A weak Pick. Slow start, nearly DNF-ed, but change of pace & a turn of plot mid way kept me going. Plot reminded me of defunct 90s US soap opera Sunset Beach - kinda unbelievable but ridiculously entertaining. Or perhaps entertainingly ridiculous. Della is the manipulative baddy, Kate likes making appalling choices, stolen babies, long lost sisters, all that good stuff. Saw final twist coming from start, ending felt like the bad guys won.

Starting this one today. Spooky season officially starts on October 1st in this house (we have decorations up for the full month 🎃💀🧙‍♀️) so I'm just getting in the mood!

I read about 20% then skim read the rest. It's all great advice but nothing I didn't already know and I found it a bit repetitive. It's very accessible and well explained, but it's the sort of thing that I find so tedious to read in anything more than meme sized chunks! My bad!

Started this convinced it was "not my thing" & ended up really enjoying it. It's quirky, hilarious, poignant, surprisingly deep and it has ghosts. And 3 fabulous MCs that on their own are great - well drawn, distinct, convincing back stories, satisfying journeys. But together they are just wonderful - they spring to life with all their flaws & hurt & hopes. The dialogue between them is done so well. And as for "the ghosts" .... ????

Starting this one. Not entirely sure why I requested this one from NetGalley as I really don't like/enjoy self-help books and the parenting guides I've read in the past just gave me The Rage so I'm understandably weary.

Just finished my last book so starting this one at 11.03p.m. Why oh why do I never finish a book at a reasonable time of day? If I could only finish at, say 4 in the afternoon, I'd be able to start the next one at a time when my eyelids don't feel like lead! But can I resist starting the new one, even if I should really be going to sleep?

No, I can't. Mount ToBeRead isn't going to climb itself!

A very readable & accessible book, full of useful, 'real-world' advice. Author is warm, down to earth & seems to be genuinely rooting for would-be writers. The bite-sized info is easy to digest & the comprehensive sections make it easy to return to specific advice when you require it. Harris is honest, knowledgeable & endlessly encouraging - even if you have no writing ambitions I'd still recommend as it's an enjoyable insight & totally feel good!

Ooh, that's a howler 😱

Fellow Littens! Can you tell me which two books you think are currently the 'buzziest' on Litsy? The ones that everyone and their dog/cat/significant other seem to have read/be raving about? No right or wrong answer, I'm just intrigued....

Starting this one tonight. Although my eyes are so sore from studying on a screen today, they feel like they've been pickled and I really should let them rest.

But to misquote Bon Jovi, I'll read while I'm alive and sleep when I'm dead 😉

So this happened today. (I had been waiting for this number rather than 100,000 because this one is, to my mind, more aesthetically pleasing!) Litsy is still my favourite place on the Internet - just wholesome bookish-ness without the drama & dumpster fires of other social media platforms. Thank you, fellow Littens, for being here too 🥰

When your bookcase is full & you can't buy anymore books because there's nowhere to put them so you decide to rearrange your shelves & somehow you manage to eek out another 6 inches of space so now you CAN buy more books - that, fellow Littens, is the definition of joy! 😊😊😊🤣🤣🤣

First two-thirds - dark, kinda creepy, a oppressive atmosphere of gloom, misery & crawling claustrophobia, the father's grief is palpable, the whining mosquitoes visceral. A growing, uncomfortable tension.
Last third - above emotions tumbled headlong into a more action driven conclusion. 2 stories inevitably merging, a cracking ending, the hope of healing, done without sentiment but with some gut-wrenching emotions nonetheless.

Great read.

This is a fictionalised account of the life of the poet/playwright William Congreve. It's a bit dry for my liking, perhaps not fictionalised enough - the device of the framing narrator is not enough to make it a less an account & more of a story. I would've binned it but the writing is very pleasantly soothing. It's obviously meticulously researched & does have a few interesting sections but on the whole it dragged more than a little.

Bit late with this month's Amazon Prime First Reads choice. A bit of a left-field choice for me, but I'm feeling particularly contrary at the moment.

My Filofax obsession is not abating. This is my new Finsbury mini! It's so cute, only has 5 rings. It is also my first ever real leather one so it smells divine and is immensely tactile as well 😍

Today's read. It's started well, think I'm going to like it ....

This is a fun & totally engaging read - in fact, it's probably the only feelgood book about murder I'm ever likely to read! The author explains how she first got hooked on murder & explores why she loves it so much. It's warm & witty & her insights are touching & real. The sections on Zodiac & Ted Bundy are great. She also details how true crime as a genre has developed from books to TV docs/series to podcasts. So informative as well as fun!

Impressive Lego library!

This was a rapidly devoured little snack of a book! Without exception, the writing is excellent (clue IS in the title!) - evocative, engaging, enthralling. But also soothing, relaxing, indulgent. A fascinating mix of locations, adventures & stories that brings you as close to the experience of travel, with all its emotional/spiritual/intellectual gifts, as you can get without leaving your house. Every piece ended too soon - so good I wanted more!

Was expecting a generic WW2 romance, got something rather more substantial. This is a well-written & engaging novel about a young woman's experiences of being recruited by an enigmatic man for a spy mission in Yugoslavia. I enjoyed the revealing of her story, the various little twists, the moral complexity of the characters, the grittiness. Loved that the happy ending managed to be neither cheesy nor twee. A solid page turner.

My last post mentioned how I'm on a bit of a jag for books about books/reading. I'm also heavily into books about writing. This one was purchased mainly because of the subject matter but also because it's dimensions are aesthetically pleasing and it has a ribbon bookmark 😍

I am currently strongly drawn to books about books and/or reading. This beauty was a recent purchase. Love this cover 😍

I tried. I read the whole thing. Hated it. One of the many reasons being NO SPEECH MARKS! Why?!! Spent so much time & effort working out who was speaking or if it was speech or internal monologue and just why?!

Weak Pick as I did enjoy this one but I felt it was only nearly really good - not really sure how or why it missed the mark, but something was lacking. Both timelines were equally intriguing, characters were interesting & well drawn but, gosh I don't know, it just lacked the final punch. The twist was predictable but it wasn't that. The fact that I didn't come away gobsmacked was disappointing as I'd been fully expecting to. So it was me then 🤣

Is 6 minutes to midnight too late to start a new book? 🤔

Yes, it is. But I'm starting it anyway! 😜

With thanks to #netgalley for this book.

Ooh, I was thinking about Less a few days ago and how much I enjoyed it and how I'd love to read more of this character and then today I see that there IS a sequel coming! How exciting!

Went into Waterstones with the sole intention of having a bite to eat in the cafe and somebody had left this book on a display near my table. Obviously I had to have a quick glance through. Inevitably I had to buy it! Absolutely incorrigible.

Which is worse, fellow Littens, a book that is bad from the get-go or one that starts off strong but then deteriorates? I've read a lot of the latter just recently - I'm always left feeling slightly conned! This one is starting strong so I'm hoping it's the one one to buck this unpleasant trend!

My choice of the Prime First Reads for August. Shamelessly picked for the rather lovely cover alone!

More gentle musings and philosophical meanderings with Dex and Mosscap in this all-too brief conclusion to BC's solarpunk duology. I'm gonna miss these guys - I loved their soul-searching & their growing bond. I loved that Dex swore and I loved how Mosscap was simultaneously naive yet also able to instantly see to the heart of the matter. Most of all, I loved BC's sublime writing lulling me into a state of restful & meditative joy. I am soothed.

Look at this beauty! My first Ultra sized Paperblanks notebook. Photo doesn't do it justice - it's so sparkly! Also double locking clips! Now I have no excuses whatsoever - time to put pen to paper!

Hang on though, I might also "need" a gorgeous new pen.... ??

My daughter's pick from yesterday's Waterstones visit. She picked this one because of the cool green page edges - she's learning!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Today's purchases. The bookmark is a Bodleian Library one and is illustrated on both sides - woo!

Well, I endured the heatwave, a reading slump & a week long bout of the morbs and now I'm back on top form! And it's the start of the summer holidays for me and my girl - no school/work for 6 weeks!!!

Next on my list is this one - not sure why I even have this as it's really Not My Thing. But I sometimes like to try stuff I initially reject on that fairly tenuous basis - even if it's just to confirm that, yes, this really is Not My Thing!

I have properly got the morbs today. Just can't shake off this gloomy mood! Can I get some recommendations for some lighthearted, humorous easy reading that doesn't require much in the way of concentration? I'm going to try & read myself out of this funk....

I'm giving this So-So because I'm genuinely unsure how I feel about. Was it good or bad? Boring or intriguing? Hmm, I really don't know! It had its moments but was mainly left wondering what it had all been about. There's LOTS of Parisian street names that's for sure! I did enjoy the sections about the women during WW2 but I have a vague suspicion it might be really nicely written mumbo-jumbo! And the ending was pure cheese 🧀

Er, no. Wine is a personality trait?! I'm too old for such nonsense.

If you've ever wanted to learn calligraphy I can recommend this book as an ideal introduction. One day, my friends, I WILL have the penmanship of a Charles Dickens character!

I was feeling a little flat this morning. Then this arrived on my Kindle - had totally forgotten it was out today so it was a nice surprise. And if Becky Chambers & her gorgeous writing can't unflatten me today nobody can!

Also I love the cover art for this series!

Starting this #NetGalley book tonight. Not really sure what possessed me to request this one as the title suggests it's the type of thing I normally avoid. But I'm gonna give it a try .... I'll let you know how it goes 😏

This is how I spent my Saturday afternoon. It was absolutely stunning.

So I found this book hiding on my daughter's bookshelf and I just don't know how it got there! There's absolutely no chance it caught my eye on my morning supermarket run. There's no way I just couldn't resist and slipped it in my basket. I totally did not buy it despite being on a book buying ban. No, it was not me.

Honest 😈

It's Saga Day again folks! I have really been enjoying Fiona Staples' art since Saga's return & this issue is no exception.

Annoyingly affected and cliche laden writing style. Hated the chapter intros with their semi-spoilers & deliberate vagueness, meant to tease & intrigue but just irritated. Plot was decent but full of gaping holes. Not keen on the tortured romance or the totally unnecessary death of the female MC. All a bit grim. Not the worst thing I've ever read by a long shot but a bit melodramatic for me. 14 year old emo me would've responded more favorably!

Starting this one today. Not sure I'm in the right frame of mind for it really, was fancying something light and funny. But this is next on The List and The List MUST BE OBEYED!!!! 🤣🤣🤣😳

This is a soothing and soul-restoring read, featuring various intriguing personalities & detailing their intimate relationships with the sea. The descriptions of the sea & the activities that take place on & next to it are vivid & evocative, gently poetic & strangely calming & comforting - the author makes writing this well seem so easy! Loved the chapters about 'wrecking', collecting cowrie shells and free diving. Interesting & thought provoking.

My daughter got this gorgeous little book from the children's literature festival we went to at the weekend. She got it signed by the author and listened to a talk she gave about afro hair.

Not a huge fan of the clunky title but otherwise I love this cover! Another treat from The Big Malarkey literaturefestival, run by Hull Libraries.

Can I get some recommendations on books about writing/for the would-be writer? I fell off that particular horse a while ago and have lost the confidence to get back on. (Still love a good metaphor though! 🐴🖋🤣)

Picked up this delightful little volume at a children's art and literature festival we attended at the weekend.