Gabriele Joy > Recent Status Updates

“He couldn’t imagine a greater torment than to find hisself where there was such an unholy absence of furry and feathered and even slimy creatures. Wasn't it in their presence that the sky was lifted and the world breathed? Just watch for a spell a colt tryin to outrace a field or a red hawk soarin on a west wind, you'll see what happens to the sky. You'll know how the world sighs.”

I have so many questions, many of which I’m not sure we as readers are intended to have or if I’m just overthinking it. Suffice to say I’m invested now, and also already sad and reflective.

It’s been 8 years since I’ve read this beautiful book and I never got around to reading book 2, so I’m back for a reread and to complete the duology this time!

Ooo don’t you love it when you stumble upon a book whose very first line is enough to tell you it’s going to be special…

Reminding me of The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien, Crandolin by Anna Tambour, and maybe a dash of Good Omens.

If I ever get another cat I’m naming her Fenestra

“It IS that simple! People are dying. It’s always simple when people are dying, you either save them or you don’t!” pg 421

“The true value of freedom is revealed only in its absence. It is a structural ingredient whose removal takes with it the colour, taste and substance of life. A similar effect is observed in gluten free cakes.”

One of the chapter header quotes that I happened to listen to on the audiobook right as I’m also baking gluten free cakes! 😂

I have to wonder whether all the reviews calling this one “unreadable” perhaps didn’t read further than the prologue? Anyway, I’m liking it so far.

Reminding me of Da Vinci Code meets Piranesi meets Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell…

“A terrible idea executed brilliantly must be better than a brilliant idea executed terribly… I mean, look at pelicans.” 😂

In today’s notes from this Aussie reading a book by Americans that’s set in Australia:
❌”Trucks” — ✅ Utes
❌”Field” — ✅ Paddock
❌ “Chickens” — ✅ Chooks
❌ Miles — ✅ Kilometres
And of course
❌Pickle — ✅ Pickles (a sandwich spread)

Conversations with American & Canadian friends confirm that “pickles” are a completely different concept in the USA, & not a sandwich spread like here in Australia. The authors of this book are in fact American (just checked) and this explains such a lot!

Ok as an Australian reading this book about an American girl visiting her Australian Gran… so far this sounds as though it’s been written by people who googled Aussie sayings and Aussie staple foods but misinterpreted their use. The sandwiches “with pickles” for example became gherkins eaten separately, an American interpretation of “pickles”— which should have been a spread, inside the sandwich 😂

I can tell this is going to make me cry…

Whyyyyy is the backstory taking 50% of the book? 😫