Slow but steady progress with #SeriesLove2025 . This is book 2 in the 5 book series set in England during WWII.

Howard excels at writing interesting characters that are fully human, with all the good and the bad that comes with that. And her balance is impeccable as well with this exceptionally large cast of an extended family and their servants.

The UK/US covers are a little bland IMO, so I have included some of the foreign editions for fun.

#OhCanada
#ShelfSweeper
#4Elizabeth
#WeekendReads

#ThreeListThursday
#TLT

Thank you for the tag @dabbe 😊

I agree, the list was particularly Pratchett heavy! 😅 Pictured are three titles that I would like to re-read and lucky me, the tagged book is going to be the #HashtagBrigade pick for September! 🥳

These are all books I physically own that I hope to read in May for the #ShelfSweeper readathon hosted by @Tove_Reads and @Andrew65 .

I didn‘t see any from @eanderson ‘s list that happened to coincide with my plans but I will still be reading in her memory #4Elizabeth ❤️ If there is a heaven, surely it is a library.

Happy Spring #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub members! Our choice for May is the tagged by club favorite Susan Scarlett, aka Noel Streatfield. Based on previous books by her, I expect a heroine we can root for and a baddie we can love to hate! 🤞😂

Be sure to tag everyone when you post blurbs or a review so we can like and comment. Read at your own pace.

All are welcome. If anyone wants to be added/removed from the tag list, let me know.

@LitsyEvents

#whereareyoumonday
#roll100

I‘m on the home front in Britain in 1940. The extended Cazalet clan has taken up permanent residence on the Sussex estate. Told mostly from the perspective of the third generation of the family teenagers Louise, Clarey, and Polly who experience the uncertainty of life during wartime while also navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood.

#weekendreads

Busy weekend for me, but I do have all three on Kindle, so I might be able to squeeze a little in here and there on my phone. 🤞😬

I‘m going to try to read all six of my May #Roll100 options. 🤞

Tagging @BarbaraBB and @CarolynM because I know you will cheer me on to read your favorite Iris Murdoch. 😅

🎲 3 - The Black Prince
🎲 30 - Shadow and Bone

🎲 4 - Tell Me How You Live
🎲 40 - The Law and the Lady

🎲 7 - Baby Doll Games
🎲 70 - Dr. No

#EBBR

Ready for another round with our favorite boy detective? Time to put in your hold or otherwise grab a copy of the tagged for May.

Looking at the cover of the 1967 edition with the polar bear, I remember the solution to that particular mystery! It‘s weird what sticks from childhood, huh?

This buddy read is open for all-if anyone not tagged wants to be, let me know. Equally, if anyone wants to be removed, say the word.

@LitsyEvents

#OffMyShelf “New Author”

Little Bee flees violence and murder in Nigeria only to encounter prejudice and indifference in England. She seeks out a British couple and their horrific original chance meeting and its repercussions are revealed.

I appreciated the message in this book, which calls for compassion towards asylum seekers, but I didn‘t get on with the style. It felt too heavy and obvious. Glad to have experienced this author however.

#OffMyShelf “Award Winning”
#ChunksterChallenge2025
#AllergictoChunksters

Longlisted for the 2020 International Booker, it also won two German awards per the back flap.

It took me two months to read this 1275 page monster. It‘s a multigenerational saga about a Georgian family from 1900 to 2007. Very melodramatic - I didn‘t particularly like it but appreciated the mental workout of reading in German. I read it w/ a friend & complained to her. 😂

#WhereAreYouMonday

Apparently based on Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, I am still with Maggie Tulliver and co. in the mid 19th century reading for #HashtagBrigade . The “real river” is the Trent and it is quite imposing looking. “Floss” sounds so sweet and gentle. But the Trent is known for its dramatic flooding that can even change the course of the river.

#moodboardcontest #mbc

Congratulations @dabbe on your 200k milestone! 👏👏👏

My mood board is a selection of dream libraries and book nooks on Pinterest. It is a reflection of where I go in my head when I need a break from reality. I find them soothing to look at. ☺️

#whereareyoumonday

I appear to be in Kingston upon Thames in greater London some time earlier this century with a young Nigerian refugee, Little Bee, and a recently widowed mother and her young son. There‘s a bit of a mystery as to how they are connected and what Little Bee has escaped.

Checking in with my #EBBR pals! I was bested in three cases. I‘ll put in under a spoiler comment my issue with one particular.

Fun fact: we find that Encyclopedia lives in a state with a coastline! I‘m imagining Oregon.

I am enjoying the goofy humor, like:

“I‘ve seen a match box and a boardwalk, but I‘ve never had to solve a pillowcase,” said Encyclopedia thoughtfully. 😂

“He‘s like a set of false teeth, always trying to get even” 🤣

I‘m excited to join in this summer with #CampLitsy25 ! These are my nominations. Whatever we end up reading, the experience and discussion are always enlightening.

This quiz was fun. I‘m mostly purple. One of the books suggested was Cloud Atlas , which I loved, which tracks. But I‘m also almost equally orange, which leans towards epic fantasy. Try it! https://www.readyourcolor.com/take-the-assessment

Thanks for the link and post @TheLudicReader ! 😊

#whereareyoumonday

Nancy and I head down to Florida. Perfect timing for spring break!

#weekendreads

Two chunksters this weekend. Won‘t finish either, naturally, but steady as she goes.

#50KGIVEAWAY

Congratulations on reaching this milestone @CSeydel ! 🥳 And thank you for the giveaway opportunity.

As others have pointed out, there are many, many things to love about Litsy. For this prompt, I‘m gonna say DISCOVERY. I love encountering books and authors I might not otherwise. It‘s an adventure! 😊

Hello fellow amateur sleuths! Time to pick up a copy of the next book for this month‘s #EBBR group read. I‘ll check in with y‘all in a couple of weeks to see how you fared!

This buddy read is open to all. Let me know if you would like to be tagged. 😃

I‘m going with library a ebook/audiobook combo this month unless, like with Cranford, I develop such a passion that I break down and buy a copy!

#HashtagBrigade

#WhereAreYouMonday

This Monday I find myself in an alternative historical, steampunk version of early 20th century Cairo, where magic and djinns are commonplace. A murder mystery with supernatural elements, this fantasy world that Clark has created is fantastic.

I‘m back on track with #OffMyShelf “Favorite Author” after a slew of library books paused my efforts.

This was very entertaining and one of her cleverer plots: three deaths, connected by method but the motive is obscure. The puzzle intrigues Poirot and brings him out of retirement. Mr. Satterthwaith, a reoccurring character from some non-Poirot short stories takes on the role of Hastings somewhat in aiding Poirot.

#weekendreads

Busy weekend for me, but should finish the Christie title today. 🤞

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 What do you think about the novel‘s imagined trajectory for humanity? Do you see it as a positive or negative development? Did any of you also read “Almost Human”, one of our earlier group reads? It posits a very different possibility.

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 The characters are fairly flat, which isn‘t uncommon for some classic SciFi. Did particular character or behavior stand out to you? Maybe Karellen? He‘s the only one present in all three sections of the book.

Thank you for the tag @Deblovestoread 😊

1. I don‘t have any good way of finding inner peace. It‘s always an uphill battle for me. So if you struggle too, you are not alone.

2. I don‘t know of any book personally that gives or helps maintain inner peace. But I do reread Agatha Christie novels for succor. I find them soothing. Probably because they are nostalgic and because there is always a clear resolution at the end.

#Two4Tuesday

My #Roll100 picks for April are pretty sweet. I already read Jazz back in February, so only have two “musts”.

Marking Time will work for #SeriesLove2025, as it‘s the second in the Cazalet Chronicles.

I own a physical copy of Little Bee and will make it work for #OffMyShelf

#WhereAreYouMonday

I spontaneously decided to jaunt to Cornwall, England. This is a Christie title that I‘ve seen adapted, but never actually read. This will also help me get back on track with #OffMyShelf because I own a physical copy. 🤞

My weekend plans for #weekendreads

1. Finish Mr. Loverman and Red Clocks for #Roll100 .

2. Get stuck in to Childhood‘s End for #ClassicLSFBC .

I‘m pausing on Das Achte Leben for now. Will pick up again in April. 🤞

A thumbs up because I do love Pratchett and the Discworld, but this has to be my least favorite thus far. I did laugh and appreciated the message about the abuse of power (all too close to reality alas) but the story was a bit of an unwieldy mess. Also, The Luggage 🧳❤️! IYKYK

#SeriesLove2025

Two thumbs up 👍! This was my 3rd time reading this and it never disappoints-especially since I never remember the details! 😆 If you‘re going to read one Victorian Gothic novel, make it this one; epistolatory and perfectly paced. Thank you to @BarkingMadRead for leading the #HashtagBrigade ! 🙏

This counts toward my #AllergictoChunksters / #ChunksterChallenge2025 at 626 pages!

I listen to this mostly and the Blackstone audio production was 👌

#WhereAreYouMonday

This Monday I find myself back in the bizarrely comforting Discworld, upheld on the backs of four elephants riding on the back of a spacefaring turtle 🐢 . Specifically at Ahnk-Moorpork and the Unseen University. Only 50 pages in but loving being back “home”.

😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹

“I meant,” said Ipslore, bitterly, “what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?”

Death thought about it.

CATS, he said eventually, CATS ARE NICE.

😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻😹😻

Be free my little friends!

Oh Jimjams. I had flashbacks to Mr. Jones in “Murder While You Work” 😱🐶💔

Quiet, middle aged Miss MacFarren takes in a lodger to make ends meet. Mrs. Banks comes with great references…but something‘s not right. Should have listened to your gut instinct Elinor MacFarren! This is a kind of domestic horror (the housekeeping kind-no blood or guts) with a little romance & film satire tossed in.

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Well fellow sleuths! How did you fare this time with the latest #EBBR? I missed “The Case of the Hungry Hitchhiker”. 🤭

I also cracked up in the first story when I read “He wore a face longer than the last day of school.” 😂

I have a real mystery to solve. Does anyone know what happened to @ bthegood? Her page and handle have disappeared. I hope it‘s just a Litsy glitch and she will make her way back. 🤞❤️

#WhereAreYouMonday

I‘m somewhere on the high seas between Rotterdam and NYC with Nancy and co. Weirdly, there‘s no explanation for the trip. How long were Nancy, Bess and George in Europe? Were they in The Netherlands 🇳🇱 only? Inquiring minds want to know! 😅

#OffMyShelf. “Poetry”

This was a collection of some of Marquis‘ writings (including poems) from his newspaper columns between 1916 and 1922 featuring Archy, a cockroach who is the reincarnation of a free verse poet. Less frequent but nonetheless memorable are entries from the alley cat Mehitabel (toujours gai!).

Way more entertaining than I expected and also a fantastic time machine back to a time when newspapers were ubiquitous.

#WhereAreYouMonday

While the characters will move from Georgia to other parts of Europe as part of their journeys through the 20th and 21st centuries, this epic novel is centered in and about a Georgian multigenerational family. The story‘s heart and soul is in Georgia.

This is my #Roll100 stack for March. All library books which is thwarting my efforts to read what I already own in 2025. 😬

However, the Pratchett works for #SeriesLove2025 and will be an easy read anyway. I think Mr. Lover man will also be achievable if Girl, Woman, Other was any indication. Let‘s see about the other two. 🤞

Reading this month‘s #EBBR book, I wondered:

1. Why anyone would trust Bugs Meany or make a bet with him! 😂

2. Why does he wear a “Jughead hat “? Were those real?

So I looked up the hat. From Wikipedia: A whoopee cap is a style of headwear popular among youths in the mid-20th cent. in the US…made from a felt fedora hat with the brim trimmed with a scalloped cut and turned up…often decorated with buttons, badges, or bottle caps.

Who knew? 🤔

#weekendreads

📕Still reading the tagged for the poetry prompt for #OffMyShelf

📗Encyclopedia Brown is this month‘s #EBBR

📘Not at Home is for #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

📙Das Achte Leben I pulled down on a whim. It‘s gonna take me a few months to finish but it‘ll work for #ChunksterChallenge2025 and #AllergictoChunksters

Th it s is my pretty edition of this month‘s #HashtagBrigade book. Though I‘m probably going to do as much as possible on audio with a Hoopla download from my library.

Looking forward to it. It‘s a re-read for me but a real favorite. I love getting lost in a chunky Victorian novel.

Hello #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reading friends! Our 2nd group read of 2025 kicks off in March. This‘ll be the 3rd title from Moore that we‘ve read together. IMO her books aren‘t particularly cosy - they definitely have a few sharp edges. Let‘s see how this one turns out. 🤔

Read at your own pace and be sure to tag the group when you post.

Any one is welcome to join us. Please let me know if you‘d like to be added or removed from the tag list.

#OffMyShelf “Published in last 2 years”

I generally don‘t care for short stories, but I love Atkinson - her writing style, her sense of humor and her pessimism about human nature. These stories are mainly interconnected and it was fun to find the links. They are also often slightly speculative and fantastical in nature.

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick.

If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🐈‍⬛ Eet had more personality than the humans (“just so”) in the book. What did you think of Eet as a character and his relationship with Murdoc?

A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick.

If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🐈‍⬛ This was full-on adventure SciFi with little to no underlying meaning or hidden agenda. I could totally see it published in a pulp serial of the past. Did you enjoy the plot?

#OffMyShelf “Banned book”

In 2022 A Tennessee school district banned this Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic memoir about the Holocaust due to “inappropriate language” and an illustration of a nude woman.

Spiegelman‘s parents were both survivors of Auschwitz. This memoir is his father‘s story and also coming to terms with their relationship; a child of survivors. I‘m not a fan of graphic novels, I find them hard to parse. But this was powerful.

#WhereAreYouMonday

I‘m still in 1920s New York City, but now in the world of dark corners, crumbs on the floor, spiders and rats and the perspective of a poet reincarnated as a cockroach. It‘s oddly adorable.