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squirrelbrain

squirrelbrain

Joined June 2017

Speed-reader who's trying to slow down...
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squirrelbrain
The Safekeep | Yael van der Wouden
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Thanks for the tag! @Mitch

1. The tagged book will be on my favourite list for 2024 as well as just for August.

2. I prefer paper books, but read all three types - they all have their place!

3. Probably literary fiction.

#wondrouswednesday

TheKidUpstairs Unsurprisingly, I second all your answers! 3h
Eggs Thanks for playing 🥰🤗 2h
Suet624 With you on all three answers. 2h
See All 6 Comments
Mitch Love the tagged book. I bought this one because I was attracted to the pretty cover - but was surprisingly also blown away by the story. Loved it. It‘ll be on my end of year lists for sure. 2h
squirrelbrain Book triplets! ❤️❤️❤️ @TheKidUpstairs @Suet624 1h
squirrelbrain @Mitch - I had it as an ARC but didn‘t get round to reading it until it made the Booker list. 🤦‍♀️ I‘m so glad I did though! 1h
17 likes6 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

Whew, this was a tough read, but definitely worth it. The author, whose previous book was about her own experience of sexual abuse, focuses on the 4 women who told their stories during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as the defence‘s attempts to discredit them.

A slight quibble would be a couple of areas that seemed repetitive - sometimes it was clearly deliberate for emphasis but there were some points that needed better editing.

slategreyskies I would not be able to read this book. This sort of thing makes me furious. I have a close friend whose daughter went through this, & even though she was a minor, she had to testify in court, & the defense did the same thing to her. She was the one on trial rather than the man who was the true criminal. In her case, the only reason that the man received a guilty verdict & got jail time is because of my friend‘s testimony from walking in on it. 5d
slategreyskies (Cont.) The defense was able to discredit her, because of her trauma. The system fails survivors. 5d
squirrelbrain Yes, @slategreyskies - they tried to discredit them in SO many ways. There is some positivity in there though - the author interviewed some jurors after the trial and they were convinced by the 4 witnesses from the start. 5d
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Institution | Helen Fields
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Pickpick

I loved Profile K by this same author so bought this, a previous novel, at the Crimewriting Festival where I saw her speak.

I‘ve realised that my issue is that I‘m not a huge fan of ‘locked room‘ mysteries / crime - they‘re not expansive / wide- ranging / as full of opportunities for me.

That said, I did enjoy this one for the most part and at least I‘ve learned what style of crime I like. 🤪

BarbaraBB Great review. Locked room is not my favorite genre either (thinking of the tagged one, which I hated, and of No Exit which I didn‘t like much either) but at least this one got a pick from you! 5d
Leniverse I love locked room mysteries if they are clever enough that I can't work them out but if I look back I realise all the clues were there. 4d
Cathythoughts I‘m not a fan of the locked room mystery either Helen. But I love a good literary thriller 👍🏻 13h
squirrelbrain Yeah, I don‘t think this one is particularly literary @Cathythoughts 🤷‍♀️ 3h
46 likes4 comments
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squirrelbrain
Evenings and Weekends | Oisn McKenna
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Pickpick

I had high hopes for all of my holiday reads - that‘s why I chose them to take - but, whilst they were all good, they didn‘t live up to my expectations.

This one, failed to pull me in completely, I think because none of the characters were very likeable, and it was a bit Rooney-esque in that they were all failing to communicate properly. It had a bit more bite than a Rooney though, hence the pick.

BarbaraBB Hi 👋🏽 Henry 🐾! I can be so annoyed when the books I bring on vacation don‘t live up to my expectations since I spend so much time selecting them 😀 5d
julesG Henry looking cute and puppy-is. 5d
julesG Puppy-ish - DYAC!! 5d
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain I know @BarbaraBB - it‘s so annoying! I‘m worried about my Gladstone‘s books already. 😳 4d
squirrelbrain I know what you meant! @julesG 🤪 4d
BarbaraBB I intend to play safe, with authors I trust 😀😀 4d
52 likes6 comments
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squirrelbrain
Kala: A Novel | Colin Walsh
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Pickpick

This was the first book I read on my hols and, probably because I had such high hopes after seeing the author speak, I was ever so slightly disappointed that it didn‘t quite live up to my expectations.

I still liked it, but it was very violent and I didn‘t feel particularly connected to either the characters or the setting so it felt like I skimmed along the surface rather than being engrossed in the story.

Content warning below ⬇️

squirrelbrain As well as the violence against humans there is serious violence against animals, specifically dogs. 5d
squirrelbrain @TrishB - take note of the warning if you plan on reading this. ⬆️ 5d
TrishB Oh I was thinking about this one today when I chose one off my kindle. That puts me off completely though. The humans fine….thank you 😘 5d
squirrelbrain @TrishB - I can tell you where it is if you do want to read it - it‘s not throughout the book. 5d
julesG @TrishB 😁 can understand it. Don't touch the animals 5d
46 likes5 comments
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squirrelbrain
Highway Thirteen: Stories | Fiona McFarlane
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Thanks for the gift, Jess @jhod ! We just got back from our hols today and it was waiting for me.

Henry had a fun time in Keswick - visiting The Pocket Bar twice and being made a fuss of by the staff in there!

It sounds like a fascinating book and I‘m sure I‘ll love it - I‘ve looked up the reviews and they‘re not *that* mixed - pretty positive, I think.

TrishB And so beautifully modelled ❤️ 5d
LeahBergen Look at that sweet Henry ❤️ 5d
42 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Thank you for your lovely gifts @Caroline2 @Cathythoughts ! 😘

Sorry I didn‘t post pictures of the *actual* gifts - this morning was rather hectic as we hadn‘t packed much ready for our hols.

Pic is the view from our pitch in the Lake District.

BarbaraBB What a beautiful scenery! And still sunny! Enjoy 😘 2w
Cathythoughts Have a wonderful time. Happy birthday Helen 😘 2w
Cathythoughts I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did ❤️ 2w
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain It‘s been on my radar for a while @Cathythoughts as it was rumoured for the Booker so I‘m looking forward to seeing how it compares to Wild Houses. 2w
Caroline2 Oh no! A duplicate!! I am so sorry. I hope you have a lovely holiday though. ❤️ 2w
squirrelbrain No worries @Caroline2 - I‘m sure it will be fabulous as I stacked it from your original review. And it was nearly a triplicate as Kate nearly bought it too so clearly a great book! ❤️ 2w
youneverarrived Have a lovely time in the Lakes 🤍 1w
51 likes7 comments
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Thanks for all of my wonderful birthday gifts! (Not featured here, vouchers from @julesG @TrishB @MicheleinPhilly @Hooked_on_books )

@quietlycuriouskate - The Wonder sounds fabulous, as does Fifteen Wild Decembers @youneverarrived and I love the notebooks and bookmark too.

@BarbaraBB - both books sounds fabulous - isn‘t These Silent Woods a strange shape though?!

@Megabooks - I‘ve been looking forward to reading Pomegranate ⬇️

squirrelbrain …for some time. And Henry loved his gift - I sent you an email with pics but I wonder if it was too many pics and it didn‘t arrive. 2w
squirrelbrain @Oryx - Emma - Margo landed on the doormat just as I was writing this so I took a different picture with her added in. I‘m so excited for this one! 2w
TrishB Oh fabulous! Have a lovely evening 😘 2w
See All 20 Comments
BarbaraBB Such great gifts. Your Littens do know you well! Yes, it is a strange format isn‘t it?! (edited) 2w
Megabooks Helen! I‘m so glad you‘re enjoying your birthday! I‘m glad Henry likes his squirrel, too. I did get pics of that handsome boy with it! I had some bookmarks wrapped to go with your birthday gift. Perhaps they got knocked out of the bow. That is for your bday, too! I hope you have a great time camping and celebrating with H & J!!! 🎉💜🎉💜🎉 2w
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I listened to that on audio, and it was really good! 2w
Ruthiella Happy Birthday! 🥳🥳🥳 2w
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I read it because of you and loved it! 2w
squirrelbrain @Megabooks 🤦‍♀️- sorry I knew I‘d forget to thank someone for something. 😳 I‘m only sorry it was you as I loved the bookmarks! 😘 2w
squirrelbrain Thank you! @ruthiella 🥰 2w
Suet624 Happy birthday!!! 2w
Hooked_on_books Happiest of birthdays to you! I love those mini notebooks. They‘re perfect! 2w
quietlycuriouskate Nice haul! (I was sooooo close to choosing "Fifteen Wild Decembers" instead.) Hope you're having a lovely day. 2w
squirrelbrain That was lucky then! 😮‍💨 @quietlycuriouskate I‘ve had a lovely day, thank you! 2w
squirrelbrain They‘re so cute aren‘t they? @Hooked_on_books 2w
marleed Happy Birthday!! 2w
LeahBergen Happy Birthday! 😘😘 2w
Lcsmcat Happy birthday! 🎁🎂 2w
youneverarrived I‘m glad you like them 🩷 1w
60 likes20 comments
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squirrelbrain
Shy Creatures | Clare Chambers
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I said I wasn‘t going to go book shopping today but happened to be walking past Waterstones and got propelled in by an unknown force.

I couldn‘t revisit this beautiful copy, and it‘s signed as well, so it was lucky that I had a birthday voucher from @julesG burning a hole in my phone! 🤣

Thanks Jules! 😘

Oryx This same force made me buy this last week. The same force also reminded me to use a voucher. 2w
Prairiegirl_reading Happy birthday! 🥳 That is a gorgeous copy!! 2w
rubyslippersreads I can see why you couldn‘t resist. 😍 Happy Birthday! 🎂 2w
See All 9 Comments
julesG 😍 Gorgeous edition. Glad you liked your gift. 😉 2w
readingjedi That is gorgeous 😍 2w
AnneCecilie Love the edges 2w
squirrelbrain It is beautiful isn‘t it?! @Prairiegirl_reading @rubyslippersreads - thank you for the birthday wishes! 2w
squirrelbrain Where would we be without the ‘force‘?! @Oryx 2w
TrishB It‘s lovely ♥️ 2w
57 likes9 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Open Book | Wigtown, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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❤️❤️❤️

Lovely article about how well The Open Book in Wigtown is doing. This is the bookshop where you stay and run it for a few days / weeks at a time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y844905n9o

❤️❤️❤️

SamAnne Absolutely love this concept. Just returned from Scotland but alas did not have time for a visit there! 3w
squirrelbrain @SamAnne - I really want to visit Wigtown sometime soon…. 2w
63 likes2 comments
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squirrelbrain
Tell Me Everything | Elizabeth Strout
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Pickpick

I still really liked this, but it‘s not my favourite ‘Lucy Barton‘ book. As well as Lucy, Bob Burgess is highly featured, as is Olive Kitteridge.

Early on, there were too many disparate threads and inconsequential stories about characters we‘d never met before. The book soon picked up though, as Bob becomes involved in a murder investigation - I wished this had been the whole focus of the book.

#netgalley
Published 19th Sept in the UK.

BarbaraBB I‘ve been looking forward to this one! 3w
sarahbarnes What @BarbaraBB said! Sorry to hear you didn‘t love it. 1w
squirrelbrain I still liked it though @sarahbarnes - I think my expectations were too high after Lucy By The Sea. 1w
sarahbarnes I get it! My expectations are high as well. 1w
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
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squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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#camplitsy24

Well, here it is….! Your final winning book of this year‘s camp is BEAR! 🐻

No huge surprise there, I don‘t think, but we did have some votes for The Alternatives too - Bear won by 27 votes to 6.

Look out for Barbara posting the final vote shortly… I‘m excited to see what we choose for our overall winner of #camplitsy24!

See All 12 Comments
Bookwormjillk Thank you so much for hosting! 3w
TrishB Thank you 👍🏻 3w
DebinHawaii Somehow, I missed the vote but it would have been for Bear. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thanks again for hosting a great camp. Heading off to vote for my favorite. 3w
Ruthiella No surprising at all. Thanks so much to you, @BarbaraBB and @Megabooks for doing all the work. It was fantastic! 3w
69 likes12 comments
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squirrelbrain
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#camplitsy24

It‘s time to vote for your favourite book from August!

Will it be The Alternatives or Bear going up against Clear and James?! Let us know in the comments below ⬇️ with reasons why (if you want to!).

I‘ll announce the result once everyone has had the chance to vote, and then Barbara will be along with the vote for the overall favourite of #camplitsy24.

See All 43 Comments
Kitta Hands down 3w
Kitta The experimental structure of the alternatives made no sense to me, why was there a play script?? Also I didn‘t totally understand the motivations of going off into the woods and leaving her life behind. I felt like I was sitting in a lecture too often too. Bear was definitely a better read for me, interesting unreliable narrator and tension between the family and the danger of the bear itself! A more satisfying read. 🐻 3w
Bookwormjillk I couldn‘t get through The Alternatives (although I want to try again.) I vote 3w
Soubhiville Definitely Bear. I had to bail on TA. 3w
BarbaraBB For me, this is the easiest choice of the three months. 🐻 it is! (edited) 3w
JamieArc Bear for me! 3w
TrishB I did finish both - but Bear definitely for me. Melancholy and sad 😞 3w
mcctrish I never got to Bead so it‘s The Alternatives for me 3w
DGRachel I‘m going to have to go against popular opinion here and vote for The Alternatives. That one at least didn‘t leave me feeling like life was completely without purpose or hope. 3w
TheKidUpstairs I'm probably be in the minority, but my vote goes to 3w
MicheleinPhilly Bear! Thanks for an EXCELLENT month, Helen! 😘 3w
Suet624 Bear! Definitely Bear. 3w
AmyG Bear 3w
TheBookHippie Bear! 3w
Megabooks No contest for me 3w
CBee If it‘s okay for me to vote, I vote for Bear (since it‘s the only one I read 😂). 3w
sarahbarnes Voting for Bear! 3w
Prairiegirl_reading Didn‘t love it but at least I finished it! 3w
Ruthiella Not a huge fan of either, but because it really challenged my reading muscles 3w
kspenmoll Bear! 3w
Deblovestoread For me it‘s definitely 3w
Christine Thank you for hosting a wonderful month! I‘ll go with 3w
Chelsea.Poole Bear for me! Thanks for counting these votes! 3w
Hooked_on_books Definitely Bear for me 3w
Meshell1313 Thanks for hosting! So fun! My vote is for: 3w
CarolynM The Alternatives was a bit inconsistent so I‘m going for 3w
BarbaraJean Bear! 3w
GatheringBooks Thank you so much for hosting. I vote for 3w
Larkken I liked the fable elements in Bear, and The Alternatives was uneven and preachy so Bear for me 3w
57 likes43 comments
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squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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And our last question of #camplitsy24 for this year…. Let‘s talk about the ending of the book - what did you think?

Tomorrow we‘ll vote between Bear and The Alternatives and then Barbara will post shortly asking you for your #camplitsy24 favourite.

We hope you‘ve enjoyed August‘s books - thank you all for your valuable and insightful contributions! ❤️

See All 59 Comments
Bookwormjillk Thank you for hosting. I‘m sad camp is over but next summer will be here before we know it I‘m sure. I was dissatisfied with the ending. I wanted to know more about what happened with the mom and the boyfriend. I was happy Sam finally left even if it was without E. Bittersweet. 4w
TrishB I expected that to happen to one of them, just wasn‘t sure which! I don‘t think Sam would have left on her own so needed the support of someone. A means to an end. Elena‘s boyfriend seemed like he wanted it to be a proper relationship- whether that would have survived the class divide 🤷‍♀️ 4w
TrishB Thanks Helen, Barbara and Meg ❤️ another summer waving goodbye. 4w
DGRachel The only thing that surprised me was Sam leaving with the guy from the ferry. I fully expected Elena to get eaten. How could she not, being so stupid around a wild animal. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I was glad Sam got out and I don‘t think she would have or emotionally could have with Elena alive. I don‘t think she was mentally strong enough. 4w
DGRachel (I feel like I should have waited for @TrishB to post her comment as we were typing essentially the same thing at the same time. 😂) And yes, thank you all for a great summer camp. Almost all books I would never have picked up on my own and only one I just couldn‘t force myself through. I call that a personal success! 4w
Kitta I agree with @TrishB and @DGRachel I don‘t think Sam would have left on her own. I thought the relationships with the two men were interesting, I think the sisters acted similarly. Both men seemed to want more from the sisters and Sam was dismissive, while Elena kept everything secret even from Sam. I expect their trauma prevented them from being able to be more invested, and Elena keeping the whole thing secret surprised me! They seemed detached. 4w
Jess Thanks everyone for a fantastic summer! Even though I expected that someone would be attacked by the bear at some point during the book, I was surprised it was Elena and was surprised by the violence (her face?!). I really thought it was going to be Sam or the boyfriend and Elena was going to be confronted with actions. 4w
Kitta Thanks to all our hosts! I really enjoyed Bear, and got out of my regular reading zone and tried things I wouldn‘t have otherwise! Even if I hated All Fours, we had a great discussion. I love camp, it‘s my favourite “book club” and really appreciate the work you guys put into it! See you all again next year!! 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures @Jess the violence was so abrupt!! I had to go back and reread the paragraphs because that just happened?? 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures Helen Barbara and Meg!! Thanks so much for hosting, I absolutely love the Camp so many books I would not have read and great discussions to make me really think about them. 4w
sarahbarnes Echoing the thanks to you all for hosting a fabulous summer! The ending was so sad, but then it felt so inevitable. Both Sam and Elena seemed like they were on their own paths toward self-destruction at the end. Sam‘s actions led to this tragedy, but would it have eventually happened anyway? And then Sam ends up getting what she wants - to leave - but it feels so meaningless. 4w
TheKidUpstairs Like others, I was fully expecting things to go bad with the bear, but I thought it would be Sam who got mauled. 4w
TheKidUpstairs I wasn't crazy about the second half of this book. I'm still trying to put my finger on exactly why. I am usually okay with bleak, dark endings, but the whole second half was just a black hole for me. Maybe because I didn't see any growth or even growth potential from Sam? Elena's role in things was fairly clear - don't feed bears, or they will eat you. But Sam doesn't seem to grow up at all. It felt very “life sucks and people die“ 4w
GatheringBooks Like the others, I fully expected Elena‘s death, but intrigued by everyone else‘s notions about either Sam or the bf getting mauled as a result of her actions, that would have been an unexpected twist of sorts. Agree with @TheKidUpstairs that it was truly a bleak ending. But I appreciated the sense of harsh reality it surfaced; it felt authentic to me. I prefer to see the ending as hopeful though tinged with grief and loss. 4w
TheKidUpstairs @DGRachel @TrishB I agree that Sam likely never would have left on her own, but I also didn't see any growth from her so I don't think she'll be able to find her own way. I think she'll push Ben away with the same stubborn “I don't need you“ attitude she's had all along, but then I see her failing on her own. Maybe it's because she reads so young to me, she seems like a teenager (which is understandable given her life thus far). I don't see hope. 4w
TheKidUpstairs And a big thank you to you Helen, and to @BarbaraBB and @Megabooks for another great summer of #CampLitsy24 - I so appreciate all the work you guys put in. And to all the other campers - it's been such an enriching experience reading along side you all! 4w
TheKidUpstairs @Jess I missed your comment when I posted mine - totally agree I thought it would be Sam who was attacked and then we'd get a last chapter from Elena's POV having to reckon with what she'd brought on. 4w
DGRachel @TheKidUpstairs I completely agree about the odds of Sam continuing to be miserable. I think that lack of hope at the end is what made this so heavy and depressing for me. It‘s very much “life sucks, then your sister gets eaten by a bear, and then you die”. 4w
TheBookHippie I figured if one got eaten by the bear it‘d be Elena. Sam actually knew to stay away from danger and avoided closeness as a protective measure whereas Elena was social and gave to everyone and took care of everyone. Her death freed Sam, and even freed herself. It‘s just not pretty or tidy. 4w
TrishB @DGRachel @TheKidUpstairs I like to think that maybe she would have taken up some opportunities and spread her wings and lived life to the full 😁 doubt it, but you never know! 4w
Ruthiella The end was shocking but not surprising once we have all the pieces put together. @TrishB @DGRachel @TheKidUpstairs Sam is definitely going to schlep her issues with her wherever she goes and now she‘s got the added trauma of losing her sister. I feel sorry for the boyfriend. Maybe she‘ll get help, but she isn‘t the kind to ask for it. 4w
AmyG I had a gut feeling the bear would kill Elena. Elena always seemed to have her “shi*” together yet it was Sam, in this case, who was the wiser one. I love a good, crazy ending…so this was fun for me. 🤣 And….both girls “needed” men apparently…in spite of the experience with the stepfather. 4w
squirrelbrain I too thought it might be Sam @TrishB @dgrachel @jess @thekidupstairs and Elena left to deal with the consequences. 4w
AmyG And thank you organizers! What a great reading summer it‘s been. 4w
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome @TrishB @jess @Kitta @ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes @TheKidUpstairs - it‘s the campers who truly make this such a fun, inspiring, insightful event for us! @BarbaraBB @megabooks 4w
Megabooks Is it weird that I think they both found what they were looking for in a way? Sam found her ability to leave and strength, and Elena seems to have found a sense of wonder she lost in the day to day of caring for their mother. Maybe I'm remembering it wrong, and I know Elena is attacked, and she maybe didn't realize the danger she was facing, but I come away with her feeling of wonder about nature and life. (con't) 4w
Megabooks (con't) I'm sorry she had to die to find it, and I felt bad for the dude she left behind, but to feel the divine, the magical mysticism of the world -- whether in God or in nature if only for a bit -- would be amazing. 4w
TheKidUpstairs @Megabooks that's a really interesting thought about the sisters getting what they were looking for. It definitely plays into the fairy tale aspect - wishes fulfilled, but with far more dire consequences than the wisher is expecting. 4w
Megabooks @TheKidUpstairs Agreed. If it's a fairy tale. It's definitely a dark one. 4w
BarbaraBB Again I agree with @TheKidUpstairs that I doubt Sam will be able to find her way, as stubborn as she is. Also yes to @sarahbarnes, they are both so self-destructive. Bittersweet as @Bookwormjillk describes it. That says it all and I am a sucker for bittersweet endings 😀 (edited) 4w
BarbaraBB @Megabooks wow, that‘s a great take on the ending and maybe exactly what Julia Phillips meant. I felt sorry for the boyfriend but then again, we never noticed any form of attraction between them, maybe exactly why the book was only from Sam‘s pov. Food for thought! (edited) 4w
Meshell1313 I was not shocked. The whole time I could see that someone was going to die- you can‘t think a wild bear is a friend! Still a very pessimistic ending about there being no hope and no way out of suffering. 4w
Meshell1313 Can‘t believe camp is over! Thanks so much! I can‘t wait to see what the overall pick of the summer is! 4w
Deblovestoread I knew it would end badly but didn‘t guess who. I want to believe that Sam left, matured and had a good life but starting out in a relationship you aren‘t invested in doesn‘t usually lead to that. If it had been Sam who died I don‘t think Elena would have allowed herself to have a good life either. Sorry to see the end of camp! Thank you for a great summer of books! @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB 4w
TheKidUpstairs @TrishB I like your optimism! 😂 I can see her getting there eventually, but I think she's got a long road to face. 4w
DebinHawaii I wasn‘t sure who was going to suffer the most from the bear of the two but I suspected Elena given the book‘s POV from Sam. Still, the way that it ended with the bear killing her & going for her face was shocking. I was driving home from the airport last night listening to it & then had to listen again when I got home to make sure I heard it correctly. I don‘t hold out much home for a HE for Sam, like others (unless it‘s in her head but it) ⬇️ 4w
GatheringBooks Thank you for the seamless organization of the discussions, and just organizing everything so wonderfully. What a great camp, indeed! 4w
DebinHawaii … would be nice. Her immaturity & Ben really just being a means to an end of getting out to her, make me feel a little sorry (just a bit) for him. I liked this book, the setting & story kept me involved & while the ending was bleak, it fit. Thank you @squirrelbrain @Megabooks & @BarbaraBB for my 2nd wonderful Camp Litsy experience & everyone for the thought-provoking discussions. I love how it pushes me to read books I might not & think harder.🤗 (edited) 4w
squirrelbrain I can‘t wait either! @Meshell1313 - we‘ve read 6 great books! 4w
squirrelbrain @DebinHawaii - it was certainly shocking that it was so explicitly violent. 😮 4w
CarolynM I don‘t think I can add anything to what‘s already been said. Thanks Helen, Meg and Barbara for all your efforts with this year‘s camp 👏👏👏 4w
Hooked_on_books I‘m with @GatheringBooks on this one. I was just waiting for Elena to get mauled by the bear from the moment I first saw her reaction to it. And the ending felt authentic and right. I found hope in it, not just darkness. Thanks for being our counselor this month, Helen! (edited) 4w
CBee @Megabooks your comment isn‘t weird. I think it‘s what Elena wanted. Not that she necessarily wanted to die, but that she wanted this extreme escape from her day to day life. When Sam is imagining the bear as a prince and Elena as a princess, that resonated with me. And I do think it was a means to an end, for both of them. 4w
Megabooks @CBee thank you for picking up what I was putting down. 💜 it‘s a really interesting story and way of telling it. Not what I expected after reading disappearing earth, but I appreciate it a lot more after this discussion. 4w
JamieArc I wanted to give Sam a hug and send her right to therapy. I was so sad that the very thing she feared happened because of her. I was surprised at the mauling. My thought was that one of them would die by a gun. 4w
CBee @Megabooks absolutely nothing like Disappearing Earth, except they‘re both so well written and powerful. 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, I wondered about the gun too @JamieArc - I thought someone would shoot at the bear, and someone else would get in the way. 🤷‍♀️ 4w
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome @CarolynM @Hooked_on_books -it‘s been such fun! 4w
Chelsea.Poole Sorry I missed camp yesterday—caught up now, such interesting comments! @Megabooks your take on the sisters getting what they wanted in the end was a new way to think about the book for me. Great thought! Thanks to the hosts for another great year at camp! 🏕️ 📚 4w
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome! @Chelsea.Poole 3w
47 likes59 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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#camplitsy24

This part of the discussion is all about the 🐻.

We looked at fairy tale elements last week, but do you think that the bear is ‘just‘ a bear or is it an allegory for something else or a particular message to the reader?

Do you think the events surrounding the bear would have actually played out like this in real life? (note that we'll discuss that ending in Q3)

See All 45 Comments
Bookwormjillk I thought he was an allegory for the mom‘s bad boyfriend but the ending changed my mind. I was actually surprised when the bear turned out to be a bear. I thought it would end up being another abuser who the authorities weren‘t handling in a way that seemed appropriate to Sam. 4w
TrishB I saw it as Elena‘s bit of freedom! One thing she was keeping totally to herself as a break from everything else. She obviously wasn‘t thinking straight ofc! But she had a lot on her shoulders. 4w
DGRachel I‘m sure it was supposed to be a symbol for something, but I‘m not sure what. It shows how different the sisters view their world. For Elena, it was hope and magic, another positive experience that kept her anchored on their island. For Sam, it‘s one more reason to leave, one more reason to fear and hate the island. 4w
Kitta I did some looking into bear symbolism and in indigenous cultures it can represent family or parenthood, strength, and courage. And they‘re known for human-like qualities. https://spiritsofthewestcoast.com/collections/the-bear-symbol https://artinas.com/collections/bear/charles-harper Which is interesting to think their encounters happen while their mother is dying. In other cultures it represents a connection to another realm. ⬇️ 4w
Kitta Which makes this seem more fairytale-like (to me at least). So I think Elena interacting with the bear sort of represents her looking for care and connection. It‘s a magical experience for her and she doesn‘t recognize the danger because she‘s longing for something she‘s no longer getting at home. 4w
Jess Elena‘s life has been hard (past abuse, current responsibilities). I saw the bear and her flirtation with death as making her feel alive. 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures @Bookwormjillk oh I love the idea of it represented an abuser they were not getting help with. (Not love, b/c that would be awful for them but great storytelling) This never crossed my mind. 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures I live a few hours drive away from where this was set and I didn't realize until last year that we had bears here. You do not hear about them but my brother is an avid hunter (we are sooo different, I could never) and he got a bear hunting tag last year and I was flabbergasted which maybe set me up to believe in a bear on Shaw. 4w
Bookwormjillk @ChaoticMissAdventures I feel like there are so many different animals everywhere now than when I was a kid. There just aren't as many wooded areas so then end up in the suburbs. I live just outside of DC and we've had bears one town over, and I think there was even one in DC itself not too long ago! 4w
sarahbarnes I love all of these thoughts. It also felt like the bear represented something about the difference in the sisters. Elena accepted her fate and her place on the island and the bear was an element of magic for her in that. Sam feared anything or anyone coming in between her and Elena or their “plans” to leave and the bear represented something else she had to do away with. 4w
TheKidUpstairs I appreciated the mentions of Grizzly Man, because yes I think IRL it would have played out like this. Elena may have felt a magical connection to the bear, but the bear felt like it had found a food source.
4w
TheKidUpstairs I do think there was some symbolism/metaphor playing out there. Something about not romanticizing a dangerous reality or it will come back and bite you in the face. Both sisters were guilty of that - Elena with the bear, Sam with her stubborn and juvenile ideas of their future. 4w
GatheringBooks @Jess i love the phrase “flirtation with death” because that is precisely what it was, i felt. I also liked @TheKidUpstairs thoughts about Sam‘s “juvenile ideas of their future” which was also spot on. Perhaps the bear is an escape from life‘s drudgery and routine, but there is nothing romantic about “a dangerous reality” - unless it was an unwitting deathwish of sorts. 4w
TheBookHippie @Jess Yes this. I think the bear made Elena feel. Both girls were suffering from childhood trauma and dealing differently. Elena felt emotion that was strong and just hers and was drawn like a moth to the flame. It‘s also of note most childhood trauma I have dealt with, myself included are hugely drawn to dark fairytales because it‘s closest to their lived reality. 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, that didn‘t cross my mind either @Bookwormjillk @ChaoticMissAdventures - great idea! 4w
squirrelbrain That‘s fascinating @Kitta and really makes me look at the books in a different light - I guess I‘m a bit too literal! (edited) 4w
AmyG Yes to what @sarahbarnes said. With the appearance of the bear we saw the difference between the sisters. In Sam‘s mind they had a definitive plan to “freedom”. As in life, things don‘t always work out as planned. Here comes a bear which, in the end, resulted in Sam leaving the island…..her dream realized. (edited) 4w
squirrelbrain So many wonderful thoughts and ideas here of different allegories / metaphors / (dark) fairy tales - this is why I love #camplitsy so much - it‘s the accumulation of ideas from thoughtful campers that really makes this event so meaningful. @TrishB @Bookwormjillk @DGRachel @Kitta @jess @ChaoticMissAdventures @sarahbarnes @TheKidUpstairs @GatheringBooks @TheBookHippie 4w
squirrelbrain @TheKidUpstairs @GatheringBooks - I guess Sam had never known any different, growing up so isolated as the younger sister and that‘s why she came across as juvenile. Maybe she was somehow like the bear, grumpy and lashing out and Elena‘s downfall was caring too strongly for her / the bear? 4w
squirrelbrain @sarahbarnes @amyg - that kind of relates to my comment just prior to this. Sam needed to get rid of the bear in order to move on, but in doing so she unwittingly lost her sister too. So the bear comes between the sisters and is a catalyst in moving Sam on, but not in the way she expected or hoped for. (edited) 4w
Megabooks @Kitta I love these points and your research! She was desperately seeking connection spiritually and on the island. I think knowing she would likely never live elsewhere she still wanted to connect with something greater. I think losing her mom also opened up new spiritual possibilities for her. 4w
BarbaraBB Yes @jess that‘s what I thought too. The bear made Elena feel alive, gave her an opportunity to escape her harsh reality, flirting with death because why not? Nothing much to loose after the mother died and with her Elena‘s relevance (she didn‘t seem to care much for Sam, didn‘t tell her a thing about what went on in her mind). 4w
Deblovestoread For Elena the bear broke up the drudge of the life she was living. Her fairytale was the magic of the relationship she was forming with the bear. Sam‘s fairytale was the big $ after selling the home and living the high life in a fancy hotel. Neither fairytale had a hope of coming true. 4w
TheKidUpstairs @Deblovestoread yes! Sam's ideas of what they would do with the money really brought home how out of touch her plan was. It wasn't just sell the house to have some money to start out on the mainland, it was sell the house and live like royalty! As much as 500K is, it's not enough to live the life of luxury she was imagining. It really drove home how naive she was. 4w
squirrelbrain Yes of course @Deblovestoread @TheKidUpstairs - I hadn‘t considered Sam‘s unreasonable expectations. I‘m now recalling the scene at the medical centre where she didn‘t have a clue about the bills for her mother‘s care. 4w
CarolynM @Bookwormjillk I also thought the bear was going to turn out to be an abuser rather than a literal bear. Like @DGRachel I‘m not sure what it is intended to symbolise - maybe something to do with authority? Madeleine, and her relationship with Sam, seemed quite an odd to me and I wondered if it was supposed to be some kind of flip side to Elena‘s relationship with the bear. 4w
Hooked_on_books When I read it, the bear was just a bear to me. But I can see how all these various takes about the bear‘s representations work as well. And as far as it playing out this way in reality, absolutely. From the word go when we saw Elena‘s response to the bear, I knew she was toast. 4w
CBee The bear was Elena‘s escape. At first I thought it was a silly passing fancy, but then realized she really is starting to love this bear. And that wasn‘t strange to me at all, I suppose because I relate to Elena in a lot of ways I think? This grand animal looks at you and seems to fixate on you, and that just made her feel special. Important in a way she hadn‘t felt in a long time. Free. 4w
JamieArc I agrée about the bear being Elena‘s escape. And in the end, I saw the bear as representing the ways we romanticize nature. But nature is as nature does. It made me think about the desert - it can be gorgeous, but it is to be respected, and is a dangerous place to be if not. 4w
squirrelbrain I agree @CarolynM about Madeleine - that was where I was wondering if this was true to life. Would Madeleine really have behaved that way? I suppose we were seeing her behaviour from Sam‘s POV, but turning up at the memorial service was a bit weird. 4w
squirrelbrain I agree @Hooked_on_books - so many interesting representations that could all work! 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, I can see that @CBee - that the bear made her feel special / chosen. It makes me wonder about the boyfriend though - why didn‘t he make her feel that way?! I thought maybe because she was keeping the boyfriend a secret, but she was hiding her meetings with the bear too, to some extent. 4w
squirrelbrain @JamieArc - yes to the romanticising nature! We do it all the time, but it can turn on us in so many ways. 4w
Chelsea.Poole Elena looked at the bear as something to escape into and preoccupy herself with, even though it was ultimately her downfall. Sam (rightfully!) feared the bear, and maybe even resented it for taking Elena‘s attention away. The bear could be a symbol for many things in life, and may be specific to each individual reader. Great discussion! 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, it certainly seems like the bear meant so many things to different people @Chelsea.Poole 3w
CBee @squirrelbrain there is so much more to Elena that we really never discovered, but it seems like she was escaping however she could. She wanted those things just for herself. I think it was so difficult for her when Sam couldn‘t understand how magical the bear was to her. 3w
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blurb
squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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#camplitsy24

Well, here we are in our last week of camp! 😢 Time to think about rolling up your sleeping bag, and exchanging friendship bracelets before we leave.

But not before we have a few more questions about Bear.

A few of us touched on this one last week - we only saw Sam‘s perspective throughout the book. Did you wish you could have seen Elena‘s POV too- and how would it have differed?

See All 41 Comments
Bookwormjillk Yes, a totally different book but I‘m glad we saw Sam‘s POV. I think if we would have seen Elana‘s it would have shown Sam as a lazy, clingy child without understanding any of her motivations. (edited) 4w
TrishB It would have been v interesting- I think knowing Elena‘s motivations would have been really revealing. 4w
DGRachel It would have been totally different with Elena‘s POV. The conversation/fight about leaving vs. staying wouldn‘t have been such a surprise or nearly as heartbreaking. I hated being in Sam‘s head, but I‘m not sure I‘d have like the book at all if we had it from Elena‘s POV or even dual POVs. 4w
Kitta I thought at the beginning it was going to switch perspectives and was surprised it didn‘t 🤷🏻‍♀️ I liked having Sam‘s POV though, I think it added tension when we didn‘t know Elena‘s motivations and logic, and what she was actually doing. I thought the structure was better this way. 4w
Jess I kept having to remind myself how old these two were. Their actions and Sam‘s insights seemed so much younger. I would have liked to see the book from Elena‘s POV. Maybe I would have liked it more. 4w
GatheringBooks @TrishB agreed. I thought the author‘s approach of not disclosing Elena‘s pov was clever. Not sure if this is what it is meant by an unreliable narrator (or maybe a missing narrator of sorts), but how tragic it was that the sisters, ostensibly close, seemed to be living very different lives with very diff sets of people around them, and diff motivations and dreams in life. I felt the sense of betrayal deeply from Jess‘ pov prompting readers to👇🏼 4w
GatheringBooks (Cont) reflect on whether we truly know people at all - even the ones we believe we are most intimate with. 4w
Susanita It seems like both sisters are locked in their “roles” and this can lead to a lot of resentment. As for the POV, I would have liked to know why Elena thought it was a good idea to bring roast beef to a bear! 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures @GatheringBooks I agree this is a great look at how we do not know people even when we are close to them. I also think it is a great way of looking at assumptions and miscommunication. Elena seems to think they have had one talk way before life development to reality and she has forgotten the idea of leaving. Reminding us we must revisit big topics. 4w
ChaoticMissAdventures I thought viewing everything through Sam's POV was quite depressing. I found her whiny and annoying. In the end I can see her juvenile ideas come mostly from how sheltered Elena and Sam herself allowed her to become. 4w
TheKidUpstairs Like others have said, it would have been a very different book with Elena's POV. I would have loved to know her thoughts with regards to the Bear, but at the same time I felt that one of the big themes of the book is the difference between Sam and Elena's perceptions, and I don't think Sam's realization that she had no idea what was happening in Elena's head would have been nearly as effective if we as readers had known. 4w
sarahbarnes Agree with @GatheringBooks that this was a clever use of an unreliable narrator. I believed Sam‘s version of reality until I realized it was skewed. Agree with others here too that she was grating and infuriating in many ways - I wanted her to let Elena live her life and figure out how to live her own. But I know that trauma was preventing her from being about to do that. 4w
Daisey I agree that it would have been very interesting to see Elena‘s point of view, but it also would have completely changed the book and how we experienced the differences and the impact of their lack of clear communication. 4w
TheBookHippie I think it was an accurate picture of trauma. In order to survive Sam had to hang on to the words her sister said, in order to function. Having Elenas voice would have ruined the book. 4w
Ruthiella I totally see why the author did it, but I found Sam so frustrating and I knew she was giving the reader a skewed view of reality. 4w
squirrelbrain I initially thought I wanted to see Elena‘s POV too @trishb @kitta @jess @daisey and hadn‘t really thought about Sam fitting into the unreliable narrator trope @GatheringBooks @sarahbarnes but now I see everyone‘s comments I see that only seeing one POV, even if we didn‘t like her, is what made the book work. @DGRachel @ChaoticMissAdventures @TheKidUpstairs @TheBookHippie @Ruthiella (edited) 4w
squirrelbrain @Susanita - I thought that too - why on earth is she giving the bear a Sunday dinner?! Yorkshire puds too?! 4w
AmyG I liked only Sam‘s POV and think this book would have been very different if we also had Elena‘s. I am always fascinated how 2 people in a household can have such different views of what is going on and how what one remembers one way could be remembered in a totally different way by the other. Sam felt so close to Elena but apparently didn‘t know so much about her. 4w
Megabooks I guess I'm in the minority in saying I didn't like seeing it from Sam's perspective. I would've preferred dual POV first and then Elena's second. I think I didn't enjoy the book as much because it was from Sam's perspective possibly because I related to Elena more strongly, especially due to her relationship with their mom. @bookwormjillk I still saw Sam that way. 😬 😬 4w
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain @Susanita oh my gosh, the beef! Not only the stupidity of feeding a wild grizzly, but the waste! Considering their financial situation, it seems like it would be such a help to be able to bring food home from her job. 4w
BarbaraBB I love this question and all answers. And until now I thought I‘d preferred both POV, like @megabooks says. But reading all comments I think what made the book so strong was that we didn‘t know what Elena thought. Like @TheKidUpstairs states, Sam had no idea what went on in Elena‘s head, we were shocked with her - I was. And @Jess I agree that Sam came over so young - and probably naive. 4w
Meshell1313 @BarbaraBB yes I agree Sam‘s POV added to our shock about Elena- almost like Sam was an unreliable narrator! 4w
Deblovestoread I might have enjoyed a dual pov but having Sam hold onto their plan of escape and watching it fall apart is what propelled the story. 4w
DebinHawaii I feel like a lot of the group, while I really wanted to get inside of Elena‘s head, especially about the bear, I feel that only having Sam‘s perspective made the ending hit harder. 4w
squirrelbrain It certainly did make the ending more of a surprise and more hard-hitting didn‘t it? @Deblovestoread @DebinHawaii It was the first time I felt any sympathy for Sam too, when she learned that they couldn‘t afford to leave. We wouldn‘t have had that ‘reveal‘ if we‘d have been in Elena‘s head too. 4w
CarolynM I actually enjoy narratives that stick closely to a single point of view when something happens, or one of the other characters says something, that gives you a perspective shift, and makes you realise just how skewed the POV is. I felt quite sympathetic towards Sam. There was a lot Elena deliberately kept from her that prevented her from seeing how Elena‘s ideas had changed. 4w
Hooked_on_books I agree with many that it would have been interesting to hear from Elena. But I‘m glad we didn‘t. The slow reveal of her interactions with the bear, her resentments over her place in the family, her relationship with the neighbor, were so much more impactful because of how we learned them. Like @TheBookHippie says, hearing from her would have ruined the book. 4w
CBee Had to finish the book, phew! So I thought I wanted Elena‘s POV but then once I finished (and even as I got close to the end) realized that I didn‘t need it. The last part had me reeling and of course the ending was just, heartbreaking. 4w
CBee @BarbaraBB I was shocked as well. 4w
JamieArc @Susanita I agrée that the sisters were locked in their roles. It reminded me of The Alternatives in that way. I was disappointed to not see more growth in Sam, but could see how trauma kept her stuck. 4w
JamieArc This story went from a bit magical to quite frustrating and depressing. I think if we had Elena‘s POV, the magic would have stayed a bit longer. 4w
squirrelbrain I think that a few Littens wanted Elena‘s POV last week, when we were only halfway through the book, but changed their minds later on. @CarolynM @Hooked_on_books @CBee 4w
squirrelbrain Yes, they were definitely stuck in their roles weren‘t they? @JamieArc - so much like The Alternatives in that sense. 4w
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Here‘s my #booker #longlist in order of favourites (without Playground yet, of course). I actually enjoyed almost all of the list this year - only Held got a so-so.

I don‘t think this will be the judges‘ list - I think they‘ll have Orbital, Headshot and perhaps Wandering Stars in there.

I was torn between Creation Lake and TSEH for my final shortlist place - I think the Kushner is a bit more Booker-y which is why it won the spot in the end.

Ruthiella I‘ve loved every thing I‘ve read from Kushner, so I‘m particularly looking forward to that title. 1mo
BarbaraBB I have so much reading to do and am now especially looking forward to Devotional! (edited) 1mo
Graywacke So cool to see. Stone Yard Devotional just arrived. (I haven‘t ordered the Kushner or the Powers yet.) Today i‘ll start My Friends. 1mo
See All 15 Comments
jlhammar Amazing!! Can‘t believe you made it through all those already. Love seeing your rankings. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm so impressed you've read them all! I'm going to order Stone Yard Devotional from Blackwell's. I remember your review, and the fact that it's up there with The Safekeep makes it a must read! 1mo
JamieArc Interesting! I‘m moving through them slowly but am reading what I can! 1mo
JamieArc I did just order two from Blackwell‘s, my first order from them! 1mo
Hooked_on_books Wow, check you out, you are on it! Congrats on reading the (currently available) list! 1mo
Cathythoughts Great ! I must try Stone Yard soon. 1mo
squirrelbrain @JamieArc - hopefully Blackwells will come good for you - lots of US Littens seems to like them since the demise of BD. 1mo
TrishB Oh thank you! May have a little looksie! 1mo
Hooked_on_books Hey! NetGalley just put Playground on audio on the site (at least here) and I requested it on a lark and they approved me! 😵‍💫 So I would say swing over there and ask for it, because if they approved me, they‘ll approve anyone. 4w
squirrelbrain Thanks Holly @Hooked_on_books but no luck here. We don‘t seem to get many good audiobooks over here…. But I‘ll keep checking. My request from May for the digital copy is still pending. 🙄 4w
charl08 I missed this post! Congrats on reading the list (that you can get hold of). I just finished Enlightenment - interesting! 4w
Hooked_on_books Oh man, that‘s a bummer! I was so hopeful that this was your chance to snag it. 4w
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review
squirrelbrain
Creation Lake: A Novel | Rachel Kushner
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Pickpick

#booker #longlist 12/13

An odd book, but I rather liked it. ‘Sadie Smith‘ is a spy sent in to infiltrate a group of French provocateurs. Their shady leader, Bruno, sends emails to the group which Sadie becomes fascinated by. These emails are rather an excuse for the author to expound on topics such as pre-history, anthropology and philosophy but weirdly I didn‘t feel talked down to, unlike The Alternatives. It kept me hooked all the way ⬇️

squirrelbrain …through, until the rather disappointing ending. (What is it with book endings at the moment?!) Hence why it‘s not higher up in my shortlist, which will follow soon. (edited) 1mo
BarbaraBB Great review. I am no fan of Kushner so not sure if I‘ll read this one. 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s the first of hers that I‘ve read @BarbaraBB and I probably would try more, based on this. 1mo
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rmaclean4 Looking forward to your short list. 1mo
BarbaraBB That is encouraging! If you want to read more, everybody except me loves 1mo
Graywacke Very encouraging. I haven‘t read Kushner before 1mo
Leniverse This sounds interesting, but I am so done with ambiguous endings (if that's what you're hinting at). Since I can't get it at the library I might wait and see if it makes the shortlist. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, rather ambiguous (again!) 🙄 @Leniverse If it makes the shortlist I‘ll bring my Kindle to Gladstone‘s and you can read it then! (edited) 1mo
Leniverse Ooh, that would be fab! ❤️ 1mo
TheKidUpstairs Do the emails ever merge into the narrative in a cohesive way? I'm enjoying Sadie's sections, but I'm finding the emails very off-putting, and I can't help but skim through them. Debating whether this one might be a bail for me. 2w
squirrelbrain No, they don‘t, not really @TheKidUpstairs 😬. It‘s more of the same throughout the book than a non-ending (again!) so if you‘re not liking it now, it doesn‘t really change. 2w
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain good to know, thanks! 2w
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blurb
squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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#camplitsy24

‘They made magic. They were the girls at the center of a fairy tale, and they, along with their mother, would live in such bliss all their days‘

It‘s often said that this book is a fairy-tale retelling. Did you see that in this first half of the book? What elements from fairy tales were included?

See All 57 Comments
Kitta If it‘s a fairy-tale it‘s certainly a Grimm brother‘s one. It‘s not a happily ever after type so far. I don‘t know the ending but it‘s kind of scary and magical for them to be so close to the bear. There are many bears in the brothers Grimm, goldilocks, bearskin, the wren and the bear, and snow white and red rose (quoted at the beginning). It mirrors the last one the most obvi, where instead of being fearsome, the bear is a friend to the girls. 1mo
Kitta Fairytales usually have a moral and I wonder what this one will be? 1mo
TheBookHippie The mother being evil or dying is definitely a fairytale troupe. But definitely being affected by a mother is in fairytales. The bear in Red Rose & Snow White is a man who turned into a bear from a curse and he keeps them safe in the end. Not sure what that means for this story. It‘s more like disassociation to me as opposed to a fairy tale. So much trauma to unpack in these girls. 1mo
Bookwormjillk It seems semi fairy tale so far, at least for E. She‘s in this caregiving rut and finally something different and magical happens. On the other hand Sam doesn‘t see the magic at all. She seems to want to shoot the bear and move on to the next problem. 1mo
Susanita This reminds me a little of ET as well with the woman from the state agency looking into the situation with the bear. 1mo
TrishB Interesting question! The Bear definitely adds a fantastical/fairy tale element. Also a distraction- from the day to day grind of their life. 1mo
AmyG The appearance of the bear makes this a bit fairytale like. I didn‘t see it like that. I saw the bear as a distraction from their dull, difficult life. Nothing special has ever happened to them. And I find it interesting how each sister reacts to the bear….one sees it as magical, one dangerous. Shows the difference in their personalities. (edited) 1mo
CBee I didn‘t even recognize the fairy tale elements but I see it now! I guess I‘m just like, oh cool - a bear! 😂😂 1mo
AmyG @Cbee Ha….same. We have bears by us so…no big deal. Bears are squirrels for humans! 1mo
JenReadsAlot @TrishB I really agree with what you said! 1mo
TrishB @AmyG squirrels we have- bears not so much! 1mo
TrishB @JenReadsAlot I‘m distracted by peoples dogs- a bear would be amazing! 1mo
Soubhiville I feel the fairy tale with Elena‘s being drawn to the bear. She is definitely seeking some kind of magic from it. @TrishB put it well, that their lives are so routine the bear offers a change, though both girls feel differently about what it portends. 1mo
CBee @AmyG no bears here, but recently we‘ve had a very pretty hawk visit our yard! And I just stand there wowing 😂😮 1mo
sarahbarnes This is an interesting take on it! I like the fact that it‘s a bear - an animal often feared by humans - and that it appears so abruptly in their lives. It disrupts their focus on all the other burdens they‘re carrying. And they react differently to that in keeping with their personalities. It feels there‘s a bit of magic in it. 1mo
DGRachel Like @AmyG and @CBee I didn‘t/don‘t see the fairytale retelling. Maybe it gets more so in the second half? It‘s definitely a distraction from the grind, like @TrishB said, at least for Elena. The wildest I‘ve gotten to see in North Carolina are deer everywhere I‘ve lived in this state. I hear about coyotes, and I saw wild turkeys when I lived in the mountains. I think I‘d have a heart attack if I encountered a bear. 1mo
Ruthiella @TheBookHippie I agree with your take, that each sister is detaching from reality in their own way when faced with the bear. We might get into this in next week‘s discussion but I do wish the reader were not 100% in Sam‘s mind all the time. 1mo
GatheringBooks @Kitta yes to the Grimm fairy tale version (definitely not the sanitized disney one). Like Sam, I am appalled and profoundly disturbed by Elena‘s seemingly-surreal way of interacting with the bear. It did remind me of Red Rose and Snow White like what @TheBookHippie noted - except that it is clearly real life and the danger elements are plain to see - except for Elena who seemed positively enchanted - maybe an escape from drudgery as @TrishB noted 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @AmyG I like how you put this, how they react to the bear showing the differences in their personalities. @CBee the bear being the main character here! It is so interesting that Sam is like whales are cool we see them everyday, but a Bear, that is wild! It definatly sets the scene of the islands. I live a few hours away from here, and I will say if I saw a bear it would stop me in my tracks. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Kitta I think comparing it to Grimm's is great, that enveloping of darkness in the story. I do wonder what the moral is we are supposed to be seeing. @TheBookHippie is the mother getting sick supposed to be due to her moral failings? Two daughters out of wedlock, moving in an abusive BF for a time? That seems harsh, but maybe plausable. Though it is just giving the girls more trauma. 1mo
TheBookHippie @ChaoticMissAdventures I don‘t consider that a moral failing(children outside of marriage) so I didn‘t even think of it. I meant in fairytales mom or step mom is usually involved as dying or being mean. Not sure what this book is trying to portray, if anything. (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie @ChaoticMissAdventures as far as the abusive partner the minute he laid a hand on the girls he should have been gone, let alone her. 1mo
squirrelbrain @AmyG - you‘re so blasé about bears! ? 1mo
squirrelbrain @Kitta I thought of Goldilocks but I don‘t know the red / white tale and haven‘t looked it up yet to see what happens! 1mo
squirrelbrain @TrishB @AmyG @sarahbarnes - yes, the bear is a huge distraction from their humdrum lives. I expected each sister to react in the opposite way though. I thought Elena was the ‘sensible‘ one who would be frightened of the bear. (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain @ruthiella - we may well get into that next week! 😉 1mo
Megabooks @Kitta That's a good point about a moral. I do wonder what it will be! 1mo
Megabooks @sarahbarnes Agree that there's magic in the disruption. It pulls them out of this survival mode that others mentioned in Q1 and puts them into a very different place mentally. 1mo
Meshell1313 @Kitta 🤣🤣🤣 1mo
Meshell1313 I keep thinking of Streetcar, “I don‘t want realism, I want magic.” It‘s a form of escapism from tragedy. 1mo
AmyG @sarahbarnes Yes, there is a magical element to it in that the Bear “finds” them. I got the feeling reading this book that this family blends into their surroundings…noticed by no one. And Elena sees the glass half full, Sam half empty. @squirrelbrain I, too, would have thought the opposite. 1mo
Kitta @AmyG lots of bears where I grew up too! I‘m Canadian and we‘d have them come to our campsites when we were in the provincial park. Someone asked me once what to do if you see a bear and I said “you raise your canoe paddle above your head and scream” and she was confused as to why Canadians always have canoe paddles 😂 I think she thought I meant downtown not on the lake. My bad. I‘ve started a weird Canadian stereotype. 1mo
BarbaraBB I am with @DGRachel @AmyG and @CBee because I thought it might be not so exceptional having them in that area. But honestly, I accepted it without giving it much thought. I love your take on it however @TrishB 1mo
CBee @Ruthiella I agree, I wouldn‘t mind multiple POVs! 1mo
CBee @Meshell1313 wow, perfect quote 👏🏻👏🏻 1mo
AmyG @Kitta HA! 1mo
TheBookHippie @squirrelbrain I didn‘t think much of it either. We have Bears here. Some even roam playgrounds so we stay inside at recess. @AmyG 1mo
Hooked_on_books The fairy tale angle wasn‘t my take on it while reading, but I do see where people would get that. I‘ve lived in various rural areas since 2010 and wildlife is just a fact of life, even if specific wildlife is less common. At my house on the Oregon coast, there was a mountain lion spotted over several days less than a mile from me (I never saw it). So I think that‘s why I wouldn‘t have seen it as fairy tale. 1mo
peaKnit Agree with Grimm fairy tale at best, so dark and sad. I don‘t understand why Elena is so drawn to the bear except that it is something interesting in her mundane day to day. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, @peaKnit - I don‘t understand that either - I would have expected Elena, of the two, to be more frightened of the bear. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole @Ruthiella @CBee I also was hoping to get some other perspective, besides through only Sam‘s eyes. How does Elena really feel? 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Definitely felt some fairytale vibes from the bear. I didn‘t so much connect it with a specific story or retelling, just elements of fairytales. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole @CBee @Ruthiella - save those thoughts until next week! 😉 1mo
CBee @squirrelbrain ooooo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 1mo
DebinHawaii I don‘t think I‘d have connected to the fairy tale vibe without the prologue. @AmyG No bears or squirrels here! 😉 But a mongoose ran over my foot once at Walgreens! 🤣 1mo
AmyG @DebinHawaii Wow! 😮 1mo
squirrelbrain I wasn‘t even sure what a mongoose looked like @DebinHawaii - had to look it up! 🤣 1mo
BarbaraJean If it weren‘t for reading reviews calling it a fairy tale retelling, I wouldn‘t have thought so! The bear, the forest, the sisters, the mother who is dying: all sounds like a fairy-tale setup, but the rest is so grounded in reality. Even the grimmest (Grimm!) fairy tales have a fantastical feel, and this felt too real.

@squirrelbrain @AmyG I felt the same about the sisters‘ different reactions to the bear. I‘d have thought it would be reversed. ⬇
1mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) That reversal felt like a clue to what might be going on under the surface, that we haven‘t gotten at just yet.

@Ruthiella @CBee @Chelsea.Poole As much as I wanted another perspective, I thought it was fascinating that the author kept us so closely within Sam‘s POV. It really allows such tight control of what the reader knows. We don‘t know anything that‘s going through Elena‘s head, except what we get filtered through Sam‘s POV.
1mo
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blurb
squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
post image

#camplitsy24

Elena and Sam caring for their mother is a central part of the book - how has this impacted on their relationships with each other and with the wider community?

How do their caring roles differ? Who do you have the most sympathy for?

See All 47 Comments
Kitta I think it further drives their isolation and is making their poverty worse - paying for medications and hospital bills. It interrupts their dreams of living a new life and puts that on hold. There‘s kind of a stasis or pause in their lives, waiting for her to pass. I think Elena is forced to be the responsible one, she gets no breaks from the care and does nights. Sam seems to begrudgingly do things. Their attitudes differ. 1mo
TheBookHippie Sam seems most affected by traumatic events and is more isolated at face value but Elena has such a huge burden .. I feel bad for both as they are both trapped and neither is actual safe or allowed to have their own life. 1mo
TheBookHippie Caring for their mother seems a bit cruel in this situation. Not that there is a choice. Money is the way out, they have none. I think their feelings are complicated about their mom and the don‘t deal with that. 1mo
Susanita It‘s such a difficult place for them. Whether they admit it or not, they‘re waiting for her to die. She‘s at peace with it, but the sisters will be devastated. 1mo
Bookwormjillk They‘ve isolated themselves so they can care for their mother. They both have their own way of doing it, but I think they‘re both trying their best. 1mo
TrishB It‘s a horrible situation isn‘t it- no money to get more help. All your money going on just trying to keep things together. The elder/younger sibling thing plays true- one in charge and one letting the elder one do everything. At this point it is like they have no other support. 1mo
AmyG You all beat me too it. Especially what @Trish said. The elder one takes charge, as usually is the way. Biggest for me is lack of resources and support. When you live in a rural area that is a huge problem. They are just working to pay bills and take care of their Mom. 1mo
CBee @TheBookHippie agree that Sam seems frozen in time - staying at arm‘s length of others, not wanting any other close relationships. Elena is interesting - she is obviously craving more out of life, missing something. Hence her relationship with the bear 🐻 1mo
Soubhiville I agree with everyone. As @Susanita said I think they are in a holding pattern trying to just get by until their mom passes. No one can move on until that happens. Elena seems more patient and resigned and accepting, while Sam seems resentful, even though she clearly loves their mom and dreads her going just as much as her sister does. 1mo
DGRachel I don‘t think I have anything to add to what‘s already been said. Caregiving is hard. To do so without community or funds is a nearly insurmountable burden. As @Susanita said, they are waiting for her to die. I think they know that, and they both are conflicted about the feelings that brings up. It‘s interesting to see how differently they cope. 1mo
sarahbarnes Agree with what everyone has said here. It only adds to their isolation, financially and socially. And it creates an interesting dynamic between the sisters, too, as they each play their role in the family around their mom. 1mo
GatheringBooks I love that we have another sisters-dynamics going on in this story, immediately after The Alternatives. Unlike the previous book, we get the privilege of actually living in Sam‘s head - & it isn‘t very pleasant. Clearly, Sam worships Elena at the same time that she depends on her to the point of taking for granted everything Elena does. I can relate with the caring for an ailing mother with my 88 yo mother with dementia now living with us 👇🏼 1mo
GatheringBooks (Cont) except for the fact that we are able to have full time care for her - the outsourcing of the intricacies of care has done loads for my mental health - but i also recognize that not everyone has that privilege. And it does take its toll, and it is evident in how Elena and Sam seemed to have made their lives smaller and more insular as a way of coping, as they wait for the inevitable - the worsening of their mother‘s condition. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @TheBookHippie I am not too far in (only about 70 pages) but I agree they are not dealing with the complicated feelsing around their mom. Elena is throwing herself into caring, and balancing everything as best she can while Sam is withdrawing. It sounds like even when she is not working she is not getting up with her mother in the night, letting Elena do it instead because she is just unable to. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @TrishB @Bookwormjillk @CBee @TheBookHippie I am curious about this idea that they have no close relationships. It seems like others have offered to help, there was that guy walking the dog that Sam interacted with who seemed to genuinly be offering her help, but she was revolted by his offer and seemed untrusting of him, do you think they have a role in isolating themselves by not accepting help? 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @GatheringBooks so sorry to hear about your mom, My ex-mother in law is in the same position, even with the resources it is a hard position to be in. Thiking about if we didn't have those resources and no community to rely on for help, it does seem their position is insurmountable, the only options is Elena taking it a moment at a time dealing with everything, and Sam withdrawing. 1mo
Bookwormjillk @ChaoticMissAdventures I think something must have happened that we don‘t know about yet that makes them not want to take the time to depend on anyone on the island. Like they‘ve decided it‘s not worth it. 1mo
TheBookHippie @ChaoticMissAdventures I think they are in survival mode and trust no one to help. They asked before, no one helped and things got worse. Which is fairly normal. They are protecting themselves. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Susanita - yes, that‘s what they are doing, awful as it is. 1mo
squirrelbrain @TrishB @AmyG @sarahbarnes @GatheringBooks - I agree Myra, so interesting to see similar family dynamics played out between sisters. 1mo
squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures - yes, I thought about him too - he was a local, I think, but she seemed really resentful of him. I wonder why, maybe because he has money? 1mo
squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie @bookwormjillk - I wonder what is complicating their feelings towards their Mom (other than all the obvious stuff)? Is it the same thing that isolates them from the whole community? (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie @squirrelbrain Her decisions for her life and the no choice in the matter for theirs is continuing into adulthood, which is easy to do to childhood trauma children. They may not know why, but having no choice and no safe place creates huge isolation. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain @thebookhippie I think we will get more later, but it seems like maybe growing up with these people in the area, most of them had money and maybe looked down and were mean to the girls growing up? That might make them resistant to accept any type of help from them as adults. But it will be interesting to see if more comes about the past. for sure CPS didn't help when they were called, and then the teachers just sort of moved on. 1mo
TheBookHippie @ChaoticMissAdventures I think once the adults didn‘t help, the rest reinforced that they don‘t matter. 1mo
Megabooks @Susanita 100% agree with this. It is a very rough place to be. @soubhiville I am in this place now with my parents, and at times, I feel like both Elena and Sam. Both reactions are equally valid and believable to me. @DGrachel Even with funds for some help (we have an aide a few hours a day), it is still difficult. I couldn't imagine how hard it is to do that without the additional help and money I have. 1mo
Megabooks @GatheringBooks I'm sorry you're going through that. I am, too. We have aides for part of each day, but when they are not here, the bulk of care falls to me. Because they are paid for through Dad's long-term care insurance, they can't help Mom at all, so any caregiving tasks for her, fall to me anyway. It is difficult and exhausting. (Both my parents are physically disabled, but Dad is only just starting to show some signs of dementia.) 1mo
Megabooks While I found this part of the book interesting, I tried not to think about it too deeply or get very emotionally involved in this part of the story. Books are my escape from caring for my elderly parents, so reading about it a book overwhelms me a bit. 1mo
BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures I‘ve been thinking of that neighbor too, but they seem too proud to accept help - at least Sam is. 1mo
BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie you‘ve said it so well. They‘re trapped. The bear seems a way out somehow @CBee I agree! 1mo
squirrelbrain @ChaoticMissAdventures @thebookhippie - yes, it feels like once they didn‘t get help when they needed it, they felt unwanted. 1mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks This must have been rough for you to read and probably the last subject you wanted to read about. It felt very real, the way Julia Phillips describes the caretaking. 1mo
Hooked_on_books The one thing I‘ll add to the excellent commentary here is the period of time in Sam and Elena‘s lives in which this is happening. They are both at the stage where they should be spreading their wings and exploring their places in the world, but instead they are anchored in place by their mother‘s needs and dragged downward by the caregiving and financial difficulties. I think if they were older it would be less poignant. 1mo
peaKnit I don‘t have much to add except to agree with many opinions so far. Sam seems more angry while Elena more resigned. It seems the both have pulled inward and cut off any potential support. 1mo
squirrelbrain So true @Hooked_on_books - they should be making their own lives and the island must really feel like a trap that they are stuck in. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole @Hooked_on_books yes!! I kept thinking about how they should be rebelling, going to parties, dating, exploring the world, etc. instead they are caring for their mother who‘s young herself. Seems like their lack of resources has made the decision for them: caring for their mom is the only option. No doubt it‘s hard at any age but especially at their young age. 1mo
DebinHawaii Everything has already been so well said. I just finished listening to the first half of book yesterday so I am a bit behind. Caregiving is so difficult for everyone involved but without the financial ability to have some respite in there or any support from outside, it‘s a terrible situation. I feel for both sisters but especially Elena as she has most of the burden. 1mo
BarbaraJean So many have already articulated my same thoughts! The struggle over finances & caring for their mother was difficult to read—I have a hard time reading about situations where there seems to be no way out. A bit of injustice fatigue! I also really resonated with @Hooked_on_books comment on the stage of life that Elena and Sam are in—dealing with these types of problems before they're able to explore or establish their own place in the world. ⬇ 1mo
BarbaraJean Initially, I sympathized most with Elena. Sam was frustrating—just marking time, fantasizing about when she can leave. Her job situation wasn‘t entirely under her control & that struggle is real, so I sympathized with her, but she seemed so lost & avoidance was her only strategy. It bothered me that she let Elena take on larger financial & practical burdens, as well as more of their mother‘s care. (But my sympathies shifted as the book went on!) 1mo
44 likes47 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
post image

Welcome to our final book of #camplitsy24! But watch out, there‘s a 🐻 in camp!

As ever, if you‘ve read to the end please don‘t include any comments that may spoil it for others.

The book has a real sense of place on San Juan island in the Pacific Northwest - how did this influence the storyline and the sisters themselves?

See All 50 Comments
Kitta I think it really sets the scene, mirroring how isolated they are from being able to get help for their mother. The sisters are really close and don‘t have any friends, as if they‘re an island unto themselves socially. I really like the descriptions, I have family on Victoria Island, and would love to visit one day. It‘s interesting to think about the island in Clear as well and compare. It‘s a hard life. 1mo
TheBookHippie I think they are both in survival mode and one seems to be frozen in from trauma and the other is seemingly “eldest daughter do it all” but has no choice, and is bitter perhaps. 1mo
Susanita The isolation contributes to the sisters‘ sense that they have to do everything themselves and only depend on each other. It‘s such a contrast with the lives of the people who ride the ferry to the mainland. 1mo
Bookwormjillk @TheBookHippie I think hit it on the head with survival mode, and the island only adds to it with the logistical challenges of getting to appointments and so on. Edited to add but it also sounds beautiful and now I want to go but hopefully I won‘t be annoying. (edited) 1mo
TrishB Agree that it‘s the isolation and obviously the family situation that has led to the increasing poverty situation. There probably aren‘t a lot of job choices. 1mo
AmyG I agree with you all….the isolation. It seemed like the 3 of them…no friends, family or help with their Mom. . I also felt the job choices were slim due to the smallness of the island. So they did the best with what they had in hopes to leave one day. 1mo
CBee @Kitta I agree with your comment, especially “as if they‘re an island unto themselves socially.” They live on the island, but don‘t really participate in it, if that makes sense. The three of them are their own little island and I admit I‘m curious how they‘ve never had friends, other family…. Maybe we‘ll find out. Great read so far! 1mo
Soubhiville @TheBookHippie worded it well with Survival Mode, and I think you‘re right @TrishB that options are probably very limited job wise, as in a lot of small towns/ communities. When you don‘t quite make enough money to catch up to your expenses, every tiny surprise expense is a heavy blow. It‘s scary being in that financial situation. It‘s like they are both on the physical island and a metaphoric one with their personal lives. 1mo
Soubhiville @CBee I agree I wonder why they are socially isolated? 1mo
DGRachel I‘ve found this extremely sad so far. @Kitta I agree about the girls being an island unto themselves. I hadn‘t put that connection into words in my brain, but the island mirrors that. @TheBookHippie survival mode is the perfect description. It‘s so much more than the island, though, that contributes. This seems to be a family that just can‘t catch a break. Their neighbors seem financially sound, so it‘s a series of hard #life events. 1mo
JenReadsAlot Very isolating for them. 1mo
TrishB @Soubhiville I think a lot of poor people are socially isolated- either by themselves because they can‘t join in or by others for the same reason. Poverty is very isolating and as you say- every extra expense is a body blow. 1mo
TrishB @DGRachel it is very sad. 1mo
CBee @Soubhiville I‘m hoping we‘ll get more insight. But I agree with others that poverty in itself can isolate… 1mo
sarahbarnes Yes to the sense of and the true isolation they experience there. Agree with @TrishB that people living in poverty are socially isolated for the reasons you articulated. It also feels like such an isolating community to begin with - small and literally on an island, and many people who are there don‘t live there. 1mo
DGRachel They are isolated by the fact that growing up, the girls were failed by everyone who should have protected them - their mother, the abusive boyfriend, teachers, family services - every adult with power and responsibility failed them. That kind of trauma leaves emotional scars, in addition to any physical scars, and can make finding a healthy way out nearly impossible unless that trauma is processed. 1mo
GatheringBooks @DGRachel i did sense that deep-seated trauma coming through and the distrust of authority, and the brewing resentment. Loved @Kitta‘s island unto themselves comment. It does feel that way, along with the social class divide that seems so stark in the face of the tourists they serve on a daily basis. Our college kid studies in Seattle so I could picture the island and Pacific Northwest vibe quite keenly. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Kitta interesting to compare it to Clear, they seem so different, where you have islands, and one solo inhabitant living in peace with the animals (though domesticated) and not wanting to leave, where in Bear (both one word titles!) you have a wild animal that the girls are not living in peace with (through their own terror) and they are wanting to flee the island. Different but both dealing so much with isolation and the idea of belonging. 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s interesting @kitta @amyg @cbee that they don‘t appear to have any other support outside of their tiny family unit - no friends or family around them. (edited) 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Soubhiville I like this idead of being both physically and metaphorically on an island. We have read these stories before, poor people being on an island of their own due to their financial circumstances, but I like how Phillips puts them on a literal island with a small amount of people they have known all their lives and they are still even more isolated and alone in their circumstances. 1mo
squirrelbrain @TrishB @Soubhiville @sarahbarnes - here in the UK some of the most deprived towns are in coastal holiday spots, where people visit for holidays but don‘t stay in the winter months. Locals who stay there have to work in low-paid jobs that no-one else will do but are priced out of owning homes or even renting. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes @ChaoticMissAdventures - such a contrast to Clear, despite the initial similarities! 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel I agree with your trauma assessment, how they have been failed over and over, and it is so hard to process and move on, and then add to that an ill mother that they feel obligated to care for, even though they cannot in most ways handle that responsibliity they are still living the trauma. 1mo
squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie - they both seem frozen somehow, in the roles that they have adopted - older / younger sister. 1mo
Kitta @ChaoticMissAdventures I was thinking of the social isolation between both books rather than wanting to be on the island or not, and the animals. I expected this to be more like the Alternatives given the subject matter (sisters, someone ailing, somewhere isolated) and was surprised to find it was totally different! I like the descriptions of the islands in Bear and Clear. I see a lot of similarities between island life in both. Toiling away. 1mo
squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks @DGRachel - I felt more resentment from Sam, did you? I thought that Elena was more resigned to it all. 1mo
Kitta @squirrelbrain I agree, about the resentment. I wonder (as an older sibling who feels this) if Elena felt like she had to hold it together and resentment doesn‘t change anything. If she‘s feeling forced to act like a parent here. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain this also reminds me of Hawaii. Most of the local indiginous population have been priced out of the high cost of living/housing while tourists float in and out. I am going up near where Bear is set on Monday, and will take some picutures and share! It is gorgeous, though we do have to keep in mind this issue with the locals. 1mo
DGRachel @squirrelbrain Sam‘s resentment is definitely more overt, but I wonder if that‘s because we really only get her perspective. She counts on her sister to be the adult in the room, and seems to miss some of the deeper suffering that Elena must feel. 1mo
Megabooks Living in a house with and caring for my two disabled parents I will note it is *incredibly* isolating even in a town where the three of us have lived and made friends over the past 40+ years. I think for people who haven't lived that existence the stark setting perhaps put them in more of a mindset to believe it/understand it. I agree there is a survival mode to that situation, too. (edited) 1mo
BarbaraBB @Susanita Yes that contrast with the people who ride the ferry really accentuates their isolation, I felt that too. 1mo
Meshell1313 @ChaoticMissAdventures yes! I also loved the comparison between the two books and how in one the island is a place of happiness and in bear it‘s a place of misery for Sam. I love how the island becomes an almost character itself and how a lot of the action takes place on the ferry so the ferry becomes almost a gateway between poverty and hope for her. 1mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks I do believe you about it being so isolating, working and living as a caretaker. Then there‘s the poverty and the small community, it all adds I think to their trauma and how they behave. 1mo
squirrelbrain Looking forward to seeing some pictures! @ChaoticMissAdventures - the closest I‘ve been is Vancouver and we didn‘t even go to Vancouver Island then, just stayed near the city. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Meshell1313 - yes, I felt that the island was a character in itself. I love your depiction of the ferry being a gateway - I hadn‘t thought of how the ferry felt to Sam, that dichotomy of disliking the work and the rich visitors but also it being the only way to escape. 1mo
CBee @squirrelbrain I felt more resentment from Sam as well. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I loved the setting because I love that part of the world. And Phillips evoked it so well that I felt like I was there. I was going to mention that their roles as caregivers to their mother undoubtedly played a role in their isolation, but @Megabooks beat me to it and fleshed it out well. And @Kitta add me to your list of admirers for your phrasing of the sisters being like an island socially. Beautifully put. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Great thoughts from everyone! I hadn‘t thought to compare this one to Clear — @Kitta And indeed this family was isolated. It seemed like a very insular existence. 1mo
DebinHawaii I think the comparison to Clear is genius & agree. I loved how atmospheric both of these books are. It really draws me in as a reader. I spent some time in the San Juans when I lived in Seattle & picturing it in my head as I am listening just adds to the experience. 1mo
squirrelbrain I love it when you can picture a book more clearly because you‘ve been ‘there‘ @DebinHawaii 1mo
BarbaraJean I love @Kitta‘s idea of the sisters being “an island unto themselves,” and I also feel they‘re isolated from each other. Some of that is sister dynamics—the older having that primary caregiver/provider role. But the resentment is also a factor. As @DGRachel said, Sam‘s is more overt, but I think it‘s on both sides. As readers, we‘re so closely inside Sam‘s perspective that we have only hints about things Sam doesn‘t realize (or is avoiding). 1mo
BarbaraJean I was struck by how stories with a “small town” setting so often go a very different direction: heartwarming stories of rallying around the struggling. This is not that! The stark reality of the sisters‘ situation feels very realistic: how poverty snowballs so quickly and can prompt a self-imposed isolation—out of distrust, pride/shame, family loyalty. Underneath the bear story, this is a very real wrestling with poverty & healthcare in the US. 1mo
squirrelbrain So true @BarbaraJean that ‘small town‘ stories are often much ‘fluffier‘ and I hadn‘t really thought of that perspective before. 1mo
45 likes50 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Great first lines | Celina Spiegel, Peter Kupfer
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Thanks for the tag Holly @Hooked_on_books 😘 and sorry I‘m so late @monalyisha !

It‘s going to take me another 10 minutes now to type this out as one is REALLY long. 🤣 I‘ll start with the shortest first, which also happens to be the one I read most recently, then working my way backwards from there…. 🤔

1. Thoroughbreds.
2. I come back to the apartment and find the worst thing in the world.
3. Elwood was a prefect, so his room that year was ⬇️

squirrelbrain 3. ….a splendid one, with a window that opened onto a strange outcrop of roof. 1mo
squirrelbrain 4. Somewhere in the Tuscan hills, two English spinsters, Evelyn Skinner and a Margaret someone, were eating a late lunch on the terrace of a modest albergo. 1mo
squirrelbrain 5. The Eleventh apartment had only one closet, but it did have a sliding glass door that opened onto a small balcony, from which he could see a man sitting across the way, outdoors in only a T-shirt and shorts even though it was October, smoking. 1mo
See All 12 Comments
julesG I got your #2 😂😂😂 1mo
Hooked_on_books Nice! Thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading yours. ☺️ 1mo
BarbaraBB Love this! I didn‘t recognize one but I need to post mine too! 1mo
squirrelbrain @julesG - I thought that was the most difficult one, although the first one was tough too - it being only one word! 1mo
40 likes12 comments
review
squirrelbrain
post image
Pickpick

I was so torn as to whether to give this a pick or a so-so. I went into it expecting not to like it, as I didn‘t enjoy The Essex Serpent at all, which many say is the author‘s best.

There was nothing that I loved about it, but I didn‘t hate it either. I‘m glad I listened on audio as it just burbled away in the background whilst I was commuting, but then I could have skim-read more in print.

My biggest issue was that it still felt very ⬇️

squirrelbrain Victorian, even though it was sent in the 1990s and after. I also don‘t like ghosts, and it was all quite depressing. After all that I still can‘t bring myself to give it a so-so. 🤷‍♀️ It must be a very soft pick instead, then! 🤪 1mo
squirrelbrain Oops forgot to put #booker #longlist 11/13 1mo
jlhammar Ha, your review has me thinking this might be right up my street - I hope so! And, as always, wow to the speed at which you conquer the longlist! 1mo
See All 16 Comments
JenP You are flying through these. I‘m not looking forward to this one. Maybe I will like it more than expected 1mo
BarbaraBB I think I‘ll slip this one (unless it makes the shortlist of course 😉) but I do love your review 1mo
rmaclean4 Thanks for the review. I will listen to this one. 1mo
Ruthiella I hated The Essex Serpent and haven‘t braved any further titles from her as a result… 1mo
squirrelbrain I hope so too! 😁 @jlhammar 1mo
squirrelbrain I wished I‘d listened to it earlier than I did @JenP - I didn‘t intentionally save it until the end but I should have listened to it before Wild Houses. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - I wouldn‘t choose to read this author but….list completist! 👋 1mo
squirrelbrain Yeah, it doesn‘t feel like your kind of book @BarbaraBB ☺️ 1mo
squirrelbrain I hope you like it! @rmaclean4 1mo
Leniverse @jlhammar Haha, same. I like books with a Victorian feel, and I am not opposed to ghosts. Starting to look forward to this one now. 😂 1mo
Graywacke I‘m not doing any longlist books on audio this year. Crazy, no? This book gets a mixed response. A lot in love, and lot of readers bored to tears. I‘m really hoping i like it because it appeals. But… the ghost bit… i‘ll try to keep an open mind. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I‘ve never been inspired to read her and you‘re not helping me change that. 😂 1mo
squirrelbrain @Graywacke - I kept a lot of Audible credits on standby just in case but only used 2 in the end! 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Bird Life: A Novel | Anna Smaill
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I took my two Booker books back to the library and somehow came out with five more. 🤔

I mean, I definitely need more books to read because:

a. I don‘t have 300 unread books on my shelf at home. 🤪
b. I‘m not working 7 days a week right now, so I‘ve got plenty of time to read.🙄

Anyone read any of these? They were all on the ‘new in‘ shelf - fortunately I didn‘t get any further into the library than that! 🤣

kspenmoll I have a similar problem!!!! 1mo
sarahbarnes Those all look very intriguing. The same thing happens to me all the time - how are we supposed to just walk out of a place with free books and not take any home?? 📚 📚 1mo
TrishB All sounds perfectly acceptable to me. 1mo
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain @kspenmoll @sarahbarnes @trishb - libraries - ridiculous places aren‘t they?! Shouldn‘t be allowed…. 1mo
Hooked_on_books Only 300? I have over 1000 unread books. And that‘s just the physical ones. I‘m not proud of this fact. 😬 1mo
squirrelbrain That makes me feel better! 🤣@Hooked_on_books 1mo
62 likes6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
The Safekeep | Yael van der Wouden
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Pickpick

#bookerlonglist 10/13

Loved this - it‘s up there at the top of my list with Stone Yard Devotional. I don‘t want to talk too much about the plot - you need to read it for yourself. I had a little inkling partway through but the denouement was still devastating.

Isabel lives a friendless, neurotic life alone in her family house in The Netherlands in the 1960s, until her brother‘s new girlfriend comes to stay while he is away, upending her life.

Amor4Libros I loved this one, too! 1mo
AnneCecilie Now you have me intrigued 1mo
rmaclean4 I am looking forward to Stone Yard Devotional now. I am having trouble getting my hands on it. 1mo
See All 15 Comments
JenP This is the one I‘m most excited to read. I‘m leaving it toward the end of my list 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, @JenP, I considered leaving it until the end too, and now I wish I had. I‘ll finish Enlightenment on audio this week which is just OK, and I‘ve just started Creation Lake, but too early to tell. 1mo
squirrelbrain Where are you? @rmaclean4 - it‘s (ce.99 on Blackwells, which I think does free shipping. Or are you trying to get them all for ‘free‘? 1mo
rmaclean4 I am in the US. I can get it on Amazon, but I don't like to give them my $. I am going to see if my local bookstore can get it for me. 1mo
JamieArc I was on the fence with this one but I‘ll move it up now. 1mo
squirrelbrain Hopefully they‘ll be able to get it for you 🤞 @rmaclean4 1mo
sarahbarnes This sounds very good. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I thought about reading this one when I first heard of it, but I hear there‘s a lot of sex in it, which I normally don‘t like. Is that true? 1mo
Cathythoughts Great review! I must try Stone Yard too 👍🏻❤️ 1mo
squirrelbrain There is some @Hooked_on_books but not a huge amount. I easily skimmed over it in print as I‘m not keen either. I hate it on audio when you can‘t skim! 😬 FYI, this book was mentioned in a UK newspaper article recently about how to write ‘good‘ sex! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books I'm usually not crazy about sex in books, but had no issues with the sex in this one. And like Helen said, it can be easily skimmed without losing the story if it doesn't work for you! 1mo
Hooked_on_books @TheKidUpstairs Thanks! That‘s good to know. 1mo
70 likes3 stack adds15 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Wandering Stars | Tommy Orange
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Pickpick

#bookerlonglist 9/13

As with There, There, this was a tough read although, I think because I knew what to expect in terms of the author‘s style, I found it a little easier to read.

I preferred the first half of the book - the more recent sections (based in the aftermath of the Powwow in There, There) became rather repetitive.

This will be borderline, I think, for my own personal shortlist although I can see why the judges may shortlist it.

Graywacke I read this one earlier this summer and was not a fan. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I was surprised to see it on the longlist. 1mo
JenP Agreed. It was a so so for me honestly. Loved the first half and disliked the second half 1mo
julesG Your lavender looks gorgeous. 😁 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s even more enormous this year! @julesG 1mo
BarbaraBB I didn‘t like this one much. There There was so much better 1mo
72 likes5 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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#camplitsy24

That ending…! What did you think?! And what happens after that?

That brings to a close our discussions of The Alternatives. Thank you for joining Barbara, Meg and me.

We look forward to next week‘s book - make sure you don‘t leave any food about camp and keep an eye out for the BEAR! 🐻

See All 54 Comments
Leniverse I really dislike that kind of non-ending. They make me too grumpy to speculate. Although I will say that this ending was just absurd enough to make me laugh instead. 1mo
TrishB Because people started talking about ‘the ending‘ I was expecting something major to one of them. It seems like the sort of family that disasters happen to- and this would just be another one 🤷‍♀️ I don‘t mind open endings so didn‘t really think too much. Probably go back to their ‘normal‘ life. 1mo
CarolynM It was ironic, I suppose, but I don‘t know what we are meant to take from that. One person alone can‘t save themselves from danger? There‘s no point trying to avert disaster because one tiny slip will bring everything tumbling down? Life‘s random anyway, what will be will be? Isolation doesn‘t work, you will need someone someday? 1mo
MicheleinPhilly Can someone remind me if we‘ve met Sheila before? Perhaps at the pub? I was confused by that but I‘ve also been fairly distracted while reading this. 1mo
Ruthiella @MicheleinPhilly We didn‘t meet Shiela in person before, she was just referenced the first time Olwyn goes to the pub. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Leniverse - I agree -I really dislike non-endings. This reminded me of Birnam Wood, but at least BW was (overly) dramatic - this one just fizzled out. 1mo
Megabooks Honestly, two or three weeks later I remember nothing about the ending. This isn't one of those books that stuck with me. In the end, I remember the general bond between the sisters and sort of enjoying the banter among four smart women, but actual plot points are evading me! 1mo
squirrelbrain @MicheleinPhilly @Ruthiella - prior to that I wondered why we‘d been introduced to the ‘pub‘ people. They seemed bit-part players with no influence on the storyline, or insight into the sisters. I still wonder though! 🤔 1mo
JamieArc Unfortunately, I didn‘t really care enough for them to wonder what happened next. The author wrote them in a way that kept a barrier up for me. That actually makes me sad. Though, I do wonder about Nell, perhaps because I‘m a swimmer… 1mo
JamieArc I‘m surprised there wasn‘t a question asked about the script portions. I didn‘t understand the reasoning for using them. Anyone else have an idea what that was about? 1mo
Meshell1313 I found the ending depressing. Nothing was resolved. Nothing was fixed. There‘s something there about grief and I felt a bit hopeless. 1mo
Meshell1313 @JamieArc yes!!! I thought she wanted to show everyone‘s POV at the same time? Instead of just getting it from one sister? The form of the whole book felt weird and abrupt to me. 1mo
Ruthiella @JamieArc I wondered the reason for that too. It does move things forward more quickly than the individual “sister sections”. 1mo
squirrelbrain @JamieArc - we did have a question about that but too many other questions too… Also those who listened on audio didn‘t even notice that there were script sections. They didn‘t work for me at all, as the ‘stage directions‘ were internal thoughts and feelings, not physical directions, which is why people didn‘t notice on the audio, I think. Cont. ⬇️ (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain @JamieArc eg. The bartender arrives on his motorbike (fine, stage direction) - Rhona sees him but she doesn‘t know him. If we were watching a play, we wouldn‘t know those thoughts, unless she spoke them aloud. I don‘t know why the change was necessary. @Meshell1313 @Ruthiella -things moved more quickly at this point, but not down to the script style, I don‘t think. Another way to demonstrate how clever the author is, maybe? 😬 1mo
JamieArc @squirrelbrain 😂😂 I like your reasoning on why they were included. And I understand why it wasn‘t asked, but glad I got to ask here and see what others thought 🙂 1mo
DGRachel I‘m going to go back and read the other comments, but I don‘t want to be swayed before I say, I was loving this book right up until the end and then I almost threw my Kobo across the room. WTF was that? 🤬 1mo
DGRachel @MicheleinPhilly @Ruthiella Sheila comes into the pub with Feidhlim, when Maeve and Nell are there. The last thing Olwen says is a nod to Feidhlim‘s tale that Dan makes him tell the sisters. 1mo
DGRachel That said, I don‘t know why Olwen thinks she‘s there, whether she‘s there or not in reality. 1mo
GatheringBooks @JamieArc i actually just alluded to a possible answer to this in Q2!!What I was wondering about was the title: why The Alternatives? Anyone with ideas on that? 1mo
GatheringBooks @Leniverse it was my exact reaction. I thought it was so clever and funny. I love that the author celebrates absurdity and surfaces this without qualms. It‘s kind of a cautionary note along the lines of be careful what you wish for. 1mo
Leniverse @GatheringBooks I figure because of Nell's garden analogy. The alternative ways of living. The sisters are all alternative ways of reacting. What are the alternatives if we want to avoid destroying the planet. Etc. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole @JamieArc I read an interview with the author that mentioned the script section. She said she wanted readers to feel like they were in the room with the siblings and company. I tried to find the article quickly to post here but I was unsuccessful. I also remember it mentioning the way this helped eliminate “and then she said..” from clogging up the page. 1mo
Chelsea.Poole I‘m with @megabooks here I don‘t even remember the ending really, it must have just petered out, as others have mentioned. 1mo
squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks - the question about the title was another one that got sidelined! I‘m not sure - certainly Olwen was aiming to live an alternative lifestyle but I‘m not sure about the other sisters? 1mo
squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole - I‘m not sure that many (good) authors use ‘and then she said‘ a lot - seems an odd reasoning to me…. 1mo
squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks - I love that I learn other points of view in these discussions. Like @DGRachel I hated the ending, and found it very depressing, but now I‘m not so sure. 1mo
Kitta @squirrelbrain agreed. Also I didn‘t understand the script section or lack of speech marks in the text at all. It felt experimental and like the experiment didn‘t work. @Chelsea.Poole @Megabooks I don‘t remember the ending either. 1mo
MicheleinPhilly @DGRachel Ah yes! Thank you! 1mo
JamieArc @Chelsea.Poole I admit that I sometimes got lost in a paragraph unsure of when a character was speaking or just narrating since she didn‘t use quotes, so the script format did makes things more clear for me 😂 I don‘t know if it helped me feel in the room with them though… 1mo
Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain welllll…in her defense I‘m sure that‘s not what the article said. That was some major paraphrasing on my part lol. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I thought the ending was stupid. Olwen buried partially in her rocks, alone and unable to reach the phone. Why? What is even the point of that? And I like an open-ended ending when it‘s done well. This was not. 1mo
Christine @Leniverse That feels exactly right re: the title. Well said! 1mo
BarbaraJean The ending annoyed me! It seemed there was some small progress in their relationships with each other, and in the various issues each were working through professionally/personally, and then… that. 🙄 @Carolyn I wondered about lots of those ideas, too—but as with much of the rest of the book, I felt like I didn‘t get what the author was going for. (edited) 1mo
BarbaraJean @JamieArc I agree—I also felt distanced from all of the characters, so I didn‘t really care very much about what happened to each of them! It was just frustrating to reach the end and have it just... stop. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes @BarbaraJean - ending like that feel such a let-down. It‘s almost like the author can‘t decide how to end, so just leaves it. 1mo
DebinHawaii The ending was a definite letdown. When the Audible voice started in I went back & replayed it because I thought I missed something. I often don‘t mind an ambiguous ending but this one annoyed me although at the end of the day, I didn‘t care all that much whether Olwyn gets rescued. Also the audiobook felt very disjointed & the script just didn‘t transfer well to it. 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I thought I‘d missed something too @DebinHawaii - and I was reading in print! 😬 I can imagine that the audiobook didn‘t really work. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm just returning from a week in the land of no service/wifi (aka Near North Cottage Country), so I'm just catching up on the discussions that continued after initial thoughts! I was a bit let down by Olwyn's ending - and I love an open ended ending, but wasn't crazy about this one. Didn't hate it, just kind of meh on that part, and willing to overlook it because I really liked the read overall! I did, however, like the other sisters' “endings“ 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I loved the evolving relationship between Maeve and Rhona, it felt like their trip North started opening a crack in their sisterly “roles“ that allowed them to start seeing each other as people. And I liked seeing Nell evolve her relationship with her self, what she wanted from life and lust and other people. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc I spent a lot of time thinking about the playscript sections. The theatre nerd in me who has spent a lot of time studying scripts was intrigued. Here's the thoughts that struck me (it's entirely possible that they are just me overthinking things):
1. The script sections show the sisters together, as they fall into their familial and familiar “roles“ that they can't help following with eachother. The one break in the script is Maeve cont'
1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc continuing... Maeve preparing food and thinking about her life outside of the sisterly relationship. And then as they split up, and they begin seeing each other outside of those “roles“ it returns to straightforward prose - Rhona and Maeve go North and their relationship evolves, and Nell and Olwyn start finding a different understanding of each other outside of the Oldest/Youngest roles.

Thought 2 in the next comment
1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc Thought 2: Script form forces the reader to acknowledge an author, someone is plotting the script. I saw Olwyn as having a plan, and her sisters showing up throws everything out of order (she says to them that they are too early, or she wasn't expecting them “yet“). So I also see the script as Olwyn trying to wrestle things back into her plan. So I saw it as almost her scripting her sisters through their time at her place and cont again 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @JamieArc last one I promise... and also scripting them away again, she's trying to wrestle her plan and solitude back into her control (of course, for it all to fail spectacularly for her at the end, because she really does need other people) 1mo
squirrelbrain @TheKidUpstairs - fascinating, particularly about the script sections - insights that I had never even come near to considering. Thank you! 1mo
JamieArc @TheKidUpstairs Interesting! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this! 1mo
45 likes54 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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#camplitsy24

Last week we explored each sister‘s background and working life.

Now that the sisters have met up and spent some time together how did you find them as a group? How did the family dynamics play out?

Did you change your mind about any of them as a result of learning more about them?

See All 45 Comments
Leniverse They definitely had clear roles. The Eldest who is exhausted from looking after everyone, the 2nd eldest who plans for the future because the Eldest has enough with the day to day. Then the nurturer who feeds everyone and tries to hold the family together. Then the Baby, the sickly one, who desperately tries to escape being babied and look after herself. 1mo
Leniverse I guess I came to understand Rhona better (and Nell less). But overall they all just reminded me of a certain type of philosophy undergrad. The kind that comes to every lecture, every cafeteria conversation, ready to ride their particular hobby horse, no matter if it fit the topic, and who would always throw jargon around. 1mo
Jess I found the scenes with them all together less effective (a lot of bickering) than the scenes when two sisters were together. Actually, I really wanted more of this and hoped to understand their childhood a little more. 1mo
Jess I learned more about Olwen in the second half. Her leaving everything is kind of my fantasy (without all the drinking). I will never forgot that line where she said “I sawed myself off them like a cast.” That really resonated with me. 1mo
TrishB As one of 5 sisters, I find the labels are pretty true and very hard to break out of. I can understand why one left to try a different create some space! I would have liked more stuff about their childhood too. I agree with @Leniverse about the philosophy stuff.- but some people in universities do talk like this. Always. Like they can‘t abandon the character. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs I felt that their relationship as sisters was so deeply traumatized by their parents' deaths. Like @TrishB mentioned, it can be hard to break from familial labels in any family, but being orphaned so young really set those roles in a harsh and unforgiving way. So they became their roles for each other, rather than being there as just sisters for each other. And those roles carried into their lives of academia, which led to what @Leniverse said... 1mo
TheKidUpstairs Continued from last comment... they're so used to being the smartest in an academic setting (or on YouTube, which is its own kind of lecture), where having and proving the right answer is such a part of their lives, that when they come back together that's the only way they can relate to each other. They each want to be the one to know the right thing to do to "fix" everything and get everyone back to their normal life. So no one listens. 1mo
TrishB @TheKidUpstairs great comments. They do all want to fix each other and everyone else. 1mo
CarolynM Yes to the set roles in the family. I thought the fact that they all quietly read/watched/listened to one another‘s professional publications/broadcasts spoke to their commitment to & care for one another even if they didn‘t do very well at showing it directly. As an aside, I liked the variety in the ways they each interacted with young Leo. 1mo
MicheleinPhilly The differing dynamics amongst them was my favorite part of the book. Like others, I wish we had learned more about those dynamics in their childhood. As 1 of 3 sisters, my relationships with my sisters are very different one on one versus in the group AND they‘re different from when we were young. I would have appreciated more exploration of that. 1mo
BarbaraBB They all fall back into the role they used to play within the family dynamics and a role that‘s expected of them by the others. I think that‘s quite recognizable and I did like it. 1mo
squirrelbrain It sounds like most of us wanted to learn more about them when they were younger -I agree and think it would have fleshed out the book more. @jess @TrishB @MicheleinPhilly 1mo
squirrelbrain I wonder what the author is trying to say about these ‘clear roles‘ - that, ultimately, trying to change nature is futile? Maybe the family dynamics are a metaphor for the world as a whole, relating back to question 1? @Leniverse @TrishB @TheKidUpstairs @CarolynM @BarbaraBB 1mo
TrishB Great question Helen. It‘s very hard to change family dynamics! My parents are no longer here either- but like these sisters we still all fall into the family dynamics. Scary thought that we can‘t change family or the world… 1mo
JamieArc I was a bit confused about what their relationship to each other was prior to their gathering. Was it close or not? I know some were in contact but it felt set up to be a big reunion. There was some relief at the end when we finally see some connection, but it didn‘t feel enough to justify so much time of not understanding their relationships. 1mo
Megabooks Very good question @squirrelbrain ! I'm fascinated by sibling dynamics because I'm an only child. I think that's one of the things you just can't truly get unless you have them. Really appreciate your insights @trishb @thekidupstairs ! 1mo
Meshell1313 @Jess exactly! I also wish we learned more about their childhood! 1mo
TrishB @Megabooks many times have I wished to be an only child 😂 which is a typical sibling thing to say. 1mo
DGRachel @Megabooks I‘m an only child as well, so sibling dynamics escape me. I thought it was interesting how different they were in pairs versus all together, and it felt like they were finally starting to understand/respect each other more as adults as the book progressed. 1mo
GatheringBooks @squirrelbrain loved reading about the “roles” played by each sister and @BarbaraBB about the expectations of others and inevitably living up to the role one is locked into. Perhaps that is why this part of the narrative was made into a play-theatre format - an assertion of the clear “roles” each one needed to play. That they are “play-acting” in some respect, a level of performativity in the interaction, Rhona unable to be compassionate, Maeve .. 1mo
GatheringBooks (Cont) Maeve unable to boldly take charge with decisions except through food, the youngest grown out of the baby role, perfectly capable of standing on her own two feet - yet unable to feel them, until the end when she came into herself. And Olwen just exhausted from everything. 1mo
squirrelbrain You post such insightful, thoughtful comments @GatheringBooks - I‘m so glad you take part in these discussions. ❤️ 1mo
Megabooks @GatheringBooks @squirrelbrain agreed! Love your assessment! 💯🙌🏻 1mo
Megabooks @DGRachel yes, my mom is one of four, and they lost their parents fairly young. My mom is the oldest and closest with her 2 years younger sister. There is a 5 year gap then two other close siblings. It‘s interesting to see her with the 2 younger ones, especially, because her relationship and role is different with them. My mom, as the oldest, is bossy!! All the time, but firmly denies it! 🤣 1mo
Megabooks @TrishB I think that‘s normal. I wished for a sibling until most of my friends‘ parents stopped having kids (about 8 years old) then for a long time I was okay with it. Now, caring for my parents in old age, I wish I had a sibling to share the issues with. I have great friends, but no one really in the trenches with me. 1mo
JamieArc @GatheringBooks I like your take on the roles and use of script format. 1mo
BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks That can very well be the reason for the theatre format. I didn‘t think of that. Thanks! 1mo
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks I have a sister and when the time comes for my mom to need help (dad is gone), she won‘t be part of it, so don‘t be certain that having a sibling would allow you more support. Mine is more an emotional anchor than anything due to her choices. 1mo
Hooked_on_books I feel like bringing all the sisters together was a way to explore their family dynamics, but I don‘t think any of them grew or changed from it in any way, which is a lost opportunity. 1mo
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books that is what I think when I am feeling down. One doesn‘t know how life with a sibling would play out. I think the same thing about children as well as far as not having one to care for me. While I help my parents tremendously, my cousin has completely abandoned my aunt and uncle. I thought they had a good relationship but who knows! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ (edited) 1mo
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks I have so often heard the question asked about the childless, “but who will take care of you when you get old?” Having children doesn‘t guarantee that (and, in my opinion, is a terrible reason to have kids). (edited) 1mo
BarbaraJean @Jess I agree—the scenes that seemed to actually go somewhere were when just two of the sisters were interacting. I liked the way each pairing of sisters seemed to help them sort out both some personal struggles as well as some interpersonal ones.

My view of Olwen softened quite a bit, but I didn‘t really change my opinion of Rhona. I couldn‘t believe that she‘d sold the family home basically without consulting any of them! ⬇
1mo
BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) Those types of revelations deepened each character for me, and I wanted more of that. Like others have mentioned, I‘d have liked more about their past—both their childhood as well more on how each of them handled (or avoided) the trauma of their parents‘ deaths. @GatheringBooks I love that insight about the roles each of them play and how the script/play format underscores that. I didn‘t think about that, and it makes a lot of sense. 1mo
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books agreed being a bad reason. I just have very little desire to parent, and I feel if that desire isn‘t strong, having children probably isn‘t the best idea. There are kids in my life I enjoy being around, but I‘m glad I can go home and not have to make major decisions about their lives. 1mo
mcctrish At the end Rhona says to Maeve”I wasn‘t there, in whatever childhood you all had ….. It was lonely.” I think that really sums up why she‘s so different from them. And maybe why she has the child too. I thought they were likeable and unlikeable 1mo
squirrelbrain Good spot @mcctrish - I hadn‘t picked upon that. 1mo
DebinHawaii @mcctrish That statement stood out to me too. I‘m the youngest of 4 sisters (although the one closest in age to me estranged herself from the entire family years ago). My other sisters are 8 & 12 years older so often I feel like we lived somewhat different childhoods. I also found the dynamic of the sisters being different with each other in pairings than in the whole group to be accurate. I have different relationships with each of my sisters. 1mo
42 likes45 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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Hi all!

#camplitsy24

Welcome to the second week of our discussions on The Alternatives.

Some reviews have labelled the book as cli-fi - did you feel that? How big a part did climate or environmentalism in general play in the book?

How much of a role did worries about the climate or the future of the world have on Olwen‘s decision to leave? What about the other sisters - did it concern them?

See All 55 Comments
Leniverse It seemed not so much climate fiction as a climate lecture. All the sisters were just mouthpieces for a different facet. Olwen was the warning, Maeve was survival - how to cope with food scarcity, Rhona was the solution - how to change course. Nell... I haven't got a clue. She was a baffling character. Not at all concerned that she couldn't feel her own feet. She was one magical realism moment away from evolving into a mermaid. 1mo
Jess I didn‘t participate last weekend due to a migraine so let me start by saying I loved this book. Women in science doing their thing has always been a hook. Our reality is that climate is impacting us all daily. This book depicts what hyper awareness can do to some. It was the motivation for Olwen‘s departure and was the crux of Maeve‘s new work (scarcity) maybe even Rhona‘s. This book is also story about the need for community during these times. 1mo
TrishB I know a lot of people like this- and work with them too- where the concern is part of everything they do. It didn‘t feel like a lecture to me- I felt it was showing where the environmental changes impact day to day life. 1mo
CogsOfEncouragement @Leniverse Nell considers that Rhona may be right. Maybe what is wrong with her body is environmental, something in her surroundings is causing her physical problems. So, maybe victim? 1mo
Bookwormjillk I bailed on this one for now, but I‘m going to try it again later when my brain is quieter. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs Like @TrishB it didn't feel like a lecture to me. Climate change was one catalyst for Olwyn's actions - she felt the stress of it so deeply, and after a life time of caring for others, she had to retreat. I think the changing world was so all encompassing for her that it was either have a mental health breakdown or remove herself from society and the need to care for other people. 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @CogsOfEncouragement that's a good point about Nell being a potential victim of the environment. 1mo
CarolynM Yes, I thought it was cli-fi, at least in part. I think the author was also addressing other problematic aspects of modern life (Maeve‘s interactions with the wealthy clients & her publisher, Rhona‘s performance parenting & use of influence/connections to get what she wanted, Beatriz‘s brush with shadowy politics/ gangsters) &, of course, family disfunction. I didn‘t feel that I always understood what she saying about any of it, though. 1mo
CarolynM I really didn‘t understand Olwyn until that conversation with Nell towards the end. I had been quite cross with her for abandoning those 2 boys who had already lost one mother. 1mo
Leniverse @CogsOfEncouragement Yes, that's it, I'm sure! That would sort of explain why she's so unwilling to do anything to address the issue too. She just sees obstacles. Too expensive, it's not too bad really, I can manage with crutches and a band-aid. Just like a lot of people's reactions when confronted with the effects of climate change. 1mo
BarbaraBB I am with @TrishB , I was impressed by the way environmental changes where presented throughout the book. To me it was its strongest point. 1mo
Ruthiella I‘m with @CarolynM I didn‘t get this book as a whole. 1mo
JamieArc Yes, I can see that, but for me, perhaps that is its weakness. Each woman‘s profession becomes such a focal point, and maybe the author is trying so hard to say things about climate, that I don‘t really understand them or see much growth from them, but I totally could be missing something… 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, @CarolynM @Ruthiella - I‘m not entirely sure I ‘got‘ this book. Maybe because I skimmed some parts (it *did* feel like a lecture to me). As always with #camplitsy everyone‘s comments make me want to go back and re-visit with a much greater understanding. 1mo
Megabooks @carolynM and @ruthiella I didn't much get this one either! And like @leniverse I felt a bit lectured to. As far as books I've read about climate, I much preferred Mobility that was on last year's ToB longlist. I like @cogsofencouragement 's idea that Nell is a victim of the climate crisis. As a person with chronic illnesses, I always find characters with them interesting. 1mo
squirrelbrain @CarolynM + great points about the commentary on other troubling aspects of modern life! 1mo
squirrelbrain @CogsOfEncouragement - I too thought that Nell thought that Rhona may be right. I presume she had to live in America to show the futility of trying to get help when you haven‘t got the funds. But I do agree @Leniverse - Nell seemed weirdly passive about her illness. (edited) 1mo
Meshell1313 I kept thinking- what does Olwen know that we do not? Should I also be prepping for the end? 🤣 1mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain I don‘t understand why a person with a major illness would choose to live in America. I can say with conviction it is by and large a horrible place to be sick financially!!!!!!! 1mo
DGRachel I didn‘t really think of it as Cli-Fi, but probably because I forget that‘s a thing now. The environment was definitely a big theme, but I looked at it as less a global warning and more as a part of each sister‘s trajectory. 1mo
GatheringBooks @TheKidUpstairs @TrishB I echo your sentiments about how seamlessly their professions feed into their environmental awareness, concerns, & activism. I thought it was done with levity & a bit of grace. But more than anything, it was the willingness to be vulnerable amidst the intellectualizing that ensnared me and made me complicit in the narrative, implicating me, which I welcomed - because it was cleverly and sensitively executed. 1mo
GatheringBooks I love that there is now a term for this genre: cli-fi! Nice. Didn‘t realize there was such a thing - now I‘d be on the lookout for it. 1mo
GatheringBooks @Leniverse i love one magical realism moment away from mermaid-hood! Me needs that! Lols. 🧜‍♀️ (edited) 1mo
TheBookHippie I bailed. 😵‍💫 1mo
Kitta @DGRachel same for me, I saw it as a story of sisters not cli-fi. But maybe I haven‘t read any cli-fi before - what‘s a good example of one? Does anyone know? 1mo
Kitta @Megabooks The system here is broken. I‘m not American but I live in the US and having employed tied health private care makes no sense. 1mo
squirrelbrain I read this one at almost the same time as The Alternatives. @Kitta @GatheringBooks It felt much more dystopian but, oddly, also about sisters. I think it‘s a retelling of King Lear but I haven‘t read that so couldn‘t comment. I don‘t know if it‘s a ‘good‘ example of cli-fi but it gripped me a lot more than The Alternatives. (And better than Our Wives Under the Sea which we didn‘t much like at a previous camp!) 1mo
Hooked_on_books I wouldn‘t have called it clifi myself, but as climate change is a focus, I think one could. To me, climate change and how we respond/adjust to it is just an important part of our reality, so I don‘t tend to think of realistic books as clifi. I tend to think of dystopias that way. 1mo
Hooked_on_books @Leniverse Evolving into a mermaid! I love it! 😂 1mo
Leniverse @Hooked_on_books Maybe "mutated" would be a better word for it. It could be her superhero origin story. 1mo
Hooked_on_books @Leniverse I would totally read that book! I would like it better than this one. 1mo
Leniverse @Kitta Climate fiction recs: Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam trilogy. Kim Stanley Robinson's The Ministry For The Future (all his books really, but that one is less science fiction and more near future possibility) 1mo
BarbaraJean @CarolynM I felt the same, that the author was addressing lots of issues but I didn‘t always get what she was trying to communicate through these characters and their interactions. @Ruthiella @squirrelbrain @Megabooks I‘m glad I‘m not alone in feeling there‘s something I just wasn‘t getting! 1mo
BarbaraJean @CogsOfEncouragement @Leniverse That explains so much about Nell!! I was SO frustrated with her lack of concern and inaction, but it makes so much sense to see her as a victim of climate change, and her response as a parallel to people's feelings of powerlessness and avoidance in response to climate change impact. 1mo
BarbaraJean I didn‘t see climate/environmentalism playing a huge role, except in the preachy bits! By the end, it seemed worries over climate/future played some part in Olwen‘s leaving, but less so than the relational aspects. Like @TheKidUpstairs I felt her biggest motivation to leave was letting go of the expectations and needs placed on her by those she‘d felt responsible for caretaking for so long—Jasper and the boys, her students, and her sisters. ⬇ 1mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) I think going off the grid was her living out her values more authentically than she could before. I didn‘t get the sense that the other sisters were concerned in the same way Olwen was—even with Maeve‘s focus in her cooking & writing and Rhona‘s community work. But in reading everyone‘s comments I‘m seeing more how each sister can represent different aspects of action re: climate. 1mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraJean - it‘s so great reading everyone‘s comments and input,isn‘t it?! 1mo
mcctrish I did think it had a bit of an Overstory vibe but with dirt and rocks instead of trees 1mo
squirrelbrain Interesting @mcctrish -I haven‘t read Overstory yet, although I do own it on Kindle. 1mo
mcctrish @squirrelbrain I think Overstory is a spectacular book, you won‘t be able to think of trees in the same way afterwards 1mo
Kitta @squirrelbrain I quite liked our wives under the sea but I guess I‘m in the minority! Thanks for the recommendation! I love dystopian stories. 1mo
DebinHawaii Very late to the party but I thought climate change was a factor but not didn‘t seem to drive Olwen as much as being frustrated in her role in life did. (But also the audiobook was challenging to follow so I am sure I missed a lot.) 1mo
Kitta Thanks @Leniverse I read the year of the flood but as a geneticist the splicing of different animals bothered me scientifically lol. I couldn‘t suspend disbelief. I should try one of the others though. 1mo
Leniverse @Kitta Try Kim Stanley Robinson then. He's more about geo-engineering than gene-engineering. I think he's pretty much the gold standard in climate fiction. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Kitta - I didn‘t love Our Wives, but found this one much better. 1mo
squirrelbrain I think a fair few of us felt we‘d missed a lot, whether in print or audio @DebinHawaii - so maybe that means it wasn‘t us - it was the book. 😬 1mo
BarbaraJean @squirrelbrain It really is! These discussions have really enriched my reading of this book, making connections I missed and highlighting so much I otherwise wouldn't have noticed. Honestly, same for all the Camp Litsy discussions. I love having input from so many others who see different things than I do! 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Bear: A Novel | Julia Phillips
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Tomorrow we‘re finishing our discussion on The Alternatives and then, next week we start Bear! (I‘m a bit scared of a 🐻 in #camplitsy24! 😜)

The issue with this book is there are no chapter numbers so, the break point may be a tiny spoiler, but I think we all know there might be a bear involved!

Next weekend we‘ll discuss the first half of the book, to the chapter that ends ‘A bear beside her sister, close enough to walk over to and touch‘

See All 31 Comments
CBee I have high hopes for this one 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 1mo
BarbaraBB Thanks Helen! Looking forward to it! 1mo
AmyG Thank you. I am enjoying this one so far. 1mo
Megabooks Yay! Excited for Bear but sorry camp is ending! 1mo
jlhammar So excited to start this one! Playing catch-up with The Alternatives first. 1mo
Ruthiella Great. Looking forward to the grand finale! 😅 1mo
Meshell1313 Perfect! Can‘t wait! 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s very good! @CBee 1mo
squirrelbrain Looking forward to it! @BarbaraBB @Megabooks 1mo
squirrelbrain I really liked it! @AmyG 1mo
squirrelbrain I can‘t wait either! @Ruthiella @Meshell1313 1mo
squirrelbrain Hopefully you‘ll catch up for the weekend! 🤞 @jlhammar 1mo
Hooked_on_books I listened to this one while I was working and didn‘t even pick up on the lack of chapter numbers! That would for sure be challenging to find the right break spot. (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - it‘s just before Elena gets in the car and Sam goes mad with her and lashes out. Just so you know. 😄 1mo
Bookwormjillk Oh I thought it was about beers 🍺 1mo
CBee @squirrelbrain can‘t wait to get started 👏🏻 1mo
CBee @Bookwormjillk 😂😂😂😂 1mo
squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk - a 🐻 with 🍺 could be a *huge* problem in camp. 😜 1mo
Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain a definite safety violation 1mo
jenniferw88 Please remove me from the tag list for Bear - I haven't managed to get a copy, and I don't want to do audio. 1mo
CBee Very much liking this so far @squirrelbrain 🤞🏻🤞🏻👏🏻👏🏻 1mo
squirrelbrain It‘s very good! @CBee 1mo
77 likes31 comments
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squirrelbrain
Wild Houses: A Novel | Colin Barrett
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Pickpick

#booker #longlist 8/13

I went into this expecting not to like it, based on other reviews and, indeed, it took me a while to get drawn in but soon I was engrossed. Dev lives alone in a remote cottage following the death of his mother, when his dodgy cousins turn up with a teenager in tow, who they‘ve kidnapped to pay off a drug debt.

I can‘t figure out (yet!) if I agree with those who say it isn‘t a Booker book - still mulling it over! 🤔

Leniverse I am really curious about this one! And quite happy to have some non-Booker/atypical Booker books on the list! 1mo
AnneCecilie Another interesting review. A Booktubuer talked about this, don‘t remember who (I‘ve seen some Booker predictions videos) and their description made it sound interesting. Now you got me intrigued. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Leniverse @AnneCecilie - to me it does feel Booker (ish) as it‘s ‘misery porn‘. A bit like Shuggie Bain only not so relentless. 😬 I listened to this on Audible - the narration was fabulous. 1mo
See All 12 Comments
AnneCecilie I first bailed on Shuggie Bain, before I listened to it on audio and didn‘t like it then either. But I‘ll keep in mind about the audio for this one 1mo
Leniverse Oh no! I was hoping it was more along the lines of black humour. Ok, I'm forewarned. 1mo
squirrelbrain Actually, @Leniverse I can see how some readers might find the (dark) humour in it. To me, they were all rather pathetic with no way out of the situations they found themselves in. You may see it quite differently though. 🤔 1mo
Leniverse 🤔 Very intrigued now 😆 1mo
JamieArc I had this on my list of “only read if you see good reviews” and sure enough, it‘s one I really want to get to before the shortlist is announced now. 1mo
BarbaraBB Like @AnneCecilie I didn‘t like Shuggie Bain at all. The all-over misery indeed always puts me off. I‘ll be hoping for some (dark) humor! 1mo
Graywacke Another! Glad to see you enjoyed it (Booker material or not). 1mo
Cathythoughts Great review Helen. I just finished it and I loved it. 1mo
squirrelbrain Glad you loved it! @Cathythoughts 1mo
69 likes12 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Headshot: A Novel | Rita Bullwinkel
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Pickpick

#booker #longlist 7/13

I liked this, but didn‘t love it.

I liked it for its unusual concept and style - following 8 girl boxers as they compete in Reno.

I didn‘t love it because there wasn‘t enough depth to make me care about the characters, and they all seemed to blend into one. It started well, but got rather repetitive as it went on.

I don‘t think it will make my personal shortlist but I think the judges might like it.

JenP Agreed. That‘s pretty much what I said in my review. I think it will make the shortlist but I‘ve only read half the books so far 1mo
AnneCecilie Interesting. I‘ve seen some great reviews for this one, but from your review I‘m not sure I will like it. I like when I get to know the characters and this doesn‘t seem like that kind of book then (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain @AnneCecilie - there are some deep subjects but they‘re covered in a rather superficial way. It probably would have been better to have 4 characters covered in more depth, rather than skimming over 8 teenage girls. (edited) 1mo
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squirrelbrain I‘m glad we‘re in agreement @JenP 😄 I‘m not sorry that I read it but it won‘t stay with me. 1mo
AnneCecilie Then I don‘t think I‘ll rush out to spend my own money on it, but wait and see if it becomes available through my library (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, it feels like a #borrownotbuy @AnneCecilie - I found it on Everand and I‘d have been disappointed if I‘d have bought it. 1mo
JamieArc This sounds similar to other reviews I‘ve seen. I have this next up after My Friends. 1mo
BarbaraBB The concept sounds good indeed but I trust your opinion 1mo
Graywacke Interesting. All the responses i‘ve seen have been positive. Readers who are sort of surprised how much they liked it. Congrats on #7 1mo
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squirrelbrain
Creation Lake: A Novel | Rachel Kushner
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Hooray! The penultimate book that I needed from the Booker Longlist. 🎉

Only the Richard Powers to get now, but I requested that from NG back in May so I doubt I‘ll get it st this late stage. 🤷‍♀️

#booker #longlist #bookerlonglist

jlhammar Wow, that‘s awesome! 1mo
BarbaraBB Lucky you! 1mo
Chelsea.Poole 👏 1mo
55 likes3 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Held: A Novel | Anne Michaels
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Pickpick

I finished this yesterday then saw @Deblovestoread Debra‘s review - which pretty much said everything I wanted to say! 🤣

Beautiful writing but it was a bit confusing with the chronological jumping around - it felt like a series of vignettes rather than one cohesive novel.

#booker #longlist

I have to say, though, there‘s always one impenetrable / opaque book on every book prize longlist, and if this is this year‘s then it‘s not so bad!

BarbaraBB I loved the first half much more than the second one 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @BarbaraBB - the second half lost me. 1mo
71 likes2 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

#bookerlonglist 5/13

I borrowed this from the digital library prior to the #bookerlonglist being announced, as it was strongly rumoured, but I found myself not wanting to start it.

Once it made the list and I *had* to read it 😜, well, I just couldn‘t put it down.

Based on a real-life incident at the Libyan Embassy in London in 1984 it follows the lives of 3 friends who are exiled in the UK as a result.

It tailed off ever so slightly ⬇️

squirrelbrain ….towards the end for me, but it‘s definitely on my shortlist (at the moment!). Currently reading another 4 from the longlist so we shall see…! 😄 2mo
JamieArc My current read, and first of the Longlist I haven‘t read. Enjoying it quite a bit! 2mo
Leniverse This is the one I'm looking forward to the most. Glad it looks like it might live up to expectations! 2mo
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BarbaraBB It sounds good! I read another book by him and hadn‘t heard of this one until the longlist 2mo
JenP Im looking forward to this the most. Saving it for my plan trip next week 2mo
jlhammar Oh good, so glad to hear you enjoyed it! Really looking forward to it. 2mo
Cathythoughts Stacking 👍🏻 1mo
sarahbarnes This one sounds good and glad to see it on your shortlist for the moment! 1mo
Graywacke I‘m happy you‘re reading the longlist again. I‘ll get here soonish. 1mo
squirrelbrain @Graywacke- I knew there was someone I missed on the tagging. 😳😄 1mo
Graywacke @squirrelbrain everyone tagged is reading the longlist? ! 1mo
squirrelbrain Some may read the whole longlist @Graywacke - I just tagged everyone that had posted about the list being announced. 1mo
Graywacke @squirrelbrain 👍 I‘ll tag you and Barbarabb with my slow progress (and, of course, anyone else that wants to be tagged) 1mo
squirrelbrain Looking forward to seeing how you get on! @Graywacke @BarbaraBB 1mo
Hooked_on_books I thought this one was terrific. Really absorbing and well paced. It actually made me think a bit of Brotherless Night, which I loved. (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I can see where you‘re coming from with that comparison Holly. @Hooked_on_books 1mo
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squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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#camplitsy24

Our final question for this week…. We look forward to joining together around the campfire again next week, for the second half of the book, where we‘ll hopefully get some answers as to what is happening!

Without giving away spoilers if you‘ve read to the end, why do you think Olwen left, and why so suddenly? Other than being worried about her, why do you think the sisters travel to find her?

See All 41 Comments
Hooked_on_books I really don‘t have a clue. And I felt the focus on looking for her was almost manic in its intensity. While I can‘t imagine having someone just disappear and not knowing what happened to them, it seemed a bit overwrought. 2mo
Leniverse Tricky. I think... She's looked after four younger siblings since she was 18. Then she became step-mum to two boys who had lost their mother. Combine that with her certainty that humans are destroying the world. She's had enough and gone feral, or rather, she's gone survivalist in the countryside. She said, "you're too early", so maybe she's planned on a full on Fallout shelter? ???‍♀️ 2mo
Leniverse I'm unclear on whether their parents' deaths were an accident or a suicide. There's a hint that the mother might have been bipolar? And that she might have walked off the cliff and the dad tried to stop her and was pulled over? And now Olwen goes out in the night, like they did, and disappears. So I think old trauma is driving their reaction. Seems extreme for Nell though. She sold everything, like she's not planning on returning. 2mo
Kitta It seems like she was planning something as @Leniverse said when she says “you‘re too early”. Seems like she was expecting them to come later. I think they went to look for Olwen because this was so out of character for her. It‘s extreme to leave everything and live off the grid. I think she needed a different role from being a parent/caretaker. I‘ve certainly wanted to move somewhere and start a new life over before when work/life gets too much! 2mo
BarbaraBB Interesting thoughts @Leniverse about why Olwen left. I think you may be right but like @Hooked_on_books I don‘t get it. Leaving without a word? Yet stay in touch with one of the sisters? It didn‘t make much sense to me. And I saw no relation to her field of science - which I at first thought was why she was leaving 2mo
Leniverse I'm also wondering, where is Jasper in all of this? The sisters haven't told him they found her, which I get because what if she's hiding from him specifically? But is he worried? Does he know more than he's saying? 2mo
JamieArc I really have no idea either, although I thought menopause might have been alluded too. If someone totally disappears for a few days, I feel like it‘s totally natural to want to find them. I‘m more concerned that there‘s been nothing from Jasper. Doesn‘t he want to know? Why isn‘t there more concern from him (that we as readers get to see). 2mo
TrishB Interesting that we‘re talking about a woman just walking off again! But so different. I‘m guessing just had enough. But seems to have been some planning 🤷‍♀️ 2mo
Megabooks I really didn't know at this point, but I figured she had gone far away possibly to disappear forever. I think she doesn't want to be found. I, too, wondered why Jasper wasn't more worried @leniverse. They seemed to be in a stable LTR, and then she just ran away. Those poor boys! 2mo
Meshell1313 Right away I thought of All Fours! Here we go again! A woman tired of her husband and kids! 2mo
Ruthiella I have read the whole book, but I think by the halfway point the reader doesn‘t‘ know why. (edited) 2mo
squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - I wondered why they all had to *physically* go and find her and, like @BarbaraBB said, one of them knew she was OK (or at least alive!) anyway. 2mo
squirrelbrain Yes @Leniverse @Megabooks @jamiearc - Jasper seems to have been left out of this. He‘s very much a bit-part character and we have no idea if he *has* been looking for her. (edited) 2mo
squirrelbrain @TrishB @Meshell1313 - interesting that we chose two books about middle-aged women disappearing. And the next one, Bear, is about sisters….🤔 2mo
Soubhiville I don‘t really see a reason at this point, but could see her feeling trapped in being a caretaker and wanting a break from that. I‘m hoping to find out why. 2mo
Deblovestoread I have no clue why she left but appreciate the ideas others have expressed. I got stuck in really resenting OlWen leaving the boys in the way she did after the loss they already suffered. 2mo
DGRachel We definitely don‘t have a reason for her leaving at this point, but I think it‘s interesting how she finished raising her sisters and sent them out into the world to be independent, and she speaks about how Jasper and the boys are so much better than when she met them, almost like she‘s finished raising/fixing them and they are ready to fly without her, so she can leave - like a G&T soaked Mary Poppins. 2mo
Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain Right, exactly! It just felt like a plot device to get them all together, which is probably why I found it overwrought. If the characters were fuller and we‘d seen how her leaving really impacted each one, it would have made more sense and worked a lot better. 2mo
DGRachel And I think the sisters‘ reasons are wrapped up in fear of abandonment, since she took on that parental responsibility after the death of their parents, and maybe a little resentment. 2mo
squirrelbrain I love that @DGRachel ! 🤣 A gin-soaked Mary Poppins! It does seem as though that is much of the reason for her leaving, though - the fact that she had finished raising her two ‘families‘. 2mo
BarbaraJean I‘m mystified as to why Olwen left. I went back over that section to look for clues and feel like I must have missed something!! I think being worried is reason enough for the sisters to go find her. But also, I think they go because Olwen left behind so many questions. I‘d want an explanation, or some kind of notification at the very least. Even: “I‘m going off-grid for a while, please don‘t contact me” would be better than just disappearing. ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) I‘m sure some of the reason is worry, wanting to make sure she‘s okay, but I think a lot of it is wanting to know why. @Leniverse @Megabooks @Deblovestoread I had the same questions/frustrations about Jasper and the boys. There was some comment that made me think she had contacted him, something about him not being worried? I can‘t find it now. 2mo
BarbaraJean @Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain I also wondered why they ALL had to go. I was surprised Rhona didn't go on her own when she found out where Olwen was. It made sense that someone had to physically go, but for Nell to give up her classes and fly over from the US (and give away all her books! What?!) seemed extreme. Also I found it weird that Maeve had some contact with Olwen but didn‘t tell the others. Hoping for answers in the second half. 2mo
DebinHawaii I am pretty clueless as to why she left. I could see being tired of being a caregiver & raising two families but it seemed just so abrupt. An email, letter, text, post-it or something seems like it would have prevented them coming after her. 2mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraJean - it‘s odd, isn‘t it? Maeve had contact with her, Rhona knew where she was but none of them seemed to communicate with each other. 🤷‍♀️ 2mo
squirrelbrain Exactly @DebinHawaii - an email would have sufficed and put everyone‘s mind at rest. 2mo
GatheringBooks @TrishB exactly what i thought - the parallels with all fours. How fascinating that two of the books we read have female protagonists who just upped and left their lives to look after themselves. And what‘s even more fascinating is how seemingly divisive and polarizing the actions of these women are - yet they seem to be perfectly acceptable when men do it, with a touch of nobility. Yet for women, it is deemed irresponsible or selfish. 👇🏼 1mo
GatheringBooks (Cont) as for the Q, i have a 68 yo White male American academic friend who has published on climate justice who has been dreaming of living off-the-grid for awhile now, so i can understand where Olwen is coming from. I suspect, however, that a deeper trauma & pathology is at play here - as alluded to with the drinking, the early parent loss, + the perimenopause. I love that there are more stories about these now. So Refreshing and real. 1mo
sarahbarnes I‘m sad I missed the discussion yesterday! I was in the mountains. Love reading all the comments here. 1mo
TrishB @GatheringBooks sadly, men still get applauded for even looking after their own children! 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes @GatheringBooks - it‘s interesting that even us Littens, most of whom are of a similar age to the protagonists or at least approaching it, have such differing views on whether they did the right thing or not. And we expect those who don‘t read as widely as we do, or who aren‘t peri-menopausal themselves to understand and empathise? 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Late to camp! I felt like the environmental aspect was the emphasis for Olwen, or at least that‘s what I took from it the most. Maybe it was just her excuse? Or like others said, a combination of that and the familial pressure. 1mo
squirrelbrain We don‘t mind a latecomer! @Chelsea.Poole Hopefully you can find a bunk! 🤣 (edited) 1mo
37 likes41 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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#camplitsy24

The book has had mixed reviews so far, but hopefully not as polarising as All Fours! 🤣

This section, with all of its descriptions and expositions, is certainly a part of the book that some of us weren‘t sure about, but some of liked and felt we learned a lot.

What did you think of all of the sisters‘ different work backgrounds? How did this play into their roles as sisters?

See All 54 Comments
Leniverse I liked it! It showed the similarities and differences between them. They're all educators in some way, three of them in academia, the fourth through YouTube. They're all invested in nature and conservation, but in different ways. They're all somewhat untraditional in the way they live and how they pursue their best lives. I found their work personas more interesting than their private lives. 2mo
Hooked_on_books I did like the exploration of work for each of these women, though I felt that focus made each of them a bit one-note. They were all underdeveloped for me. I think we see the most non-work stuff with Nell because of the focus on her disability, but not a lot of development beyond that. 2mo
Kitta I agree with @Hooked_on_books it feels underdeveloped. I did appreciate the descriptions of the difficulties of academic life though, getting a rejection letter from Nature and resubmitting elsewhere is something I‘ve done recently. 2mo
Cuilin The work explorations were fine until I got to Rhona‘s. So boring. I agree that they‘re underdeveloped/onesided. 2mo
Larkken I think I “liked” Maeve‘s most because I was able to settle in and enjoy the chef narrative as something I‘ve seen before. The academics seemed a bit like an excuse for the author to monologue at the reader and I don‘t enjoy that. Like, seriously, a whole lecture from Nell was recounted. 2mo
BarbaraBB I did like the work perspective of all four of them. Especially Olwen‘s stuck with me. But I also liked Rhonda‘s story. They were more interesting to me as working women than as sisters. 2mo
JamieArc I agree with @Hooked_on_books that this aspect made them feel one-note. I work in academia and thought I would be much more interested in them than I am. 2mo
Kitta @JamieArc what area do you work in? I left academia about a year ago (genetics/genomics for me). 2mo
JamieArc @Kitta I‘m a director of accreditation/assessment for our college of education. 2mo
TrishB It literally felt like a work meeting sometimes 🤷‍♀️ my boss is a philosophy professor, I skipped a lot of those parts because it‘s literally how he speaks. Even if he‘s talking about a cup of tea. 2mo
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books @kitta @jamiearc I agree that the sisters were a bit one-note. She got so invested in showing them as successful and working the work angle that I think the character development suffered greatly. I really wanted to like them and get invested, but I just couldn't. A book has to have strong character development to be a pick for me, and this just didn't have that. 2mo
Meshell1313 @Megabooks yes! I think you hit the nail on the head! 2mo
Ruthiella I agree with @Hooked_on_books @Kitta @JamieArc @Megabooks I feel like the author had a concept for what each sister was supposed to represent or reflect and while she may have achieved that representation, they didn‘t always feel like real people in a real family. 2mo
squirrelbrain Interesting that Leni @leniverse, you found their work lives more interesting than their personal lives, but others (@hooked_on_books @kitta @cuilin @jamiearc) found their personal lives underdeveloped. 2mo
squirrelbrain Like @Larkken I found some of the work elements very didactic and I don‘t think the long descriptions added enough to the story line to justify their inclusion to such an extent. Like you Meg @Megabooks I felt that it detracted from rather than added to the character development. 2mo
squirrelbrain @Kitta @JamieArc @TrishB - interesting that you have worked in the world(s) mentioned and that you weren‘t particularly drawn in, even though some aspects fell true. 2mo
Kitta @squirrelbrain yeah like the things that were happening were accurate but the internal monologues were odd to me. People are more well rounded in my experience, and the way Olwen talks about her students irked me. I can‘t say how exactly but it felt like she was talking down to them sometimes. Maybe I‘m used to a different course structure? But I studied in the UK so it should reflect my experiences more imo. 2mo
Soubhiville As just about everyone has said, I felt like some of the work descriptions were too much. It‘s funny that the depth of detail made parts slightly boring? I‘d have liked to get to know them more personally too. 2mo
Larkken @Ruthiella @JamieArc yes, they were almost more archetype or charicature than real person 2mo
Larkken @Kitta funny that you didn‘t see yourself in the academics, esp olwen? I saw Olwen in my parents (who are geos as well, so maybe forced) but not in myself, and I‘m also a scientist but not in academia 2mo
Deblovestoread We are hit over the head a bit with 4 doctors! We get they are smart but not much else. 2mo
squirrelbrain @Kitta yes, I definitely felt that she was patronising them. It felt odd that she pulled her step-kids out of school and took them along on the field-trip, then treated them as the adults, showing off that knew more than her students. 2mo
squirrelbrain @Soubhiville @deblovestoread - yes, I found the depth of detail quite boring. For me, it didn‘t add anything to their characters or to the storyline. More could have been said with less. (edited) 2mo
Kitta @Larkken I know right? I was expecting to, and her world did seem the most familiar, but she thoughts, actions, and the way she treats people (her students, her family) are not something I identify with. I left for industry a year and a half ago and don‘t regret it at all. What kind of science do you do? I can‘t remember. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2mo
DGRachel This whole conversation is so fascinating to me. I didn‘t realize “women at work” was a theme and I enjoyed seeing each sister in her professional role, much more than I would have enjoyed family dynamics. I think maybe because for most of my life my identity has been wrapped up in my work - it‘s one of the only areas I find value and worth, where I have any confidence, so I connected with this focus. 2mo
Larkken @Kitta Haha, yea. I'm an Anthropologist in a forensic science lab :) it's kinda nice to escape the academic rat race, isn't it 2mo
Kitta @Larkken oh that‘s so cool. I‘m a genetics/genomics specialist at a start up, so it‘s a bit scary sometimes but definitely great to be out of academia! 2mo
BarbaraJean This is so interesting! Like @DGRachel I didn‘t realize women at work was a theme. I saw it as more about the sister relationships, partly because that‘s what intrudes on each sister‘s thoughts in the midst of their work. So far, I do think Hughes is successful in showing their working lives but I hadn‘t seen it as ABOUT that before reading this question! I read the descriptions of them at work as insight into who they are, giving me context for ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...their lives. I enjoyed those establishing details & I think the different careers echo how they are as sisters when we finally see them all together. Maeve as a chef is more of a caretaker, Rhona as a politician is coldly practical, Nell as a philosopher gets lost in abstractions. Olwen is harder for me to get a read on. I agree, @Larkken & @squirrelbrain—the academia scenes, with Nell & Olwen especially, felt almost preachy. ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) It seemed like a way for the author to shoehorn in certain ideas, rather than developing those ideas organically. And maybe the focus on their lives at work was part of what hindered that deeper/more organic development (both of the ideas and of the characters). It's a one-aspect view of each character; the balance is off and we don't get the fuller picture that could be fleshed out by also seeing their personal lives. 2mo
Leniverse @Larkken I figured the lecture from Nell was a slightly heavy handed way of showing us the theme of the book: Pursuit of happiness. @Kitta I was surprised at how little Olwen's students seemed to know! A lot of what they talked about is part of the general high school curriculum in Wales. 2mo
DebinHawaii Line @DGRachel much/most of my identity has been around my work so learning about them in that way appealed to me (especially Maeve as I can talk to listen about food all day) but I also don‘t feel deeply drawn into the characters yet & I hope they develop more as the second half unfolds. 2mo
Christine Am I the only one who enjoyed the philosophy lecture?? 🙋‍♀️🤣 2mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraJean - ‘preachy‘ is the perfect word. Barbara Kingsolver does that too, but in a less obvious way, I think. 2mo
GatheringBooks @Christine i enjoyed it, too. In fact, i loved the details of each of their work. Unpopular opinion: i felt that there was sufficient depth in each of the character‘s stories that i do feel invested in where the story will eventually lead. I get that the intellectualizing/proselytizing bits can get to be much (which makes it understandable why they only see each other every 3 years, maybe)? Yet, I was fascinated with the wit, the story arcs 👇🏼 1mo
GatheringBooks (Cont) the exchange. Funnily enough, i feel that the “women at work” theme had nothing to do with their professions - but rather how they worked on their relationships, how they each tend to the other‘s brokenness, repair those with a level of fastidiousness that is true to each character: food for one, philosophy with another, science and sustainability for the other, and pragmatism and politics with yet another. And remarkably, it all coheres. 1mo
DGRachel @GatheringBooks I thought I was the only one who found enough development to be invested! I will sit on the unpopular opinion island with you. ☺️ 1mo
squirrelbrain @christine @GatheringBooks @dgrachel I‘m glad you all enjoyed those sections. It will be interesting to see what depth these sections bring to their personalities , although I think you‘ve already explained it so well Myra. (edited) 1mo
Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @BarbaraJean I agree — it‘s way too in your face with the author‘s opinions and it ended up feeling like an agenda. I mean, mostly I shared her opinions but it got to be too much for a fictional work. (edited) 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes @Chelsea.Poole - a great point. There was a stark contrast between the fiction and NF - they should have been woven together better. 1mo
Christine @GatheringBooks That's such a great observation re: their careers reflecting their characters/choices! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @GatheringBooks I love your point about the different types of "work" that the sisters each have to do, alone and together. And I'll happily join unpopular opinion island with you and @DGRachel - I thought introducing them at their jobs, not just what they do for work but how they approach it alongside the rest of their lives, gave me a lot of insights into their characters. Definitely enough to be drawn into their stories! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @BarbaraJean what didn't work for you guys totally worked for me! I felt the force of the sisters' passions rather than the author's ideals and agenda. It felt organic to me in a book about four academically gifted yet emotionally stunted sisters - they each try to control a room by being the smartest, the one with the answers. And they each, in their own way, throw their hands up and walk away (Cont'd in next comment 1mo
TheKidUpstairs .... cont'd.... when others disagree or don't understand them. It reads as such a trauma response from their childhood to me. 1mo
squirrelbrain What a great way to view the sisters @TheKidUpstairs - this is why I love #camplitsy - there‘s always a different perspective that adds something to one‘s reading! 1mo
TheKidUpstairs @squirrelbrain absolutely 💯 Some of the best discussions come from books we don't all agree on, don't they! 1mo
36 likes54 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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Welcome to August at #camplitsy24! Hopefully your cabins are still neat and tidy and you haven‘t run out of marshmallows yet!

As ever, if you‘ve read to the end of the book, no spoilers please for those who are saving the second half for the upcoming week.

The first few chapters introduce us to all 4 sisters - did you enjoy learning about them all?

See All 53 Comments
Leniverse They're all a bit manic for me, except maybe Maeve. Total overachievers. 😅 Maybe Olwen. Eldest sibling, will strike up conversations with strangers, convinced we're all doomed. I can relate. And who hasn't wanted to walk out in the middle of the night and disappear into the wilderness? I can't fathom actually doing it though, both because of the people left behind and because I have zero nature survival skills 😂 2mo
Suet624 Just got it from the library. 😳 2mo
Hooked_on_books I disliked Rhona, but I‘m pretty sure we‘re “supposed to” not like her, and unfortunately she felt more like caricature to me. If I identified with any of the sisters, I would probably say Nell. She seems to want to do things with intellectual life and is stymied, and I can relate to that. 2mo
Kitta I should identify with Olwen the most because I‘m also a scientist but I don‘t like the portrayal of her, feels a bit too much like a stereotype of a scientist and we aren‘t like that. I‘m like Maeve the most I think. I identify with her struggle to make people happy vs do what she wants to do re: publishing the cookbook. And how she feels obligated to care for Nell. 2mo
Cuilin I‘m usually attracted to books with four sisters as I am one of four. And as they‘re Irish I thought I‘d like/understand them but they‘re all a bit much. Maeve seems the one I could get along with. 2mo
TheKidUpstairs I can't say I identify with any of them, but I find them all fascinating in their own ways. I really liked getting to know them all individually and am interested to see how they all come together 2mo
AmyG I bailed. I apologize. 😢 2mo
BarbaraBB I think I liked Maeve and Nell best but I am not sure who‘s who any longer 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2mo
JamieArc I don‘t think I identify with any of them, though I do like very long walks 😂. I too find them all interesting, though something about Rhona irks me a little. 2mo
TrishB I liked getting to know them (there are 4 sisters in my family so was interesting). I wouldn‘t say I explicitly relate to any of them singular. 2mo
TrishB I also didn‘t particularly dislike any of them! 2mo
Megabooks At my worst (lol), I'm probably a Rhona. A little too driven. A little run people over. But intellectually, I'm more an Olwen. I skipped a lot of Nell's philosophizing. I don't find that interesting at all. 2mo
Meshell1313 I do love how different they each are but yet all motivated and driven in their own ways yet they all seem ambitious. I think I have a little bit of each of them in myself but I liked Olwen the most at first. I liked the kind of teacher she is. 2mo
DGRachel I‘ve just started Nell‘s chapter, so I can‘t weigh in yet. I got lost in the audiobook and had to reread half of Olwen‘s chapter. I did want to say that I‘m surprised by how much I‘m enjoying it so far. 2mo
TheBookHippie I‘m still 24th in line at library ... I may buy it and catch up! 2mo
squirrelbrain @Suet624 - feel free to comment when you‘ve had time to catch up! 2mo
squirrelbrain @AmyG - no need to apologise, sometimes it‘s not the right book or the right time. 2mo
Ruthiella They all really irritated me in different ways! At least at first. I think I am more like Rhona and the other three not doing what was best for themselves professionally and/or personally drove me a little crazy. But seeing Rhonda‘s calculating side was also not flattering. 2mo
squirrelbrain @kitta @Hooked_on_books - they all felt a bit stereotypical, almost caricatures, to me. There were no great areas and no nuance in any of them. 2mo
squirrelbrain They are all a bit much aren‘t they? @Leniverse @cuilin It makes you wonder how / why they are ALL like that. (edited) 2mo
squirrelbrain Oh no @TheBookHippie - I‘m surprised it‘s so popular though - I didn‘t think it has had that much PR - although maybe it‘s different in the US? 2mo
squirrelbrain @Meshell - I too liked Olwen the most at first, but I think that‘s because we hadn‘t been hit by so much detail about the other 3 as well…. 2mo
squirrelbrain @DGRachel - looking forward to your comments when you do catch up! 2mo
Kitta @squirrelbrain @TheBookHippie I joined the library queue on the day we decided on the books and just got it this week, I haven‘t seen a lot of PR for it in the US but it‘s definitely popular. 2mo
TheBookHippie @squirrelbrain who knows? It‘s for the e book 😵‍💫 I‘m just going to buy it and donate to the library my copy when I‘m done. That way it‘s in print for someone. 2mo
Soubhiville I‘m just a bit into Rhona‘s chapter, but I‘d say I relate most to Olwen and Maeve so far. Though I agree with everyone that I don‘t really fit with any of them. All of them have quirks that I would be annoyed with in person. 2mo
Deblovestoread I don‘t identify with any of them really. I like Maeve and Nell but all of them are cardboard cutouts to me. Everything feels very flat. Although, I have harbored the fantasy of just walking out the door a time or two in my almost 65 years. 2mo
DGRachel Caught up! The format is really interesting, getting individual chapters for each sister and then “the play”. I like getting to know them individually first. I have the most sympathy for Olwen (and a little envious of her just walking away from her life), and I dislike Rhona. Like @Hooked_on_books said, I think we‘re meant to dislike her. I also agree that each sister is a bit TOO MUCH, each in her own way. 2mo
DGRachel @Soubhiville I definitely don‘t see being friends with any of them. @Deblovestoread I have shared that fantasy, on occasion. I used to get a strong urge to run every fall for no real reason. I did have a terrible day at work once, and hopped on the highway at lunchtime and just drove north on the interstate for half an hour before making myself return. 😳 2mo
Hooked_on_books @DGRachel Do you ever wonder what would have happened or where you would have ended up if you had kept going instead? 2mo
DGRachel @Hooked_on_books probably homeless and/or murdered. 😂 I have zero survival skills. Plus, I lived with two dogs, no people, in an apartment, at the time. No matter how much I wanted to run and erase myself from the grid, I could never have abandoned them. 2mo
squirrelbrain @Deblovestoread @DGRachel - I think we‘ve all shared that fantasy, although I‘ve never even *nearly* acted upon it @DGRachel 😬. You were brave to give it a go, and braver to come back and ‘face the music‘. 2mo
Hooked_on_books @DGRachel Oh yeah, you definitely can‘t abandon the pups! That would be terrible. If you were really committed, you could have gone home and scooped them up, then headed into the sunset. 😬 2mo
BarbaraJean I enjoyed how the narrative shifts between each sister's POV in turn. I agree with @DGRachel, the format is really interesting! I liked being inside each sister's POV before we got to the play format. I found Maeve & Nell most likable, and identified most with Nell—largely because of my brief stints as an adjunct! I liked Olwen initially—but how she walked away (not that she did, but how—leaving people worrying about her) and ⬇ 2mo
BarbaraJean (Cont'd) ...the way she is with her sisters when they find her really turned me off. I didn‘t like Rhona, either—she seems both callous & calculating. (“Look at the dead cat.” 😳) But I agree @Hooked_on_books, it seems intentional that we‘re supposed to dislike her! I also think it's interesting that the most unlikable sister, the one who's most calculating, is the one who has a child. I like how that subverts certain stereotypes of mothering! 2mo
DebinHawaii My library hold lines (print & ebook) were really long on this one so I ended up using an Audible credit for it & finished the section while running errands. That may not have been my best choice because it‘s disjointed & I got a bit lost & was having a hard time keeping track of who is who until I read the comments. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I find I like Maeve the best probably because of the food & cooking but I don‘t really identify with any of them so far. 2mo
Christine @BarbaraJean Yes to pretty much everything you said, including the adjunct bit (I‘m currently one!). The cat! 😩 And that‘s such a good observation about Rhona. I‘m still trying to figure out how I feel about Maeve, though I loved her introductory meal, especially the Roquefort twist! 2mo
GatheringBooks I just finished reading the required section. I can‘t say that I identify with any of the four sisters just yet - although i am an academic myself. I identify more with the circumstances of what it means to be a scholar - particularly the publish/perish sort of mentality. I just met someone from my IRL book club (irish or british) who claims to be friends with Hughes and described her to be quite the genius, an achiever in everything she sets 👇🏼 1mo
GatheringBooks (Cont) her mind to doing. This is a challenging read as it is unafraid of being esoteric, philosophical, academic. Yet despite the marked difference in tone, overall vibe, and narrative style, I am amazed at how this is so reminiscent of the last book we read, All Fours, about a woman unafraid to turn her life over in pursuit of whatever it is she is looking for, both possibly perimenopausal,& just fearless in their efforts to live authentically. 1mo
squirrelbrain Interesting @BarbaraJean - I hadn‘t considered that the sister we all seem to dislike, with the least ‘mothering‘ personality is the only one with a child. 🤔 1mo
squirrelbrain @DebinHawaii - @BarbaraBB listened on audio and completely missed that we started on a ‘scripted‘ section just before halfway. Did you see that? 1mo
squirrelbrain I can imagine that Hughes is incredibly intelligent and fiercely competitive @GatheringBooks - I wonder which sister she created in her own reflection? Maybe a bit of all of them… 1mo
DebinHawaii @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB Hah! It isn‘t at all apparent in the audiobook for sure. I had taken a screen shot of your announcement post about where to read to & kept looking at it when I was getting close, otherwise I‘d have missed that fact too! 😬 1mo
Leniverse I've read on another 40 pages, so not really valid here but not a spoiler either so I hope it's ok: Beatriz is now my favourite character. 😆 1mo
squirrelbrain Yes, loved Beatriz! Can you imagine working for Rhona?! 😬 @Leniverse 1mo
39 likes53 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
The Alternatives: A Novel | Caoilinn Hughes
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#camplitsy24

I‘m sure you‘re all as excited as we are to continue our discussions tomorrow on the craziness that is All Fours!

Here‘s just a little reminder that our third month of this summer‘s camp will be The Alternatives, followed by Bear.

Next Saturday, 3rd August, we‘ll discuss up to the end of Act One, Scene Two. (Don‘t worry if you‘ve just started and that‘s confusing - it starts with chapters and changes to a script part-way through!)

squirrelbrain If you don‘t wish to be tagged just let me know and I‘ll take you off. If we‘ve missed you out and you‘d like to join in - sorry and let me know! 🥰 2mo
See All 31 Comments
TheKidUpstairs So excited! 🎉 2mo
Susanita I‘ve had to defer my hold on Bear a couple times already, but I‘m still waiting for this one! “~2 weeks” 2mo
youneverarrived The tagged is 99p on kindle today so just bought that 😁 think I‘ll have to miss out on Bear unless it goes down in price 2mo
TheBookHippie My copy says it‘s enroute from one library to my library for me 🤞🏻 2mo
AmyG Thank you. Ha….I was reading Bear first…oops. 🤣 2mo
Bookwormjillk Thank you! 2mo
squirrelbrain Oops @AmyG - good job I posted then! 🤪 2mo
squirrelbrain Fingers crossed @Susanita 🤞 2mo
squirrelbrain It‘s still very expensive isn‘t it? @youneverarrived 2mo
squirrelbrain Hopefully it will hurry up! @TheBookHippie 2mo
CBee I‘ve got my copy thanks to the lovely @ChaoticMissAdventures ♥️♥️ 2mo
Hooked_on_books I listened to the audio and missed entirely the fact that it changes to a script halfway. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2mo
squirrelbrain That was a lovely thought, wasn‘t it? @CBee ❤️ 2mo
squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB did exactly the same thing! @Hooked_on_books 2mo
Hooked_on_books Good! I‘m glad I‘m in good company! 2mo
Soubhiville I couldn‘t remember which was first in August either @AmyG so great timing @squirrelbrain ! Thanks! 2mo
Kitta Perfect my library hold for this just came in!! 2mo
BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books And I am glad it wasn‘t just me 🤷🏻‍♀️😘 2mo
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs She‘s a favorite author of yours, right? 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraBB I LOVED her last book, so I'm super excited for this one! I recently bought her first because I found it on sale but haven't read it yet (edited) 2mo
squirrelbrain We saved Bear until last @Soubhiville as it was the most recent to be published. 2mo
squirrelbrain Perfect timing! @kitta 2mo
70 likes31 comments
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squirrelbrain
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👏👏👏 to the team at Penguin for this marketing experience at the Crimewriting Festival!

Richard Osman‘s new book apparently takes place all over the world (one of the MCs is a bodyguard to very wealthy people) so they set up a chill-out area that was an airport lounge.

Free drinks are always welcome (!) and they had a passport Photo Booth, plus a newspaper with an exclusive sneak-peek of the new book. ❤️

Ruthiella Looks amazing! 🤩 2mo
rabbitprincess Wow! Love the colour scheme and details! Looking forward to the book 🤩 2mo
LiteraryinPA That‘s so creative! 2mo
See All 6 Comments
youneverarrived That‘s brill! 2mo
Centique What a fun event! Im so looking forward to reading this one 😍 2mo
squirrelbrain There was an interview with Richard later in the evening @Centique and it sounds like the new book is just as fun as the others! 2mo
69 likes1 stack add6 comments
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Had a fabulous day at the Harrogate Crimewriting Festival yesterday. I saw 4 panel events plus Dorothy Koomson and Richard Osman, so over 20 authors in total.

I‘d read a lot of the authors‘ books beforehand and now I want to read even more - they were all fascinating people to listen to!

Bottom pic is the goody bag, and I bought 4 books, including Murder in Harrogate, published specially for this event.

rockpools So cool! I think we all need a week in Harrogate this time next year! (Fat chance, but…) 2mo
squirrelbrain We should definitely arrange that! @rockpools ❤️ 2mo
kspenmoll Sounds wonderful! 2mo
See All 6 Comments
julesG @rockpools I'd be up for it. Do I need to book tickets/hotel soonish? I'm not kidding. 2mo
AmyG What a wonderful day. 2mo
youneverarrived Glad you had a great day ♥️ 2mo
69 likes6 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I couldn‘t put this down! The Van Laars own a camp in the middle of the woods. In 1975 Barbara, their daughter, is missing from her camp bunk. 15 years earlier her brother, Bear, also went missing in the woods and was never found. Are the two disappearances connected?

I loved all of the characters (or loved to hate some of them!) and there were so many twists and turns, which I didn‘t see coming at all.

Highly recommended!

bookaholic1 Sounds like my kind of book!! 2mo
TrishB Keeping my eye on this one - but definitely a future read 👍🏻 2mo
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ I just received it in the post today 🥰 2mo
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain Oh good @Cathythoughts - I think you‘ll really like it! 2mo
TheLudicReader I read a review that said this was super slow. What did you think? 2mo
squirrelbrain No, I didn‘t think it was slow @TheLudicReader 🤔 I was going to comment that it was a ‘quiet‘ book, for a murder mystery / thriller but couldn‘t think how to explain myself properly. I found that it added to the book though, not detracted from it and I certainly wouldn‘t call it slow. 2mo
TheLudicReader Thanks, @squirrelbrain . I don‘t mind a slow book at any rate. Lol. 2mo
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review
squirrelbrain
Profile K | Helen Fields
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Pickpick

Further to my last post, this is another author at the Crime Festival and, from the blurb, I really wasn‘t sure.

Whew-ee though, this was a page-turner (or whatever the equivalent is on audio!). It‘s very gruesome, with a lot of VAW, which is difficult when you can‘t skim-read on audio, so be warned.

I just couldn‘t stop listening, and I‘m really looking forward to seeing the author now, on a panel called ‘From PI to AI‘

TrishB Love it when you get pleasantly surprised 👍🏻 3mo
Cathythoughts Stacked 👍🏻 2mo
58 likes2 comments
review
squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I‘ve been reading lots of crime, from authors speaking at the Crime Festival that I‘m going to in 3 weeks‘ time. That‘s the only reason I hesitate to give this one a so-so, because I‘m going to see them and I don‘t want them to hate me! 🤣

I mean, this was fine - just very slow (the lodger didn‘t even move in until around 25% through).

There were two twists at the end, neither of which I saw coming but one I appreciated and one I didn‘t.

charl08 You're going to Harrogate? 3mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I am @charl08 - seeing as it‘s where I live and, I‘m embarrassed to say, I‘ve never been before. 😳 🤣 Are you going? 3mo
charl08 I wish! Clashes with a work event. Have a fab time! 3mo
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain Oh no @charl08 - I‘ll try not to make you too jealous with pics. We‘ll have to plan ahead to meet up next year…. 3mo
BarbaraBB How great that you are going to the Crime Festival! 3mo
squirrelbrain Yes, just on the Saturday @BarbaraBB - seeing loads of people, including Richard Osman! 3mo
BarbaraBB So cool! 3mo
56 likes7 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Leaving: A Novel | Roxana Robinson
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Pickpick

I loved this book, about two high-school sweethearts who broke up due to a misunderstanding and meet again in their 60s.

I‘d highly recommend it, with only one caveat - the ending is really odd and should probably come with a trigger / content warning but can‘t say why, because spoiler.

Also, the UK cover just makes no sense - the book‘s about 60 year olds and this just doesn‘t relate at all. 🤷‍♀️

willaful Age-washing! 3mo
BarbaraBB Stacking! 3mo
BarbaraBB @willaful 🤣🤣 3mo
Hooked_on_books So glad you liked it! And I totally agree about that cover—it has nothing to do with the book! 😝 2mo
70 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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squirrelbrain
Sandwich: A Novel | Catherine Newman
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#bookhaul from our York meet-up. I went with the intention of buying Sandwich (hubby thought that was hilarious - that I intended to buy just *one* book!) and spotted this ARC in the Amnesty charity shop. Definitely need to go back there again as Moon Road and Evenings & Weekends were also ARCs, for just Qc each.

Tangled Vines is the Murdaugh murders story, and I‘m seeing the Redemption author speak at a Crime Festival in a few weeks‘ time.

squirrelbrain @MicheleinPhilly - a haul pic for you! 3mo
TrishB A great day and a great haul! 3mo
Oryx Beautiful stack 🤩 3mo
See All 10 Comments
MicheleinPhilly 😍😍😍 3mo
youneverarrived Love all the yellow! Great haul 😍 3mo
JuniperWilde I‘m reading Moon Road and cannot out it down. It‘s one of the novels that caught me at page one. 3mo
squirrelbrain That‘s great to know! @JuniperWilde @Oryx - Moon Road is one you were really interested in, wasn‘t it? Did you order it? 3mo
Oryx @squirrelbrain not yet, but I'm very tempted!! 3mo
Oryx And I've just bought it (got for £10 including post on vinted). I've had a long week, and it's only Wednesday. I deserve it. 3mo
squirrelbrain We *always* deserve books! @oryx 🤪 3mo
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squirrelbrain
Criminally Good Books - York | York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Littens in their natural habitat!

This was such a fab bookshop, with friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Mainly crime, both fiction and NF but, as the staff explained, it‘s amazing how many books have crime in them!

Book haul to follow later, when I get home.

Oryx Love this picture 😍 3mo
Ruthiella Always best to approach roaming Littens gently, so as not to startle them as they graze. 😅 3mo
Tamra Love it! 3mo
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sarahbarnes Great pic! 3mo
Leftcoastzen Terrific! Enjoy yourselves! 3mo
Susanita Hi there! 👋🏻👋🏻 3mo
LeahBergen This is awesome! ❤️ 3mo
squirrelbrain Lol @Ruthiella - so funny! 🤣 3mo
squirrelbrain Hi! 👋 @Susanita 😃 3mo
TrishB @Susanita 👋 3mo
Itchyfeetreader This looks lovely. Hope you have had a great day 3mo
youneverarrived It was fab ♥️ 3mo
squirrelbrain We had a lovely day! @Itchyfeetreader 3mo
CarolynM Wonderful! 3mo
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squirrelbrain
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#trainreading

On my way to York to meet Trish, Emma and Katie for a bookshop crawl.

Pic is of Knaresborough (not Japan! 🤣) - book is really interesting NF having just finished reading Butter for #camplitsy.

@TrishB @Oryx @youneverarrived

Crazeedi Have fun!! 3mo
youneverarrived Look forward to your review on this, it sounds good! 3mo
Cathythoughts Lovely photo ♥️ 3mo
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LeahBergen It looks like you all had a fantastic day! 🥰 3mo
squirrelbrain We did have a fantastic day @LeahBergen - apologies for the many many posts about it! 🤪 3mo
LeahBergen Haha! NEVER too many “fun book day” posts! 3mo
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squirrelbrain
Untitled | Untitled
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Went for a walk today (up a big hill!) to Eas Mor waterfall. The ‘library‘ there is not a library in the traditional sense, although there are a few books there.

Instead, it‘s an emotional, beautiful, peaceful, library of thoughts and feelings , left by visitors.

TrishB Looks amazing ♥️ and very peaceful. 3mo
kspenmoll Such a beautiful walk! 3mo
LeahBergen How beautiful! 3mo
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BarbaraBB Wow that looks amazing and very peaceful indeed. Enjoy 🩵 3mo
julesG Beautiful! 3mo
Hooked_on_books What a beautiful place! 3mo
Hooked_on_books I received a mysterious gift certificate from Basically Books in Hilo. Did you have anything to do with that? 😊 3mo
squirrelbrain Me?! Why would you think that?! @Hooked_on_books Yes, it was me - a bit early for your birthday, but I wanted to get it sorted before I went away. I couldn‘t figure out how near the shop is to you, even though I knew you‘d been there, so I hope it‘s OK. 3mo
Hooked_on_books It‘s more than ok, I‘m delighted! It was completely unexpected in the best way. Hilo is the town I run my errands in once a week, so I‘m there regularly. I can‘t wait to see what I‘ll pick out (which of course I‘ll post a pic of). Thank you so much, Helen! You made my day! 🤗 3mo
squirrelbrain Phew, that‘s lucky then! ☺️ @Hooked_on_books - I can‘t wait to see what you pick out either! 3mo
Cathythoughts Lovely pictures ♥️ 3mo
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squirrelbrain
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Just arrived on the Isle of Arran for a real #camplitsy24 trip.

Within half an hour we were in a tiny bookshop, selling books set in and around the Scottish Isles. One isn‘t on Litsy - Night Falls on Ardnamurchan, about the end of a crofting family‘s lifestyle. Had to get a 🐿️ notebook too.

Our campsite is right on the beach and looks out to the uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig - does anyone else think it could be the island from Clear?!

MicheleinPhilly Weather looks glorious! 👏🏼👏🏼 3mo
squirrelbrain @MicheleinPhilly - one minute it‘s glorious, the next….. not so much! 🌧️ 3mo
Soubhiville It definitely could be Ivar‘s little Island! Enjoy. ☺️ 3mo
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youneverarrived I can see that! Have a lovely time 💛 3mo
LeahBergen Lucky you! ❤️ 3mo
LeeRHarry Hope you have a fantastic time! 😊 3mo
kspenmoll What a beautiful vacation! 3mo
Cupcake12 Beautiful scenery! Hope you have a great time xx 3mo
Sace I‘m sure you are having an amazing time. What a cute shop! 3mo
Centique How completely beautiful! Have a wonderful holiday 💕 3mo
CarolynM Enjoy! 3mo
Kitta I have a family friend named after that Craig! Ailsa, her parents loved it there I guess. (edited) 3mo
squirrelbrain That‘s amazing! 🤩 @kitta 3mo
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