Caroline's reading in 2025 (chapter the third)

The Manuscript by Frances Earnest Jackson

Well my first 5 weeks of early retirement have suited me well - 33c temps aside! I start my day, before or after breakfast depending on how early I get up, reading poetry and fiction unless I am out in the morning. I've had lunches with friends to celebrate my liberty, and generally just gone with the flow.

Last years reads: https://www.librarything.com/topic/365327#8656174

Books Read in 2025

Fiction

The Western Wind (Samantha Harvey) (13/01/25) ***1/2
Tell Me Everything (Elizabeth Strout) (24/01/25) ****1/2
A Sabbatical in Leipzig (Adrian Duncan) (26/01/25) ****
Four Seasons in Japan (Nick Bradley) (30/01/25) ****
Hum (Helen Phillips) (03/02/25) ****
There are Rivers in the Sky (Elif Shafak) (10/02/25) ****1/2
The Artist (Lucy Steeds) (21/02/2025) *****
The Café With No Name (Robert Seethaler) (24/02/25) ****
Theory and Practice (Michelle de Kretser) (01/03/25) ****
My Friends (Hisham Matar) (30/03/25) ****1/2
On the Calculation of Volume (Vol 1) (Solvej Balle) (18/04/25) ****1/2
Audition (Katie Kitamura) (04/05/25) ***1/2
The New Dress (Virginia Woolf) (short stories) (16/05/25) *****
How to Read a Book (Monica Wood) (26/05/25) *****
Persuasion (Jane Austen) (03/06/25) ****
Practice (Rosalind Brown) (04/06/25) ****1/2
Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin) (06/06/25) (*) *****
The English Teacher (Lily King) (11/06/25) ****
The Strange Case of Jane O (Karen Thompson Walker) (14/06/25) ****
The Glassmaker (Tracy Chevalier) (19/06/25) ****
Marzahn, Mon Amour (Katja Oskamp) (20/06/25) ****
The Country Girls (Edna O'Brien) (*) (27/06/25) ****
When the Cranes Fly South (Lisa Ridzén) (01/07/25) ****
Playground (Richard Powers) (11/07/25) ****
Clear (Carys Davies) (14/07/25) ****
The Long View (Elizabeth Jane Howard) (22/07/25) ****
The Children's Bach (Helen Garner) (30/07/25) ***1/2
The House Between Tides )Sarah Maine) (03/08/35) ****
Death is a Lonely Business (Ray Bradbury) (22/08/25) ****
Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro) (26/08/25) ***1/2
Mr Mac and Me (Esther Freud) (29/08/25) ****
The Grown-Ups (Victoria Glendinning) (03/09/25) ****
A foreign Country (Francine Stock) (05/09/25) ****
The Two Roberts (Damian Barr) (08/09/25) ****1/2
The Portrait (Antoine Laurain) (09/09/25) ***
The Name of the World (Denis Johnson) (12/09/25) ***
The Mystery of Henri Pick (David Foenkinos) (14/09/25) ***
The Garden of Evening Mists (Tan Twan Eng) (20/09/25) (3rd read) *****
On Beauty (Zadie Smith) (25/09/25) (reread) ***1/2
Miss Garnet's Angel (Salley Vickers) (29/09/25) ****
The Correspondent (Virginia Evans) (02/10/25) ****1/2
The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald) (10/10/25) (47th read) *****
Kew Gardens (Virginia Woolf) (17/10/25) ***1/2

Non-Fiction>

The Abuse of Power (Theresa May) (05/01/25) ****1/2
A Flat Place (Noreen Masud) (20/01/25) *****
The Position of Spoons, and other Intimacies (Deborah Levy) (02/02/25) ****1/2
The Book You Want Everyone You Love* To Read:* And Maybe a Few You Don't (Philippa Perry) (17/02/25) *****
Great Britain? How we get our future back (Torsten Bell) (10/03/25) *****
Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives (Lucy Mangan) (22/03/25) *****
The Return (Hisham Matar) (24/03/25) ****1/2
Agent Zo (Clare Mulley) (12/04/25) ****1/2
Maurice and Maralyn (Sophie Elmhirst) (19/04/2025) ****1/2
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf (Rebecca Romney) (28/04/25) ****1/2
Notes to John (Joan Didion) (06/05/25) *****
A Booklover's Companion (various/Illustrated) (12/11/25) ****
No Straight Road Takes You There (Rebecca Solnit) (24/05/25) *****
No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II (Doris Kearns Goodwin) (22/06/25) *****
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder (Salman Rushdie) (24/06/25) ****1/2
James Baldwin: The Life Album (Magdalena J Zaborowska) (28/06/25) ****
The Butterfly Hours: Transforming Memories into Memoir (Patty Dann) (28/06/25) ****
Winifred Nicholson in Scotland (Alice Dewey) (30/06/25) *****
To the River (Olivia Laing) (03/07/25) ****1/2
The Outrun (Amy Liptrot) (09/07/25) ****1/2
The Instant (Amy Liptrot (10/07/25) ****
Amnesiac (Neil Jordan) (16/07/25) *****
Letters to Margaret: Confessions to my late wife (Hunter Davies) (17/07/25) ****
How to End a Story: Collected Diaries (Helen Garner) (30/07/25) ****1/2
How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division (Elif Shafak) (07/08/25) *****
The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound (Raymond Antrobus) (11/09/25) *****
The Writer's Room: The Hidden Worlds That Shape the Books We Love (Katie da Cunha Lewin) (08/10/25) ****1/2
In The Rhododendrons (Heather Christle) (16/10/25) ****1/2
Homecoming Meditations (Jessica Boston) (17/10/25) ****

Poetry

An Arbitrary Light Bulb (Ian Duhig) (07/01/25) ****
Midden Witch (Fiona Benson) (11/06/25) ****1/2
Bright Travellers (Fiona Benson) (16/06/25) ****
Kathleen Raíne: Selected Poems (Kathleen Raíne) (01/07/25) ****
Devotions (Mary Oliver) 07/07/25) ****1/2

Shakespeare

As You Like It (07/01/25) ****

Rereads

Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin) *****
The Country Girls (Edna O'Brien) ****
The Garden of Evening Mists (Tan Twan Eng) (20/09/25) (3rd read) *****
On Beauty (Zadie Smith) (25/09/25) (reread) ***1/2
Miss Garnet's Angel (Salley Vickers) (29/09/25) ****
The Great Gatsby F Scott Fitzgerald (10/10/25) *****

DNF

The Death of the Heart (Elizabeth Bowen)

TOTAL READ: 80

Fiction: 41
Non-Fiction: 30
Poetry: 05
Shakespeare: 01
DNF: 01
Female: 49
Male: 23
Non-binary/trans:
Various: 01

UK: 39
UK/Libya/America: 03
UK/Turkish: 02
UK/US/Indian 01
US: 16
US/UK: 01
US/Dutch:
US/Japan 01
UK/Japan: 01
Canada:
UK/American:
UK/Palestinian
Sweden: 01
Israel:
Belgium:
Japan:
Syria:
NZ:
Malaysia: 01
France: 02
Ireland: 01
Morocco/France:
Dutch:
Trinidadian/UK:
Persia:
Australian/Sri Lanka: 01
Australian/Asian:
Australian: 02
Austrian: 01
Danish: 01
Germany: 01

BOOKS ACQUIRED 2025

16 (2 were gifts)/16/24/12/24/21/08/05/03/06(109 total)/

****

I totally failed at exiting books last year, probably 20 went out, no one-in-one-out which happened in 2023. MUST DO BETTER in 2025, both much fewer acquired as well as one out for everyone in. It is exacerbated by the lack of ease at placing them, but I need to find new ways.

Acquired in previous years

2024 = 08/14/11/12/16/12/12/14/13/15/09 (1 gift)/11 (1 gift) = 142 (is there a pattern!)

2023 = 16/14/15/11/09/14/11/10/08/13/21(oops)/21 =142



BOOKS RELEASED: 2025

1 book out for everyone in: 100 (another 20 need to exit)

Plus others out

* (* weren't in my catalogue)

In 2023 520 books went out plus 1 out for every one in. I've been abysmal at updating my catalogue though.

By Christiane Kubrick.

49. To the River (Olivia Laing) (03/07/25) ****1/2

All yours....

Happy new thread, Caroline. xx

>5 Caroline_McElwee: ...I'm iiiignoooorrrriiiinnnng you...

I love the image in >1 Caroline_McElwee: Caro. New-thread orisons.

Happy new thread, Caroline. I lost track of you somehow. Hopefully I will keep up better with this thread.

>5 Caroline_McElwee: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the review and recommendation!

Happy new thread, Caroline. Your first weeks of retirement sound lovely, even in the heatwave.

Sorry! Double post. I shall add that I am saving Laing's latest book.

>7 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul.

>8 richardderus: Hahaha RD.

>9 alcottacre: I think you would like it Stasia, even if the history to the area is unfamiliar to you.

>10 charl08: >11 charl08: Well it is very nice knowing the time is my own Charlotte. Though at 5 weeks, it still feels like its long annual leave at the moment.

I loved Laing's most recent volume. She has a novel due in November, but I didn't get far with her first one and let it go, though I've loved the 5 of her 7 non-fiction books I've read, and looking forward to the two still in the tbr mountain.

Happy new one, Caroline. Hope you are fully healed from those falls and that the rest of your retirement goes without mishaps!

I just bought a ticket for a new doc about Van Gogh. I will be going on Sunday and will have more to say after I see it.

>13 jessibud2: Fully recovered from the falls thanks Shelley.

I wonder if the docu you are seeing is ‘Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers’, I saw the exhibition twice, and enjoyed the film version after. Oh to have had the exhibition to myself as the film shows it.

>14 Caroline_McElwee: - Yes, that's the one.

>15 jessibud2: You will love it. I need to buy the dvd, which is only available at the gallery, hope they have one left.

Happy new thread, Caroline. I LOVE the art. The book by Laing sounds like one I would like as well.

>17 BLBera: I suspectyou would like it Beth.

Just came across this Caroline and wondered if you had listened to it?
The Virginia Woolf podcast by Karina Jakubowicz
https://open.spotify.com/show/4uuvQqwAXarP19XCZ7yQJW?

>19 charl08: Thanks Charlotte, I'll have a listen later.

This was quite shocking to read:

https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-b...

>21 Caroline_McElwee: - Yikes. Just yikes. I have the first 2 of her books in the piles though I have not read them yet. I am now inclined not to. I really dislike when authors do that. It feels disingenuous and as if we, the readers, have been *had*. I am blanking on the title but wasn't there a book several years ago about a guy who built schools in a war-torn country and after a huge success of his book, all kinds of *truths* about him and his *business* came out that revealed the book to be something of a sham. I did not read that one, either, for that reason alone. It's such a pity because I am sure there are many true stories of people who do amazing things or have sincere stories and when something like this happens, it makes me very skeptical of what I read.

Sigh...

>21 Caroline_McElwee: Wow.

I must admit to not having been as sold on The Salt Path as many others were and I suspect that the Observer is going to bring a few chickens home to roost here.

Happy new thread, Caroline!

>22 jessibud2: I think you're referring to Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. There was also the infamous A Million Little Pieces farce. And more recently J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy. It really does make one wonder how publishers vet their authors and fact-check their work.

>25 laytonwoman3rd: - Yes, that was the one I was thinking of, Linda. Thanks for filling in that blank for me. I bet there are more than we know about that could add to this list. Ick.

>22 jessibud2: >23 PaulCranswick: >25 laytonwoman3rd: I feel for the people she/they stole from, Shelley, but agree, as a consumer feel a bit 'had'. There must surely be some due diligence that wasn't used or efficient enough Linda. I'm surprised it took so long to come out. Books 2&3 felt repetitive and formulaic Paul, and I felt she was milking the cow.

I wonder how Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs feel having played them in the film, and been played!

>24 drneutron: Thanks Jim.

Happy Sunday, Caroline. Happy New Thread. I love your bookshelf photo, with the barn owl. Joe Welch also recommended seeing "'The Ballad of Wallis Island". I am just having a hard time finding it on a streaming platform. I will keep looking.

>22 jessibud2:, >25 laytonwoman3rd:, >26 jessibud2:, >27 Caroline_McElwee: Where the Crawdads Sing is another one. Jeez. Like Shelley, it makes me wonder about others we don't know about. And I agree with Caro's sentiment about feeling 'had'.

>29 lauralkeet: Didn't know about Where the Crawdads Sing Laura, though thought that was a novel, not read or seen the film.

>21 Caroline_McElwee: I wish I was shocked. Disgusted, you bet; shocked, not even slightly.

Happier weekending thoughts to you.

>31 richardderus: Thanks for the weekend wishes RD.

>21 Caroline_McElwee: Wow! Well, I can remove this one from my WL.

>33 BLBera: I didn't keep them, I enjoyed the first but less the second two, so leant them out and told folk to pass on Beth.

50. Devotions (Mary Oliver) 07/07/25) ****1/2



With the Blackest of Inks

At night,

The panther,

Who is lean and quick,

Is only

A pair of eyes

And, with a yawn,

Momentarily,

A long, pink tongue.

Mostly

He listens

As he walks

On the puffs

Of his feet

As if

On a carpet

From Persia,

Or leaps

Into the branches

Of a tree,

Or swims

Across the river,

Or simply

Stands in the grass

And waits.

Because, Sir,

You have given him,

For your own reasons,

Everything that he needs:

Leaves, food, shelter;

A conscience that never blinks.

------

Aunt Leaf

Needing one, I invented her – – –
the great-great-aunt dark as hickory
called Shining-Leaf, or Drifting-Cloud
or The-Beauty-of-the-Night.

Dear aunt, I’d call into the leaves,
and she’d rise up, like an old log in a pool,
and whisper in a language only the two of us knew
the word that meant follow,

and we’d travel
cheerful as birds
out of the dusty town and into the trees
where she would change us both into something quicker – – –
two foxes with black feet,
two snakes green as ribbons,
two shimmering fish – – – and all day we’d travel.

At day’s end she’d leave me back at my own door
with the rest of my family,
who were kind, but solid as wood
and rarely wandered. While she,
old twist of feathers and birch bark,
would walk in circles wide as rain and then
float back

scattering the rags of twilight
on fluttering moth wings;

or she’d slouch from the barn like a gray opossum;

or she’d hang in the milky moonlight
burning like a medallion,

this bone dream, this friend I had to have,
this old woman made out of leaves.

>35 Caroline_McElwee: Oh dear...poetry.

I'm sure it was very nice indeed for those who might enjoy it.

>36 richardderus: Sorry RD. Being nature oriented I thought it might appeal even to you!

>37 Caroline_McElwee: Poetry? Appeal to me?!

*stalks off in offended huff*

>38 richardderus: Aha, it was you, not a huffy heron that just passed. Snicker.

I love Mary Oliver.

>35 Caroline_McElwee: Love the Poems, notably because we have a friendly little gray opossum.

Words in Music are Poems and as Poe wrote: "Rhythmical Creation of Beauty."

>40 BLBera: This was a really nice volume Beth.

>41 m.belljackson: What fun to have a friendly opossum Marianne.

>42 Caroline_McElwee: Our Possum was first frightened by a neighbor's cat into the safe cat cage on the front porch,
then I put food at the end for her and called "Perry Possum, come and eat!"

When I did that again at night, she returned nearly every time for years, even through the winter.

We have had to stop for awhile now because a raccoon took over the food.

>43 m.belljackson: I love when a wild animal trusts a human one, sounds like a nice friendship.

Hooray for Devotions! A Must Have collection and one of my very favorite poets.

Did you see the film Anselm? It sure seems like something you would have sought out. It is truly an amazing film, about an artist I had not heard of. I am sure you have. I am also a Wim Wenders fan.

>45 msf59: Yes Mark, I saw Anselm when it was first released as he is one of my favourite artists, it was his early work I went to see in Oxford, and there is an exhibition in London I will be seeing soon. The docu was made by one of my fave film makers too, Wim Wenders. At the cinema I saw it in 3D. I have the dvd as well. Glad you liked it.

What a wonderful card, Caro! Thank you.

>47 richardderus: Pleasure RD.

51. The Outrun (Amy Liptrot) (09/07/25) ****1/2

Sweet Thursday, Caroline. I am not at all surprised that you knew Anslem's work and enjoyed the film. I am not sure I have ever seen an artist work on this kind of scale. It was jaw-dropping. I love Wenders too.

I saw and enjoyed the film The Outrun. Saoirse Ronan was terrific. I will keep this memoir in mind.

52. The Instant (Amy Liptrot (10/07/25) ****

>2 Caroline_McElwee: I love seeing pictures of peoples shelves!

Happy new thread :)

>52 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. Me too.

53. Playground (Richard Powers) (11/07/25) ****

Yesterday I went with with a friend to Dulwich Picture Gallery to see an exhibition of work by Rachel Jones. It was the first exhibition by an artist of colour in the main exhibition space, and the works were (mostly) huge and all so wonderfully vibrant. She was new to both of us, and we spent a lot of time looking and talking.

https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2025/june/rachel-j...

>51 Caroline_McElwee: Good to read your review of this, Caroline, as I've been skirting around it for a while. It appeals, yet part of me still wonders if it's yet another pity story rescued by the power of nature. I can enjoy those kind of books, but I've maybe read too many of them recently.

Anyway, your piquing my interest in this one again.

>56 Caroline_McElwee: Goodness! That's some vibrant and kinetic painting. I like most All of them.

I also like >55 Caroline_McElwee: quite a lot. Glad it worked for you, too.

Lovely catchup with Claire (Sakerfalcon) at Chelsea Phys. We worked out it was about 9 years ago since we last got together in person, at the garden then too. Normally we'd have been corralled when Darryl was in London. Oops, bad LTers, meant to but forgot the photo!

>59 Caroline_McElwee: Great photo, Caroline! I'm glad that you and Claire were able to meet, although I'm surprised that it was nine years since your last get together. Have you seen Bianca, Heather, Luci or any other LTers recently?

>60 kidzdoc: No, Darryl, you were the lynchpin of drawing us together. I guess the pandemic added to the gap in connecting with Claire in person. Also the commute to the centre of town can be a lot longer these days, it took me nearly 3 hours to get home yesterday, due to broken lifts so not able to use tube, and roadworks.

>61 Caroline_McElwee: I unfortunately suspected that the pandemic made a huge impact on in person meet ups, and I knew from past conversations that Debbi, Joe and I were the inspiration for many meet ups, especially in the City of London. I would love to visit the capital and see you and our fellow British friends—including Rhian, who I failed to mention!—but that almost certainly won't happen as long as I'm serving as my mother's primary caregiver. It's a difficult task at times, but it's one that I am committed to doing for as long as I can at home.

>59 Caroline_McElwee: It was lovely to see you and have a good catch up! We'll try not to leave it so long next time!

>62 kidzdoc: You are very much missed, Darryl! But you have the best of reasons for staying closer to home now. I saw Rhian last October? when I met her and @humouress at Foyles when the latter was visiting from Singapore to drop off her son at university in Leicester. I see Liz, Ali and Genny most often as I get in touch with them whenever I go to Birmingham, and some combination of us usually manage to meet.

Sadly poet Andrea Gibson died of cancer on 14 July aged 49. I loved their work, and due to a nudge from JoeW got to see them when they were performing in London in 2019.



.

>62 kidzdoc: A very good reason to be unable to maintain your travels Darryl, but you are missed as Claire said.

>63 Sakerfalcon: Yes, I think we should try for an annual get together at least Claire.

>63 Sakerfalcon: Thanks, Claire. I'm very glad that we were able to meet in the Delaware Valley a few weeks ago, but needless to say that didn't fully substitute for getting together in or outside of London.

I'm glad that you met up with Rhian in London, and Genny in particular in Birmingham.

>65 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks, Caroline. A trip to London is not inconceivable, although my cousin Tina would have to stay with my mother for an extended amount of time. I left Atlanta so abruptly after the sudden death of my father in December 2021 that I only met one friend during the two brief times that I returned, a very special young woman quite ill with a chronic illness who tragically and unexpectedly died a few days after our last online conversation, so I'll certainly want to make a return visit to The ATL before I go anywhere else.

Sweet Thursday, Caroline. I liked Playground & Clear a bit more than you but I am you got them both. Hooray for the Meet Up. Your choice of location is lovely. RIP- Andrea Gibson. She will be missed.

>66 kidzdoc: I hope it's possible for your cousin to spell you so you can get a break Darryl. Your current situation sounds relentless.

>67 msf59: I really loved the ocean aspects of Playground Mark. Certainly looking forward to the new novel due here in November.

I can't remember the title of the novel, but I read a novel that had some similarity to Clear years back, which may be why I rated it a bit less than others.

>27 Caroline_McElwee: Maybe they can film a sequel about the story behind the story ;0)

>71 humouress: They may well do Nina!

I look forward to the Liptrot books, especially after visiting the Orkneys, Caroline. You have read a lot of books that are calling to me.

Great comments on Clear; I loved that one as well.

>73 BLBera: I hope you enjoy the Liptrot books Beth. The Outrun should be the first.

57. The Long View (Elizabeth Jane Howard) (22/07/25) *****

Today's lovely visit to Chelsea Phys. Temps not too high. Just perfect. If only teleportation had been possible, it's the disappointment of my lifetime. Scottie, I expected you to have sorted that!

>76 Caroline_McElwee: Oh I do love an orange flower. Beautiful images.

>77 charl08: Me too Charlotte. Such delicate Dahlias too.

>76 Caroline_McElwee: I love the flowers!

>79 BLBera: They are gorgeous Beth. The friend I usually visit with says he is sure I have photographed every plant in the garden. It's only small, he may be right. I've been visiting for over 20 years, every month April-October!

>80 Caroline_McElwee: I fully understand that kind of addiction.

>81 humouress: It is my adopted garden Nina, as I don't have one myself. My role is admiration as I do none of the work!

>82 Caroline_McElwee: Me too, though it's more admiration/ envy for me.

59. The Children's Bach (Helen Garner) (30/07/25) ***1/2

60. The House Between Tides (Sarah Maine) (03/08/25) ****

>76 Caroline_McElwee: Absolutely beautiful flowers!

>87 figsfromthistle: Aren't they Anita.

Went with my sister to see the Kiefer - Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy which was wonderful. Most of the Anselm's pieces were monumental, difficult to show in photos, so these are details mostly.

I really do envy your access to so much art.

>90 laytonwoman3rd: We are very lucky in London Linda.

>89 Caroline_McElwee: - Wow, Caroline! Such amazing texture in those pics!

>92 jessibud2: I've been a fan of Anselm Kiefer for many a year Shelley, but hadn't consciously linked him to VVG until this exhibition was mooted and the lightbulb went on

Most of his work is so monumental it can't be transported, and texture is key. If you haven't seen Wim Wenders' documentary Anselm, I highly recommend it, especially if you can see the 3D version

>93 Caroline_McElwee: Very striking, Caroline, I must say.

Have a great weekend. I am hoping to get away soon and trust that we will be on for a London poetry expedition when I do.

Apologies, I am going to be out of the loop for a few weeks. unexpected project presented needing 100% commitment.

Sounds exciting, Caroline. Hope it's something good.

>96 charl08: Well I’ll just say it is something I knew had to be done at some time Charlotte, wasn’t expecting it so soon into retirement. More at the other end!

Enjoying your reviews. I quite enjoyed The Children's Bach, but looking back at my review not quite to the level of the stellar accolades on the book jacket.

>98 AlisonY: I agree exactly Alison. But it had moments in the writing especially.

61. How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division (Elif Shafak) (07/08/25) *****

Happy Wednesday, Caroline. I had you down for joining us with The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois, in September. I started it yesterday, due to a crazy busy schedule next month. I hope that is okay. 75 pages in and I am completely hooked. This is going to be a gem.

>101 msf59: Yes Mark, I’m in and planning to start at the weekend (it’s right by my reading chair), as I don’t want to hike it around second part of next month when I have some travels. Glad it is hitting the spot.

Apols I’ve not been visiting threads, but very occupied. Hope to have a bit of time next month, but I’m waving at you all.

Just happy you are still joining us. I think you will love this one.

>103 Caroline_McElwee: *smooch* blown Blightyward

>100 Caroline_McElwee: this sounds great, Caroline. I will look for it.

>104 msf59: Starting it tonight Mark.

>105 richardderus: Caught, thanks RD.

>106 BLBera: I hope you can get it Beth. I know I will return to it often.

62. Death is a Lonely Business (Ray Bradbury) (22/08/25) ****

*waving back*

63. Never Let Me Go (Kazuo Ishiguro) (26/08/25) ***1/2

Never Let Me Go gave me the creeps. Still, I thought about it long after I read it, so...

Nice to see you posting - does that mean your mysterious assignment is successfully concluded?

I didn't realize that my poetry pal was 008 in disguise!

>108 Caroline_McElwee: I've added this to the wishlist as it's (yet another) of the gaps in my reading.

I went to Bolton the day before yesterday to look at their gallery, museum and library. They had put on an exhibition reflecting the collection's major donors, including works by Barbara Hepworth , Vanessa Bell, Paule Vézelay and Eileen Agar. Small but lovely.

Sweet Thursday, Caroline. How you coming along with Love Songs? I am at the 600 page mark. It still has me in it's grip.

>111 BLBera: I was familiar with its subject Beth, hence got a bit impatient waiting so long to get there. I felt it lacked debate about the moral ground. I'm an Ishiguro fan, but this one was lacking for me.

>112 PaulCranswick: If only Paul. In summary, I was given 28 days to dramatically reduce the number of books in my first floor flat, by my landlord (well landlord jnr, abt my age. His father is 100 next month). He wasn't wrong, but the ludicrous time frame was an ouch. I had offers of help but as only I could decide what went into storage/got donated/stayed on the shelves, I am having to do it myself, with the help of a man with a van. By tomorrow about 3,000 books will be in my storage unit, and 500 will have been donated. I have a way to go. Ultimately I will have to close my eyes and donate much of what is in storage too.

I have lived in this flat 33 years, but jnr is more money motivated than his father and has an eye to renovating their properties and doubling the rent. If he decides to discontinue my tenancy I won't be able to afford to live in London. At the minute I'm just focusing on the day I'm in. My sister is doing some research for me about possible places to move to nearer her in Shropshire. It's not what I had planned for my first months of retirement, but it would have needed doing, and was something I never wanted left for my sibs if something happened to me sooner rather than later. I'm looking at it ultimately as a new, positive adventure.

>113 charl08: Sounds like a lovely exhibition Charlotte.

>114 msf59: >see >112 PaulCranswick: Mark, very little time for reading, maybe 3 short books this month!

>115 Caroline_McElwee: I'm sorry to hear that (why does he have a say in the number of books you have?). Chin up; I'm glad you've got a positive attitude about it.

>115 Caroline_McElwee: Wow, that sounds like quite the challenge, especially in that time frame. I hope that your sister's searches are successful, if that seems like a better option long term. Shropshire is a beautiful part of the world.

>116 humouress: I do have an excessive amount of books for the space Nina: shelved, boxed, previously teetering towers, but those have now been put in storage. I live in a flat (apartment) in a Victorian house, so he was concerned the weight of books would affect the structural soundness.

>117 charl08: She has been making a bid for me to move to Shrewsbury, with its cultural aspects, and as a non-driver easy to get about Charlotte. It's not as cheap as it once was, and it would have to be a rental, but that is a bit in the future. If freeing up his properties is his intent, I'm hoping after all my years as his father's tenant, it will be a negotiated time-frame.

>115 Caroline_McElwee: That sounds pretty daunting, Caroline. Good luck. Fingers crossed that you don't have to move soon, that you have time to consider where you want to be.

Wow, Caroline, that sounds daunting in deed. What he is doing is called *renoviction* here and it's not nice at all. Shame on him. But as you say, if it had to be done eventually, might as well get started now. Do your brother or sister have storage space for your books, in the meantime or have you just rented a storage unit? I've been trying to *downsize* my own stacks and piles forever, it seems, so I know how difficult this task is. Good luck and keep up the good work!

>120 BLBera: >121 jessibud2: Thanks both. It certainly was daunting when I got the letter Beth, Shelley, but once I accepted the only way to do it was rent a storage unit, something I had previously resisted - and hence left me stuck - I just set too. To get anywhere near the requirement in the time frame this month has been relentless, but going forward I will do fewer runs to storage each month. I need a life, but they will be in no doubt of my efforts. I do still have far too many books in my flat.

In about 8 months I will make a decision about what is in storage. I put a green spot on boxes I absolutely want to keep the contents of, and wrote things on some other boxes.

I am now only allowed to buy one book a month for the time being.

>122 Caroline_McElwee: Any chance your sister could add a Senior Apartment or tiny house to her land?

>123 m.belljackson: No land I'm afraid, but where she lives a car is necessary, I wouldn't want her to need to be at my beck and call Marianne. We are close, but both very independent.

>115 Caroline_McElwee: I'm sorry to hear this, Caroline; I know you were afraid this was coming. You're wise to look on the positive side of it being an inevitable task that you're having to get to sooner rather than later. But parting with books is never easy.

I put a green spot on boxes I absolutely want to keep the contents of, and wrote things on some other boxes.
This was really smart. I have boxes in my loft but didn't label or mark them in any way so I have no idea what each box holds.

>125 Sakerfalcon: I didn't have time for a more sophisticated system Claire, but at least I know where the books I don't want to part with are, and of course those that will remain on the shelves. By the 5th Sept 4k books will be in storage or donated, I probably need another 2-3k out the door, but at not such an intensive rate.

64. Mr Mac and Me (Esther Freud) (29/08/25) ****

Your thread is always a treasure trove of book recommendations, Caroline, but you really got me with >100 Caroline_McElwee:. I have enjoyed the fiction I've read by Elif Shafak and this "little manifesto," as you call it, sounds wonderful. I've been wanting to walk to our local indie bookshop and now I have a good excuse to go browsing there. I also plan to take some of the bookmarks I have painted and "sneak" them randomly into books for future patrons to find and (I hope) enjoy.

>110 Caroline_McElwee: It really is one of those reads that stick with you for a while….

>115 Caroline_McElwee: I may of missed this point but why would the landlord have a say in how many books are in your flat that you pay rent for?

>129 figsfromthistle: I have thousands of books Anita, and he feels it could make the building structurally unsound, I'm on the first floor, and it is a Victorian building.

Paused my boxing books briefly to enjoy my Robert Bateman volumes, stunning.

Last month I only completed 2 books (and 2/3rds of a volume of essays), has to be the least I can ever remember. I will have more time this month, and located a number of books I've been looking for for a while.

Happy to see the Bateman love, Caroline. A fave of mine, for sure.

>131 Caroline_McElwee: Italgraphics, where I worked in the 1980s, did the Batemans for Key Porter Books and I got lucky enough to see them as they were in the planning stages. Still a really good memory.

Love the Bateman paintings! He is a master of nature.

>134 jessibud2: His work is stunning Shelley. I look forward to looking at it again in more detail.

>135 richardderus: That sounds really special RD.

>136 msf59: I remember you were a fan Mark. He painted some amazing owls.

>132 Caroline_McElwee: That has to be the upside of going through your books, Caroline. You find treasures.

>138 BLBera: That is definitely the joyful bit of the process Beth.

dropping a note so i can find this again! Sending a blessing on your packing efforts.

>140 tiffin: Thanks Tui.

66. A foreign Country (Francine Stock) (05/09/25) ****

>1 Caroline_McElwee: Congratulations on your retirement!

>2 Caroline_McElwee: I am slated to read The Return this month. I hope I like it as much as you did. I will be printing out your reads for this year when we get to December so I can add all the ones I do not already have in the BlackHole to the BlackHole :) I love book lists!

>5 Caroline_McElwee: Hooray for Hoopla! It has that one.

>49 Caroline_McElwee: Hooray for Hoopla again! I already had that one in the BlackHole so I really need to get it read.

Skipping a ton due to time constraints. Be back later.

Happy "new" thread, Caroline!

Thanks for the comments re Death is a Lonely Business - the library had a copy so I requested it. I wasn't expecting to get one that was stamped all the way back to the 1980s, so that was an extra treat.

>143 alcottacre: Glad to have got you with some reading Stasia.

>144 charl08: I love that too Charlotte. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, both times. I'll be reading/rereading more Bradbury later this year.

>130 Caroline_McElwee: ah I see. It could be also the opposite that your books are holding the house up 😝

>146 figsfromthistle: Hehe.

Further too >115 Caroline_McElwee: The landlord's agent wasn't impressed by the exit to storage and donation of 4000 books in 28 days, because there is still another equivalent amount still here. It's a waiting game for his next move now. I can't maintain that pace as I had time for nothing else, but am continuing to move books out.

>148 Caroline_McElwee: Annoyed on your behalf.

>149 humouress: Thanks Nina.

67. The Two Roberts (Damian Barr) (08/09/25) ****1/2


Top left Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun.

69. The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound (Raymond Antrobus) (11/09/25) *****

>153 Caroline_McElwee:: That sounds like one that Himself would be interested in, given his past line of work. Making a note!

This morning I went to see the final episode of the Downton saga. Enjoyed. There was more humour than in previous films, and it felt fitting for the finale. The woman sitting next to me had her hanky out at the end.

All that said, personally, I never felt they bettered the first series.

>154 tiffin: I think you would both find it interesting Tui.

70. The Name of the World (Denis Johnson) (12/09/25) ***

>156 Caroline_McElwee:: ordered!

71. The Mystery of Henri Pick (David Foenkinos) (14/09/25) ***

Hiya, Caroline. Whoa, >115 Caroline_McElwee: sounds mighty difficult; good for you for clearing out 3500. That sounds like a dramatic reduction to me. How unfortunate that the more avaricious junior is popping up his head at retirement time: you should be relaxing in a hammock reading the book of your choice.

I do get what you’re feeling about not leaving the task for family when you depart for the celestial library. We’re busy clearing our house of excess so that our kids don’t have to do it. (We don’t carry your inventory of books, and our kids both love books, so we feel okay in that regard. But accumulated goofy bits (even a lot of inexplicably cherished ones) must go.)

I love the variety of your reading, and that Antrobus one on deafness calls out to me in particular. Adding it to the WL.

I share your dampened enthusiasm for Never Let Me Go, but liked his Klara and the Sun more than a lot of people I think.

As I probably have mentioned too often, I’m excited these days about author Jason Mott, and his unusual novels Hell of a Book and People Like Us.

>160 jnwelch: Thanks Joe. I just wish jnr would be more transparent about his intentions. It could change how I approach things!

>159 Caroline_McElwee: I have this on the shelf, you tempt me to recycle it to make more space for other books!

>163 Caroline_McElwee: Hi Caroline, Great review and I haven't read it yet so I must!

>162 charl08: It isn’t awful Charlotte, but could be better IMO.

>164 mdoris: His three novels are all very fine Mary.

Yes, I have read 2 of his books but must polish off his third one!

I'm woefully behind on LT, but the book culling trauma sounds horrendous. Well done for navigating the first round of that in a short timeframe.

Glad you enjoyed Mr Mac and Me. I'm back at Cheltenham book festival next month and am delighted to be going to the Esther Freud event. I really hope you does a signing as I'm a definite fan (even though she has the odd slip up, mostly I love her writing).

I also loved The Garden of Evening Mists, Caroline. He is such a good writer.

>167 AlisonY: Oh that will be a treat Alison.

Nearly 5k books have left the building, mostly to a storage unit, 600 of which have been donated to charity. I have another landlord inspection on 9 Oct! I doubt it will impress him as I think he wants to see no more than 300 books on shelves ....

>168 msf59: I can't wait for his next novel Mark, but he seems to take about 7 years, which is probably why he is so good. We have to be patient!

>169 Caroline_McElwee: Well, best of luck for the inspection.

>170 humouress: Thanks Nina.

>163 Caroline_McElwee: Third! Wow, that's a story that really speaks to you. Impressive indeed.

Stay well and happy.

>172 richardderus: It’s as much the tone of his writing RD, but I was fascinated too by the possibility of what seemed like an impossible friendship.

Autumn too, rereading mood.

73. On Beauty (Zadie Smith) (25/09/25) (reread) ***1/2

>153 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks for the recommendation of that one, Caroline. I will have to see if I can locate a copy.

>163 Caroline_McElwee: I love that one too. I was just talking to my mother the other day, telling her that Tan Twan Eng is on my list of authors that I actively follow since, IMHO, he has yet to write a bad book.

Have a wonderful weekend!

74. Miss Garnet's Angel (Salley Vickers) (29/09/25) ****



Carpaccio's painting 'Dream of St Ursula' used for the cover.

>176 Caroline_McElwee: I read it once, too, before LT was even a glimmer in Tim's eye. I loved it then...might still...but each subsequent read has left me less and less gruntled. I was glad to see your review because it brought back that initial good memory.

Good week-ahead's reading!

>177 richardderus: For me it also has the memories of two stays in Venice myself RD. it was as magical as I imagined, so I do enjoy a book set there.

>176 Caroline_McElwee: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Unfortunately my local library does not have it, nor does Hoopla, so I will have to look further afield for it. Thanks for the recommendation, Caroline!

Thank you again for posting the Isla pictures on my thread!

>176 Caroline_McElwee: This sounds great, Caroline. I LOVE the cover. I will look for it.

75. The Correspondent (Virginia Evans) (02/10/25) ****1/2

Thanks to Laura (Laurelkeet) for bringing to my attention.

I’m glad you enjoyed it, Caro.

>163 Caroline_McElwee: Nice review, Caroline. I also gave 5 stars to The Garden of Evening Mists.

Adding >176 Caroline_McElwee: and >181 Caroline_McElwee: to the wishlist Caroline. Both sound like great reads.

Any exciting exhibitions coming up?

>183 kidzdoc: It is a great read Darryl.

>184 charl08: I saw for the second time Anselm Keifer/Vincent Van Gogh at the RA this week Charlotte. I’ll check if I put images up the first time later. Amazing, and the Keifer monumental sized works. VVG has been an inspiration across his life.

At the moment commuting from my part of London to the centre is a nightmare due to lifts and escalators out of service til the New Year, so I am going in less as a 5 hour commute is too much, when what I am going in for takes 3 hours!

Five hours! I don't blame you. Hope they finish those works sharpish.

Happy Saturday, Caroline. I see we both recently finished The Correspondent and both loved it. I am currently enjoying Ripeness, which seems to be a nice companion piece to that novel.

>185 Caroline_McElwee: I wish it were sooner than it is Charlotte. ETA: see >89 Caroline_McElwee: re RA exhib.

>186 charl08: I enjoyed Ripeness Mark. I have at least one as yet unread Moss on the shelves, need to track it down, though so far Ripeness is my fave.

>185 Caroline_McElwee: booked to see that in a couple of weeks, and a matinee.

>189 Helenliz: I’m sure you will enjoy Helen.

>191 Caroline_McElwee: - I have a similar-themed book on my shelf, Caroline, called Writers' Retreats by Neil Burkey. I admit to not having read it through yet, just skimmed but I do like the concept of having a peek into and behind the settings where writers take inspiration. The illustrations in this one look like pen and ink drawings. There are a few photos, as well. It would be interesting to compare my volume to the one you read.

>185 Caroline_McElwee: 5 hours to get in and out of central London! That's shockingly bad. I can see why you wouldn't want to put yourself through that too often.

>192 jessibud2: I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the book you have Shelley.

>193 Sakerfalcon: As I don’t commute in often Nov-March in order to avoid Winter germs I have done a bit more the past week. 2 really long commutes, including home from Chelsea Phys on Monday, but it was a glorious day Claire, and my last visit of the year with the friend I normally go with.

Tomorrow I am heading to my sister’s in Shropshire, so will take a cab to get on the Victoria line further down. I can get to her quicker sometimes than from the centre of London home, or no longer than!

It really was a glorious day at Chelsea Phys on Monday. The dappled light through the tree by our favourite bench.

>195 Caroline_McElwee: Beautiful photo.

Hope you have a smooth journey to your sister.

>195 Caroline_McElwee: Ohhh, nice.

The Nobel for literature goes to:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/09/laszlo-krasznahorkai-wins-the-nobe...

I have read only Satantango which is interesting and challenging.

Glad you had a good day at Chelsea on Monday! It really was a glorious day. I was in the Midlands and visited the Black Country Living Museum. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. I hope you have a good time with your sister.

>169 Caroline_McElwee: That is so outrageous - he only wants to see 300 books on the shelves?!!!! fU$%@ng Philistine.

That is a wanton abuse of his position. Is he the landlord now officially? I would take this issue up with a solicitor, really shocking that he would try to restrict your use of the property you have rented for 33 years.

You said there was an inspection on 9 October, Caroline, how did it go?

I hope your trip to your sister's goes smoothly, Caroline.

Talk more about Satantango. I have been wondering about this author; I've read nothing by him.

>191 Caroline_McElwee: This sounds like a fun read.

>200 PaulCranswick: To be honest Paul I think I have fallen out of love with London in recent years with the difficulties of getting around, and although landlord senior was a nicer person, not that I saw him often in all this time, he didn’t upkeep the property especially well beyond boiler replacement and a few other things. I suspect the reason they are doing this is the whole place needs rewriting, but they don’t want to admit that.

The inspection wasn’t an inspection in the end, although that was what I was expecting, the agent just wanted to deliver paperwork I should have had b4! After the work I had put in I was angry at his rudeness, he didn’t even look. Landlord jnr was out of the country again.

>201 BLBera: Had a lovely day today at Attingham Park Beth. I will put some photos up shortly. I’m here til Monday afternoon.

Unfortunately I don’t remember specifics of Satantango it was a while since I read with my RL book group. Will check if I have a review. ETA: gave it 4*s but didn’t write a review!

I’m a sucker for such books >191 Caroline_McElwee:.

Lovely day at Attingham Park.

Shrewsbury yesterday:


Oldie worldy lane.


Now the independent cinema in town square.


The memorial for the fallen of WWI & WWIi


Entrance to the Dingle


In the Dingle

Diplicate

The bull at Birmingham New Street Station named after Black Sabbeth’s Ozzy Osbourne RIP.

Gorgeous photos, Caroline! I love that your country (and Europe in general) preserves that gorgeous old architecture.

Also, that photo above the pic of you is, I believe, gaura. I have that in my garden and I love it. So do the bees!

Beautiful photos Caroline.

Lovely pictures. I still haven't seen the bull at Birmingham. Must make more of an effort next time I'm in the area.

They're calling the bull "Ozzy"? That's odd to me. He seemed un-bull-like to me, and I remember the bat-head-biting days.

Lovely to see you smiling in Chelsea Physic! I hope you can get yourself reoriented and out from under Junior's Procrustean thumb.

>204 Caroline_McElwee: Shrewsbury is a lovely place isn't it?

Oh my, what beautiful photos! That big reddish flower head, the delicate pink flowers against the grasses, you in the sheltered garden, that angel, the Tudor Inn street, Shrewsbury, all of them really. I do love bimbling around with you on your travels.

You are doing so splendidly with your book culling, a journey I'm just setting out on (although I have made forays into the task over the last decade).

>207 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. Nice to have that in your garden.

>208 humouress: Thanks Nina. I had a lovely weekend.

>209 charl08: The bull is impressive Charlotte, would like to have looked more closely but was changing trains.

>210 richardderus: You are right, he didn’t seem bullish RD, apparently he didn’t realise the bat was real, but the happening shaped his image!

Unfortunately Jnr has the power. He wants the property back. Waiting to hear when.

>211 PaulCranswick: It is Paul. I may be relocating there next year.

>212 tiffin: Thanks Tui, on both counts.

>213 Caroline_McElwee: Lovely, Caroline. We will come and hunt you down. I am sure that there are some very decent "used" book shops in the city.
I have friends (a previous partner of mine) fairly close by (40 miles or so) and I used to use his place in Leominster as a base to tackle Hay. We could always organize a day trip to the poetry bookstore in Hay.
I'm sure that Hani will welcome another visit there too.

Love the Chelsea Phys & Attingham Park pics! Love this time of year.

Happy Wednesday, Caroline.

>204 Caroline_McElwee: What wonderful photos!

Love the fall colours and the entrance to the Dingle is fabulous.

Congrats on reading 75 books

>216 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita, it was a lovely weekend away. Good to have quality time with my sister too.

As I had 1 month where I only managed 2 books (probably never happened since a kid) wasn’t sure I’d get to 75 yet!

Hi Caroline. I've been out of touch and vow to visit threads more often. I've added The Garden of Evening Mists to be TBR list.

All good wishes to you!

Oh, I missed it (I usually do). Congratulations on 75 Caroline!

Thanks for sharing your lovely photos, Caroline.

>218 Whisper1: It happens to us all Linda, I haven’t visited many threads in a while now. I hope the book hits the spot.

>219 humouress: Thanks Nina.

>220 BLBera: Glad you enjoyed them Beth. I’ve always loved taking photos.

Just been to the Keifer exhibition. Wow. Just wow.
Possibly more coherent thoughts later.

>222 Helenliz: Isn’t it amazing Helen. I think you would love Wim Wenders documentary ‘Anselm’ on Kiefer’s life. It’s on dvd if you can’t find online.

Thanks for sharing your photos! Beautiful as always. I need to go to Shrewsbury sometime when I'm staying in the Midlands. It's not far from Birmingham, we just always seem to have other things to do. Your pics have pushed it up the priority list. Ozzy is magnificent isn't he! I'm so glad he was saved from being scrapped - that would have been criminal in my opinion, such a waste of the skills and time devoted by the many artisans who created him. Now he has a place of honour!

>224 Sakerfalcon: Agreeing re Ozzy the bull Claire. Birmingham is very Sabbeth/Ozzyfied. My sister says lots of murals, a bridge renamed etc.

If I end up relocating there would be happy to meet up. It is very compact, which is ideal for me. Shropshire is beautiful and lush and full of trees.

77. The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald) (10/10/25) (47th read) *****


The edition I read it in this time.

78. In the Rhododendrons (Heather Christle) (16/10/25) ****1/2

80. Homecoming Meditations (Jessica Boston) (17/10/25) ****

Catching up and enjoying your reads as always, Caroline. I was at Birmingham New Street myself on Friday changing trains, and I was looking forward to taking myself on a little adventure and going back around my old university stomping ground for a while. Unfortunately I realised too late that my saver fare meant I was tied to the next train I'd booked, so I only got a brief look at the Bull Ring through the window of the train. That whole area has changed so much since I was a student living in Brum - it was so seedy back then (and really quite dangerous at times), but they've really cleaned up the city centre.

>231 AlisonY: It is years since I was in Birmingham proper Alison, these days I'm just changing trains on my way to my sister's in Shropshire.

Migosh, I've only read Gatsby twice. The closest I can come to your monumental feat is having read LoTR 11 times. And à propos of nothing, I've only read Ulysses once and there it will stop because I had to read it out loud to grasp it, which I'll never do again.

Twilight by Henry Van De Velde


The Sower by VVG

Went to see the Helene Kröller-Müller exhibition of Neo-Impressionists - the pointillists. I'm not the biggest fan of dotty paintings, but there were some new artists to me who were interesting. And there was a VVG, one of the Sower paintings.

>233 tiffin: 11 readings of LotR is pretty impressive Tui.

Duplicate

>235 Caroline_McElwee: I agree. I think the record in this house is probably 3 for LotR. Now, if we're counting copies, that might run to double digits. I've probably read To Kill a Mockingbird 5 or 6 times, the same for Faulkner's The Hamlet. As a kid I remember knowing I'd read The Clue of the Leaning Chimney 13 times!

I've read The Great Gatsby a few times, but 47? I do reread and you are absolutely right; it's never the same book. I have read books that I've taught many times, but I don't know if I've reached 47 with any of them. Some I've read probably 10-20 times: Tracks; The Bluest Eye; Sing, Unburied, Sing; Station Eleven. And I still love them all and would read them again.

I used to read To Kill a Mockingbird every year, so that is in the double digits as well.

>238 BLBera: Well if anywhere I was going to find fellow re readers on LT Beth.

I just remembered that i've reread Mrs. Dalloway 2-3 times. It is definitely a different book each time. You must be able to quote bits from Gatz by heart now!

>240 tiffin: Sadly that is not a skill I have Tui. Maybe I will try and acquire it. A family friend could declaim poetry by heart, I remember her when I was a child doing so. It wasn't something they taught us at school, poetry neither I'm glad to say, as those I know who were taught it tend to hate poetry!

>234 Caroline_McElwee: Beautiful pictures! I need to get to this exhibition. *Adds to long list*

I reread The Great Gatsby recently, as I'd suggested it for my library's reading group. I still love Tender is the Night best though, which I reread with the same group a few years ago.

>244 elkiedee: I plan a reread of Tender is the Night later this year too Luci, my 6th reread I think.