#greatthomashardyreadalong2022

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Hello everyone and hope your Monday has got off to a great start. I’m still doing half days at work because my body clearly hates me 😅 but here I am with my Monday book haul! (Some things don’t change! 🤣) You might already know that certain covers do entice me to buy them and Chouette was really screaming my name. It’s a dark modern fable about mothering an unusual child - an owl baby. It will grip you in its talons and never let go. Why do I feel as if this could be me?? 🤣🤣🤣 I’m taking part in the #greatthomashardyreadalong2022 and it’s been one of my favourite things this year. A Pair Of Blue Eyes is one of the Hardy books I haven’t read and tells the tale of Elfride, daughter of a Rector who faces an agonising choice between two men - the boyish architect Stephen Smith and the older literary man, Henry Knight as the two friends become rivals for her affections. Finally Wuhan, a real chunker of a book at 608 pages. Set in 1937, this epic historical fiction is set in China where Wuhan stood alone in a whirlwind of war and violence against the Japanese army. This forced unprecedented culture and political changes that shaped China’s future. I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books or authors. Let’s have a chat in the comments. Have a great week everyone! 🤗😘 #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #ohnoanotherbooktogetthrough #chouette #claireoshetsky #apairofblueeyes #thomashardy #wuhan #johnfletcher #historicalfictionbooks #classicnovelsnerd #quirkybook #readinganythingandeverything #obsessedwithbooks📚 #newbooksplease https://www.instagram.com/p/ChkjiucrvM9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I think I’ve read the magnificent Tess Of The D’Urbervilles three or four times now? I never lose sight of how fantastic it is and I always find something new to appreciate. This time round, I re-read Tess as part of the #greatthomashardyreadalong2022 and it was an unforgettable experience, especially being able to discuss plot points in real time with like-minded readers. ⁣ ⁣ For anyone new to Hardy, this is one of my favourites and a perfect example of his style. It covers Tess Durbeyfield who is forced to seek acquaintance with the local, wealthy family of D’Urbervilles whom her father proposes they are related to. ⁣ ⁣ Loyal Tess is aware of her family’s impoverished circumstances and although embarrassed, does as her parents wish and meets Alec, the son of the family who changes her life forever. Later, she meets Angel Clare who seems like the answer to her prayers but Tess wrestles with unburdening her conscience and coming clean about her past or telling the truth and risking everything. ⁣ ⁣ Poor Tess really is a naive, sweetheart of a girl who pulls at your heart strings at one point and then maddens the reader with decisions she makes afterwards. However, she is such an angelic heroine, you can’t help but root for her, even though I couldn’t help but wonder if it was primarily pity that drove my emotions towards her. ⁣ ⁣ Yet there is a lot to love about Tess. She’s sweet, faithful, gentle and kind and considering how she is treated (by MANY of the characters in this novel), she manages to find the strength to carry on, even if it’s not going to lead her down the right path.⁣ ⁣ This is an emotional and heart-rending read from Hardy whom when writing this is at the top of his game. Prepare for sadness, frustration, beautifully written scenes and an extremely memorable female lead. ⁣ ⁣ Five perfect stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 ⁣ #bookstagram #booklover #scottishbookstagrammer #readingtheclassics📚 #tessofthedurbervilles #thomashardy #hardyfangirl #readinghardy #lovingclassics #penguinclothboundclassics #favouritebooks #favouriteauthor #rediscoveringfavourites #classicnovelsnerd https://www.instagram.com/p/CjYcAYmLBpa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Hello everyone and happy Friday to you all. We’ve made it to the end of the week and here’s a book haul to celebrate! I’ve been intrigued by The Five Wounds ever since I saw it in hardback but I made myself wait until it came out in paperback! 😂 It’s Holy Week in the town of Las Penas, New Mexico, and 33 year old unemployed Amadillo Padea is to play Jesus in the Good Friday procession. He is preparing feverishly for this role when his 15 year old daughter Angel shows up pregnant on his doorstep. Vivid, darkly funny and beautifully rendered, the author brings to life the struggles of her characters to parent children they might not be able to save. I’ve been loving the #greatthomashardyreadalong2022 this year and this is one of the Hardy books I’m looking forward to getting to. Two On A Tower is a tale of star-crossed love where the emotional lives of Hardy’s two lovers is set against the background of the stellar universe. This is Hardy’s most complete treatment of the theme of love across the class and age divide and the fullest expression of his fascination with science and astronomy. Finally, What Strange Paradise - this beautifully written, unrelentingly dramatic and profoundly moving novel looks at the global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child. This is the story of two children finding their way through a hostile world. It is also a tale of empathy and indifference, of hope and despair and about the way each of those things can blind us to reality. I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books or authors. Let’s have a chat in the comments! #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #bookhaul #yesitsmorebooks #newbookspls #thefivewounds #kirstinvaldezquade #twoonatower #thomashardy #hardyfangirl #whatstrangeparadise #omarelakkad #morebooksthantime #morebookscoming #booksonthetbr #booksicantwaittoread https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3EGm5rGll/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I’ve been having a wonderful time experiencing some of Thomas Hardy’s novels in the #greatthomashardyreadalong2022 with some wonderful bookstagrammers. The Mayor Of Casterbridge was a novel I had been aware of but never read so it was fun to pick it up, especially with such an intriguing premise. ⁣ ⁣ Michael Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter when drunk for five guineas and regrets it shortly afterwards. He manages to make a respectable living for himself as the Mayor of Casterbridge but his past comes back to haunt him when his wife and grown daughter arrive in Casterbridge, seeking him out. ⁣ ⁣ I love the idea of “reaping what you sow,” which seems to be a common theme of Hardy’s through his books. Henchard is an utterly unlikeable character from the very beginning and even though he pledges 21 years of sobriety following his catastrophic mistake, he still makes bad decisions and treats those he professes to love in a terrible way. ⁣ ⁣ It was interesting to read a book from Hardy where his female characters don’t take centre stage as much and I’m not sure if it suffered a little for that - I didn’t feel as if they were as fleshed out as what I’ve come to expect with Hardy. Saying that, perhaps writing Henchard was exhausting enough for any author! I did even feel sorry for him at some points but within a chapter or two I was reminded what a fool he was and that my sympathy was better placed with his wife (former wife?) Susan. ⁣ ⁣ I also enjoyed that Hardy does still throw a few surprises in through the novel. There were a couple of unexpected twists, food for thought and moments where I just had to admire him for the amazing author that he is, holding my attention right until the end. It might not be my favourite Hardy but like Jane Austen might say: “it may improve on closer acquaintance.”⁣ ⁣ 3.5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫 ⁣ ⁣ ⁣#bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #themayorofcasterbridge #thomashardy #readingclassicnovels #readingthomashardy #bookreview #hardyfanclub #thomashardybooks #thomashardyauthor #gettinglostinabook #buddyreadingfun ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/p/ChnIh17r2DN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It’s Monday, it’s a new week and (you know the drill 😂) it’s time for another book haul! These three paperbacks obviously HAD to be bought. Razorblade Tears follows a Black father and a white father who join forces in their crusade for revenge against the people who murdered their gay sons. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, alpha males Ike and Buddy-Lee will confront their own prejudices, about each other and their sons, as they reign down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys. I’ve gone down a bit of a Hardy rabbit hole since I started the #greatthomashardyreadalong2022 Under The Greenwood Tree is described as one of the most popular of Hardy’s novels and is a delightful and humorous depiction of life in an early Victorian rural community. Finally, Diamond Hill which is set in the last shanty town of Hong Kong before the fraught 1997 handover from Britain to China. It follows the return of a recovering heroin addict, Buddha, as he tries to salvage what’s left from a place he hoped to forget. I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books or authors. Let’s have a chat in the comments! Have a great week everyone 🤗😘 #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #scottishbookstagrammer #bookhaul #bookoholic #bookobsessed #prettypaperbacks #razorbladetears #sacosby #underthegreenwoodtree #thomashardy #diamondhill #kitfan #ineededthesebooks #cantstopwontstopbuyingbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CfCVcfwrSgx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I’m delighted to be joining in with the #greatthomashardyreadalong2022 organised by the lovely @annathebooksiread and @pezzasclassicbooks after only having read two books by him before - Return Of The Native and Tess Of The D’Urbervilles. The Trumpet Major was definitely an interesting read for me, I didn’t expect it to be so humorous firstly and I had also completely forgotten how beautifully Hardy writes about nature and landscapes.⁣ ⁣ The Trumpet Major follows our heroine Anne Garland as three very different gentlemen pursue her as suitors. There is the eponymous trumpet major of the title, John Loveday, his brother, a sailor called Bob and Festus Derriman, the irritating nephew of a local squire. ⁣ ⁣ The path of true love never runs smooth, (particularly in a Hardy novel) but my takeaway from this novel has to be how Hardy isn’t afraid to surprise the reader - that is, expect the unexpected! I’m not a huge fan of romance in novels, it has to be done “just right,” and it has to be believable. So whilst Anne Garland wasn’t my favourite Hardy heroine, I loved the way I wasn’t able to predict the outcome. ⁣ ⁣ Furthermore, Hardy can be funny! Who knew? His wry humour, particularly with Festus’ uncle made me smile on more than one occasion. He’s also a master at creating characters that really get under your skin and become incredibly frustrating (step forward Festus!). All in all, I wouldn’t say this is a favourite of mine by the author but I really did appreciate reading something with a different tone and rhythm to it. I’d recommend for any Hardy fans or those new to his work that don’t feel up to his trademark misery/tragedy.⁣ ⁣ Three and a half stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫 ⁣ ⁣ #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreader #bookreviewer #thomashardy #thetrumpetmajor #classicbooks #readingthomashardy #buddyreads #scottishbookstagrammer #readingoninstagram #chattingaboutbooks #thomashardyfan https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce_5fDiLA9F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=