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Debbie

@kittyfurious

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Book spoils📚, no spoilers.
I also sew & share🧵🪡.
All photos mine.
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Explore my TBR shelves with me! 🔎 I’m highlighting some of my unread books in a series of #tenonmytbr posts, alphabetically by author. ✨ Join me! Here are ten books written by authors with K names. Plus a bookshelf decor keepsake (from our honeymoon at Le Sirenuse). 🧜🏻‍♀️ Which of these books (or authors) have you read? 💬 📕 The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami, definitely a #bookstagrammademedoit pick. 📕 Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. I have no idea how this got on my shelf. 😆 📕 Good Behaviour by Molly Keane is really calling to me. 📕 How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman. I’m trying to read all the Booker Prize winners but this one never appeals to me. 📕 Prague Fatale by Philip Kerr, I read the first three books in his Bernie Gunther series and want to get back to it. 📕 Joy Street by Frances Parkinson Keyes. I love the vintage cover! 📕 I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella. I’ve never read her books. Should I? 📕 The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver has been on my TBR shelf forever! 📕 Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I like her books and I love a campus novel, but the movie tie in cover puts me off. Even with cutie pie Paul Rudd. 📕 Mrs Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn looks absolutely charming. I tagged a few to play along if you want to. ✨ But if you see this and it looks like fun, please share your TBR stacks. Get creative if you don’t have 10 of any letter. Fewer books, combine letters, use letters of the titles instead, whatever. It’s supposed to be fun! #bookstagramchallenge #readersofinstagram #rosecityreader
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A little warmer weather is bringing the crocuses to bloom an otherwise still bleak and brownish environment in central Vermont! #springhappiness #springflowers
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I’m putting the insta back in Instagram with a quick pic of what I’m reading today. 🐈‍⬛📘 Chekhov is one of those classic writers I think I should read but don’t really enjoy. I got through Ivanov and The Seagull and am now reading Uncle Vanya, but it’s heavy sledding all the way. 😩 Maybe they’d be easier if I saw the plays on the stage instead of only in a book. Have you read or seen any Chekhov plays? What am I missing? 🎭 And tell me what you’re reading today! Better yet, drop a quickie post showing your #currentread and tag me so I see it!
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Hands up if you've read "Affinity" by Sarah Waters! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I finished it recently and really enjoyed this intense book. (It was originally published back in 1999 so has been on my tbr for a while! 🤫🙈). It's a slow-burn, bleak, Gothic, sinister and atmospheric read. Set in London in the 1870s, we follow Margaret Prior, an emotionally vulnerable well-to-do unmarried lady who begins to spend her time as a 'Lady Visitor' at Millbank Prison speaking to the female prisoners, acting as a role model and moral compass, and listening to their life stories. The historical research by Waters is impeccable and every time the setting moves to the prison you feel an acute sense of claustrophobia as if you too are walking along the dingy hallways to the women's ward. ~ We meet one particular inmate, Selina Dawes, a Trance Medium and Spiritualist, who is incarcerated following the sudden & unusual death of her patron, Mrs Brink, alongside a physical attack on a young lady during one of Selina's spiritualist sessions. But is Selina to blame or was it Peter Quick - her obnoxious and controlling Spirit Guide? (It's no coincidence that his name brings to mind Peter Quint from Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw") ~ This is a story about forbidden love, confinement, deception and obsession and it is artfully crafted using the Victorian Spiritualist Movement as the backdrop to what unfolds and unravels. ~ But I seriously need to talk about Peter Quick, the Spirit Guide - if you've read this book please private message me as I'd love to hear your views about him! 😱
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𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 A glance at my weekend, a little #bookreel of our annual romantic excursion to this charming town by the bay & the bookshop on a boat—& a new book challenge! Tagging a few; no pressure, just nosy about your bookshopping habits (if any). :) ♡ 𝑁𝑜𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑖 #5BookstoreThingsIDo #booktag 1. I browse like I drive: at least 1 car length between me & other shoppers (in good weather). Maintain the appropriate distance. 2. I silently acknowledge (sometimes even point to) every book I’ve read on the display for “Books You Only Pretend to Have Read” / “Staff Recommendations”—small wins lol. 3. I bring my current read to the bookstore, especially annotated used books, in case there’s a long line at checkout. 4. If it’s a repeat visit & I know ahead of time, I match my book tote to the bookstore. 5. I buy at least 1 book or 3 books or 5 books—it’s never 2 or 4 idkw. * Bonus: If there’s a cat, I check the title of the book it’s napping on. :)
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My friends, I would like to propose something. Because I plan to cut back on my time here, (and social media in general,) I have been considering some things. . . While I may keep my account here in the hopes that it will help me sell my novel (which may or may not finally appear in print this year) I do feel that the internet is increasingly becoming . . . Not a nice place. My biggest regret about leaving, however, is that I will miss all of you; the lovely readers I’ve found here on Bookstagram. I realize this may be unrealistic, and unsustainable, but I would like to try something: I would like to start writing letters to some of you. Real letters, on real paper, with a stamp. I realize that such an endeavor will not be as convenient, but I think the extra effort could be worth it. For one thing, I don’t think any of us really know each other all that well, though we can likely sense which of us are kindred spirits based on the things we read and the thoughts we share about them, but I think it might be lovely to bring some of our virtual friendships to a deeper, more personal level. I hope that doesn’t sound scary. I just mean because if we are keeping up a correspondence one-on-one there would not need to be so much self censorship; because our words will not be here for all and sundry to see. I’ve been mulling this over for more than a month, but the idea was recently reinforced this past week as I listened to The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It was a lovely, tragic, heartrending story; and I loved it so much! Yet, there are some quotes in it that really struck a chord with me. . . “An e-mail can in no way replace a written letter. It does concern me that one day all the advancement of technology will do away with the post.” I’ll share another in the comments. If you’d like to be my pen pal, please DM me! 🥰💌🙏 #evelynmercyreads #thecorrespondent #virginiaevans #penpalinvitation P.s. I’ve also added my Goodreads to my profile for those interested. 💖
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My dear friends, I hope you are all doing well! Some of you may remember that a little while back I mentioned listening to Saint Francis of Assisi by G. K. Chesterton, and how I’d like to do a group read of it. Well, I’ve decided we’d better do it in February, and since that month is fast approaching I am here to make it official. It is a very short read, so please do not worry about how much time it will take. I simply found it so insightful and interesting and want to re-read it anyway. More than that, however, I would love to discuss it with some of the brilliant souls I’ve met here. A couple of you have already expressed interest so I will likely start a group message here soon and include you. If anyone else is interested, please let me know, and share this post with anyone else you think may want to join us. Thank you all for being such inspiring, fabulous people! It is a privilege and honor to know so many wonderful people, who are willing to share their thoughts and book recommendations with me. 🥰💖🤗 #SaintFrancisInFeb2026 #gkchesterton #readinggroupinvite
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📖 Review 📖 The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen  This book was (or *should* have been) truly heartbreaking. Its outmoded, sometimes convoluted writing style, the emphasis on psychological study and its character-driven aspect are all qualities that are right up my street. However, I found the pace plodding and apart from the beginning and some more intense moments here and there, I didn’t feel completely engaged or emotionally connected, precisely because the writing created a distancing effect. It may be entirely my fault though, it took me more than 2 months to get through it, as I only picked it up during my occasional bus journeys, which obviously didn’t help me move forward apace 🙈🤷‍♀️ We could call it a Bildungsroman or a coming-of-age novel, even if the heroine’s realisations take time to sink in, especially regarding her poor choice of men (well, one despicable man in particular) - which is frustrating. 🙈😅 I suppose psychoanalysts would find a lot to unpick; the heroine’s start in life is inauspicious and condemns her to a very lonely, nomadic existence, making her unfit for a more refined and artificial London scene once she is foisted on her half brother & his wife. Her sole confidante is her maid who can only do so much when it comes to existential questions and poor Portia’s sense of not belonging. All the characters are intensely flawed, especially the comical figure of the writer who plays a big part in the final development, while also delivering some half-candid half-disingenuous reflections to the protagonist that function as little meta nuggets about writing in general! ✒️ “it’s simply chance after all. You can’t foresee anything. Look, for instance, how I ran into you. In a book, that would sound quite improbable.” As @kittyfurious noted, the ending is surprisingly abrupt, leaving things unresolved, in keeping with the grim atmosphere. So perhaps not connecting with the heroine’s predicament was a defence mechanism to avoid being plunged in a glum vacuum…🙈😅 Have you read books like that that apparently ticked all the boxes but lacked a little je ne sais quoi to make you fully invested?
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Bracing up for the run-up to Xmas?  Ready to face the fact that it’s almost time to say goodbye to 2025? 😮😥⏱️🎄🎉🎀☃️ The lovely @books_tea_ asked about my final contenders for December and I hope to squeeze in these two that look season-appropriate and would also fit into the Winter Book Bingo organised by @lisalovesmissmarple ❄️ The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas High Rising by Angela Thirkell (the first in her “Barsetshire” series, which reminds me that I need to resume Anthony Trollope’s own version! 😉) I haven’t read anything by these authors yet, even if I contemplated picking up The Bridges (by Vesaas) first last summer because my library had it in stock, but I had bitten off more than I could chew 😅 I’d also love to get round to Selma Lagerlöf’s short story collection, A Book for Christmas… even if I’ve heard it described as too churchy and sanctimonious, so we’ll see. 🙈 Even in Jane Eyre, the religious passages irked me a little and I still haven’t gotten over the fact that the preachy zealot had the last word. But I’m getting carried away 😅 I’m not even sure I’ll manage to read them before the end of the month since at the moment I’m knee-deep in undergrad essays and error-ridden translations to mark. 105 down. 325 to go. 🫣 So that’ll occupy me for a little while.   ❔What about you? Are there books that you absolutely want to read before the New Year? Or are you like me, always fantasising about reading Christmassy books but procrastinating until it’s too late? 🙈😅 Tagging a few but anyone’s welcome to share their eleventh-hour TBRs of course
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𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 A few days ago I posted about Shakespeare’s sonnets and had a poll on which sonnet people wanted me to read. 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝟭𝟭𝟲, 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 was the winner, so here it is read by yours truly. The poem is on slide 3. Hope you like it. #shakespeare #shakespearesonnets #sonnet #sonnet116 #letmenottothemarriageoftruemindsadmitimpediments
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🌸🍋🌸 What do you do when you feel like the world has become such a difficult and dangerous place for too many people? When you feel so helpless and powerless? For my part, I have no other choise than to focus on the good and the beautiful, the loved ones and what’s close to me. And hope for peace🕊️☮️ So today I’m celebrating midsummer, despite the rather gray and rainy day we have over here, with a #pinklemonadestack Thanks for the tag @rolly.looks.at.books There aren’t a lot of yellow and pink books on my shelves. And when I went to pick some out, how strange, most of them were by two authors, Elizabeth Strout and Jón Kalman Stéfansson. Even more, they are both published in Norwegian by @forlagetpress How come😅 (There are some #leseeksemlar #arcs in this stack.) Elizabeth Strout probably needs no further introduction. But I’m happy to have an opportunity to shed some light on the Icelandic author Jón Kalman Stéfansson. He really writes amazing books. 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is among my favorite novels. Have you read any of his books? I’m tagging a few, but please join in if you like. 🍋 #midtsommer #midsummer #justread #hopeforpeace #bookstack #books #bookchallenge #readingcommunity #bookcommunity #bookworm #readersofinstagram #booklovers #bookphotograph #booknerd #bookish #peacenowar #peace #elizabethstrout #jonkalmanstefansson #yaagyasi #joycecaroloates #maggieofarrell #sthans #sthansaften #jonsok
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🍀 MARCH WRAP UP 🍀   I read a lot of books in March, but several of them were short, so I’m not all that impressed. 😜 But I did make progress on several reading goals.   ✅ TBR 25 IN ‘25 ✅   I read three books off my #TBR25in25 list:   📘 Beat Not the Bones by Charlotte Jay, winner of the very first Edgar Award in 1954 for best crime novel.   📘 The Main Woods by Henry David Thoreau, proof that camping has never been fun.   📘 The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. This was an excellent group read led by @kittyfurious.   👯‍♀️ GROUP READS 👯‍♀️   I read three other books as group reads and they were my three favorites:   📘 Pride and Prejudice by Janes Austen, for #janeaustenthenandnow led by @crinoline_laphroaig.   📘 The Salzburg Connection by Helen MacInnes, led be me.   📘 A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh, for #waughtogethernow led by @rolly.looks.at.books.   📝 SERIES 📝   I made progress on several series I’m trying to finish:   📘 Slightly Foxed, Winter 2024, from @foxedquarterly. I’m trying to catch up!   📘 The Templars’ Last Secret by Martin Walker, 10 of 18 in his Bruno, Chief of Police series.   📘 The Secret Place by Tana French, 5 of 6 in her Dublin Murder Squad series.   📘📘 This Body of Death and Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George, 16 and 17 of 22 in her Inspector Lynley series.   🐭 PIPSQUEAKS 🐭   I’m trying to clear my shelves of little gift/impulse purchase books:   📘 Writing Notes with a Personal Touch by Daria Price Bowman and Maureen La Marca.   📘 Steal Like and Artist by Austin Kleon.   📘 Love Quotations: A Collection of Romantic Pictures and the Best Love Quotes by no one.   📘 Bamboo Farmer Wisdom by Greg Bell.   📘 Sun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern by Lindsay Moore. Not physically little, but short and a gift.   📵 NOT PICTURED 📵   🤳 From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell. I read this as an e-book, unusual for me, because I want to start her Inspector Wexford series.   🎧 A Taste for Vengeance by Martin Walker, Bruno book 11.   🎧 The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny. I’m not wild about the new audiobook reader.   How was your reading month? What book(s) topped your list? 🙋🏼‍♀️   #marchbooks #monthlywrapup
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