Welcome to Litsy!

Gotta be honest, I voted for this one because I grew up in Dalton. Dalton, Massachusetts. not Dalton, Maine, but aside from more Mooses and poutine, 1990 ME is pretty much 1990 Mass.
The writing is fabulous, which is what I‘ve come to expect from Europa Editions, and it‘s really taking me back to those pre-cell phone New England days. A yellow Walkman, even! I had one of those! 💛

#europacollective

Another winner from the #EuropaCollective which was not on my radar whatsoever. I saw this compared to Anne Tyler (love!) and Richard Russo (just finished Empire Falls) and I agree!
The Road to Dalton features a huge cast of characters who aren‘t without their flaws but are perfectly human. There‘s also tragedy and readers should check TWs. I loved it and looking forward to what others think!

We are out of town for a chiropractic seminar and it‘s pouring rain ☔️ we are actually at the beach, but the weather it terrible! I‘ll just hole up in this room with my books! No complaints here! 📚📚📚

#LitsyLove

I read Vol 3 of this series earlier this year, so was pleased to see the initial books in the library so as to get the back story.
These are middle-grade GNs with no supernatural element, the ghost motif being a metaphor for teenage anxiety, depression and alienation. The characters struggle with self-esteem, but gradually, and with setbacks and comebacks, they begin to be able to support each other and feel greater self-acceptance. 4💖

How apropos I‘m starting this at bedtime. 😌 #EuropaCollective

Darius feels like he doesn‘t belong anywhere. Maybe a trip to Iran to meet his mother‘s family for the first time will allow him the space to find himself.

Oof. I related to Darius a lot. Depression from a young age combined with complicated relationships with his parents & younger siblings that feel like they‘re replacing you? I felt that deep in my chest. It‘s a slow book, & not a lot happens, but once we were in Iran, I was hooked. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

This was my May #queerbc read. I adore this book. There was so much I appreciate about the book, but I think what stuck out the most was the representation of masculine platonic affection in the book. It's an interesting contrast and challenge of the Western concept of masculinity and was utterly refreshing. I highly recommend this one.

Ooof

Quick stop at a coffee shop, for lunch and caffeine, in Massachusetts on the way to Maine ☕️ 📖

Nearly finished with the #EuropaCollective read for June and it‘s a real winner in my book 😉