve had a wonderful time 🤍 4mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Thanks, Tamra! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @AmyG Thanks! We‘ve been having a grand time. 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I had to do SOMETHING to get me posting! 😆 Thank you! 😘 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Never fear … I shall return! 😆😘😘 4mo

LeahBergen @willaful I always read so much less when I‘m travelling! 🙄 4mo

LeahBergen @jlhammar 😆😆 Like, what was up with that?? “Oh, yes… I seem to be forgetting something… is it our five children?” 😆😆 4mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes Thank you! 😘😘 4mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn We have! Thanks so much! 😘😘 4mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB Thanks, Barbara! 😘😘 4mo

willaful @LeahBergen \“Home Alone\“ vibes. 😂 4mo

LeahBergen @willaful 😆😆 4mo

youneverarrived Hope you‘ve had the best time 🩷 4mo

LeahBergen @youneverarrived Thank you. We have! 😘 4mo

Cathythoughts Sounds like a lovely trip you‘ve been on 👍🏻❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It has been, Cathy! 😘 4mo

62 likes26 comments