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back to Barbara Pym, my old friend, and my chronological read-through

People kept telling me this series was great and I kept procrastinating, but I'm here to tell you that wow this book was everything I didn't know I needed. It's not only old-folks-solving-murders, it's old folks who are vibrant and believe in community who create lives for themselves that are so rich that they bring in others who also need them in their lives, and together they solve murders old and new. I don't know how to explain it, but it's wonderful.

And this one I was on the waitlist forever, so perfect timing for me to finally read now!

lol I had so many breaks while reading this that my library copy expired and now I’m back on the waitlist to finish reading oops

I maybe shouldn’t read books about moms facing empty nests because it’s too real, but I liked the rapport between the two leads and the happy ending of romance and peace with who you are

and some fluff during breaks from the not-fluff; the scene setting of the 50-ish single mom adjusting to her only kid going off to college maybe is hitting a bit too real!

reading because my kid read it and liked it; absolutely amazing so far in my very slow read

I'm a big Tana French fan, and I especially love these last two, in which she really seems to be working through the moral implications of police procedurals when police violence is so omnipresent. Cal's less isolated here and that's only making his life more difficult when it comes time for him to sort out what justice means, and that's what makes this book work.

maybe a bit too madcap at times? but it's a cozy and she's pregnant and there's a commune, so it was fun enough

oof so many bad choices being made in this book, but also so beautiful to read

Just realized that since I listed this as one book rather than the 3-in-1 collection it is, it’s going to throw off my reading stats! Lolsobbbbb trying not to count the number of books I read anyway

@cblgh Yeah, there is a real shift with that one. It was heavy

Somehow the answer to what to read after devouring the Steerswoman books is a 1920 novel about a 14th-century Norwegian woman 🤷‍♀️

Actually finished this weeks ago, but have been in denial because it’s the last one but it’s at a cliffhanger! The plot isn’t done!! So close and yet so far!! Still thinking about what makes these books so compelling. It’s the way of thinking about what magic is, absolutely. But it’s also about what community is and what knowledge is and why curiosity is important. Grateful to the friend who recommended these and said to dive in without reading anything about them first.

There was zero chance I wasn’t going to dive straight into this