Status Updates From The Authenticity Project

Every passerby told a story—the man doing some emergency last-minute present buying, the mum ushering her children home so she could wrap their stocking presents, the group of lads returning from their office Christmas lunch that had stretched into the late afternoon.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so excited about Christmas. It was like the Christmases before that one, when they’d been a happy family of three.

Sometimes, as he bent forward, arms behind him, following Mrs. Wu, he’d see the birds swoop down on some seed and had the strangest sense that they were joining in.

Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled, as if she’d spring-cleaned them, too.

Jotenkin ihastuttavan ihana, haikea ja onnellinen kirja.

How was she going to react when she discovered that she was an ex-cokehead’s pity project?

This book was a bit slow at first but it’s heartfelt and sweet so far

Perhaps the compulsion to fill every inch of space was because it made him feel less alone, or because every single object was imbued with memories of happier times, and the objects had proven more reliable than the people.

At a time when I was floating aimlessly in space, it kept me tethered to the space station.

There was, he mused, nothing more exhilarating, nor as terrifying, as a blank sheet of paper.

He really wanted to paint her, as if his brushes might be able to uncover the truths beneath the protective barrier she seemed to have erected around herself.

If you closed your eyes and inhaled extravagantly, some still held the scent of a bygone age—Mary’s homemade marmalade, the cordite from a firework display at a masked ball in Venice, or the rose petal confetti from a wedding at Claridge’s.

First thing in the morning, his body would wake up, but his mind would take a little while to catch up, to work out where he was, and what was going on. This was odd, as he was always in the same place, and there was never anything going on

He was haunted by memories of secrets spilled for the sake of a good anecdote, of girlfriends betrayed for a quickie in a nightclub toilet cubicle, of disastrous trades made off the back of a chemical sense of invulnerability.

Hazard often felt the urge to shout for help, but he knew that this beach was like deep space; no one could hear you scream.

so good finally making progress

His head was wired and desperate for more stimulation, fighting against his body, which was bone-deep tired and yearning for oblivion.

Her friends were all caught up in their own busy lives and wouldn’t want her inflicting her misery on their evenings. There was no point calling her dad, since Bernadette, her stepmother, who saw her as an inconvenient backstory to her new husband’s life, acted as gatekeeper, and would no doubt announce that her father was busy writing and couldn’t be disturbed.

She kept scrolling, despite knowing this would not be a comfort, more a form of mild self-harm.

Okay, maybe I was a little harsh. The story is much better now.

As she walked briskly past the graves of the fallen soldiers and the White Russian émigrés, she could sense the sheltering wildlife—the gray squirrels, urban foxes, and the jet-black ravens—guarding the graves like the souls of the dead.

i've had 0 time to read☹️

The characters are getting better, but I’m still not
crazy about the writing style.

I adore books that revolve around bookshop, cafes, and libraries where strangers come together. I couldn’t get ahold of this in ebook form, so I’m listening to the marvelous audio and so want to be friends with these characters!!!

Hazard and Monica? Whats happening? And why do I like it? I’M SO CONFUSEDDD

Zero stars. This was so painful. I only finished it because it was a book club selection. Uuuugh. I need to read something right away to get the taste of banal and Insipid out of my mouth. I can never get these hours back.

Also, bravo to the author for writing a book bc that’s a huge accomplishment.

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!

les personnages sont si attachants🫶

Currently, Alice hate club. Love Keith. Hazard has become the cinnamon role character and I’m here for it

😍😍