Welcome to Litsy!

When the LMS is down we read, which is all good because I needed to finish this today. It‘s a buddy read with my daughter who was assigned it for English class. Oooooofta, emotionally heavy reading. The writing is as if Ward channeled Morrison & Faulkner.

I'm excited for this month's #bookspin and #doublespin selections!
@TheAromaofBooks

☝️

Like many others, a lot of the titles on the list are on my tbr shelf, but I haven't gotten to them yet, maybe because they seem daunting. I was surprised but pleased to see Jesmyn Ward on here three times. I have mixed feelings about many on the list, but that's usually the way of these type of accountings. Thanks to those who have shared the accessible link!

I‘m about halfway through this audiobook, and I really need someone to hug me and tell me it‘s going to be okay. 😢 That Leonie…good grief, such bad judgment! With every new bad decision, I groan, and then feel sad for her poor kids ☹️

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks My package came today! Thank you!
#LitsyLove

So glad this was my #doublespin and a #roll100, it‘s been on my shelf for ages and now that I‘ve read it I can‘t imagine why it didn‘t call to me sooner. This was brutal, but rich and beautiful and startlingly real. I definitely see why everyone raves about her writing! If anyone has suggestions on which of her books I should read next I‘d love that! @TheAromaofBooks @PuddleJumper

I like to think I know what death is. #firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

#Midwintersolace

📘What are reading as we officially move into winter?
📗I started the tagged book yesterday.

📘Do you have any reading rituals for the solstice?
📗I always read something dedicated to solstice, but it‘s not the same thing each year.

📘Do you enjoy a different reading format at this time of year than your usual preference?
📗I tend towards a lot more children‘s books, rereads, and short stories than usual.

#TitlesandTunes #Blue
Happy publication day to Jesmyn Ward for her latest! I'm always about 5 years behind, so I just finished SUS. I'd heard it described as a road novel, and it technically is, but didn't feel like one. The journey matters less than the fact that the family must share tight quarters when they'd previously been drifting apart. I spent the whole novel concerned for them all: the entire novel is located on the brink of disaster.

#TitlesAndTunes #Blues
From the synopsis, SUS sounds like a road novel that is steeped in loss and haunted characters (maybe literally?). The perfect pairing with this Lurrie Bell album I picked up at a record shop recently. I'd never heard of Bell before, but his guitar riffs are a joy, the kind of blues that take you on a journey, which is perfect for an emotionally charged road novel. And it certainly channels its own ghosts of blues legends.

Such a beautiful book but so hard to read
4 ⭐️

#SummerEndReadathon #Wardens2023 #ReadMyRoom #BookSpinBingo

Tonight‘s digital before bed book start. It‘s been a day & I‘m now just gonna chill with my Kobo & my🎶🎧. Officially in a 🧠🐿️ wind-down mode & hoping for a few pages before🛌.

Oomph. This is something else. Heartbreaking how the drug addicted mom goes through life and the effect she has on the rest of the family. Lovely how fiercely Pop loves Mam and his grandchildren. Stunning novel.

This book hurts to read. The amount of neglect the mother shows these children- it‘s difficult to push through to finish the book.

Then again, the love of the grandparents, the beauty in the storytelling, and the mystery made it worthwhile .

I haven‘t ever read addiction written in quite this way. Kind of devastating.

Another that I had to stick with past the first 30m or so to get pulled in (and also shifting perspectives). This is some great poetic writing! And while I appreciate the reviews that it is sad, I see a hope here and the story of the inevitable return that everyone will make. Waters to waters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The writing was lyrical; the story was depressing. I can appreciate why there is a lot of love for this book, but it just wasn‘t for me. 🎧

Two more excellent short stories by well-known authors.

"A Wild Rose" is about a pianist whose fingers start giving her trouble. She takes up residence in a studio apartment above Carnegie Hall. I love how Fiona Davis always introduces readers to hidden spots in well-known places.

"Mother Swamp" is an excellent story about a hidden community built by women escaping slavery. Very powerful.

I have enjoyed this short story collection immensely

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Overall, a good book. Not an easy read by any means though. Recommended by my high schooler who read it in class. Lots of symbolism, historical context, social commentary, and deeper meanings. I can see why an English teacher would choose it.

Started a new adventure last night and woke up in the middle of the night with it in my armpit. I love falling asleep with books 📖 🛌

Where Year of the Reaper failed with the ghosts, this one shines. I listened to it so I‘m sure I didn‘t catch as much as I should have. I would love to actually read it.

Misty!!! I feel like the card and bookmark faerie 🧚 came to visit me!!!! What a wonderful surprise!!! Thank you so much! #Litsyloveletters 💌 just waiting for mailboxes 📭I‘m excited to read “Sing Unburied Sing” too. Best Monday Ever 🤗😘💛

Very different sort of novel. About a black family and a road trip to pick up a father from prison. Has a couple of ghosts as characters and tragedies of the present and past. Poetic writing and kind of a dark story. I'll try to read more by the author.

I'm going to read this one. It looks interesting and won the National Book Award.

Very spiritual

Heartbreaking story about drug addiction, grandparents raising grandkids, inter generational trauma, racism, and how the past can still affect so much of your present. Such a well written book especially dealing with such difficult subjects. I definitely need to read more of Ward‘s books. #bookspin book #booked2022 #bookedreadingchallenge title that repeats itself

This might be my favorite of my #NYWD list that I‘ve read so far. I see why all the love for it. The characters are so raw and richly created, a beautiful entanglement of beauty and flaws. This book had intimidated me for a while. Not sure why, but I‘m glad I was nudged to read it. I won‘t be surprised if it makes my top list of 2022.
✅ #Booked2022 Title Repeats Itself

Hoping to finished the tagged book for #NYWD and #Booked22 along with making progress in Dune and Forbidden.

When you know a book is going to break your heart only a few chapters in. 😭 Jesmyn writes people we may know so well. Forgot to add it meets #pop22 10

Thanks for the recommendation @Readergrrl what an excellent book! #NewYearWhoDis

#sing #beginswith
Exquisite,lyrical and raw, this novel sings.

#BeginsWith #Sing
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

This one is still on my never ending TBR 😬

#BeginsWith 🥳📚 #Sing 🎶

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

#NewYearWhoDis

Thank you @Readergrrl this list is magnificent!! So after researching your list, instead of completing school work 😂, I have chose the tagged.

And I have to add, Addie and Circe were not only two of my favorite reads, they are also new favorite main characters.

I hope you all have a happy Saturday 💕😊

#currentlyreading