Welcome to Litsy!

Great young adult novel. The three teens in this book set in Tennessee struggle with poverty and broken families, but they have each other. Center deals with these topics by adding humor, but does not make light of the tragic reality these kids face. I highly recommend!

I love this!

#2021Book135
I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but I loved every single page. The characters are so real and their stories are both heartbreaking and inspiring. The story itself is wonderfully written, but Zentner is amazing at characterization.

Although I was able to get into the characters the plot was slow and predictable. I was disappointed in the loss of my favorite character which didn‘t even really change the plot or push much change in the other characters. It could have been considered a catalyst for Dill‘s change but honestly he was already headed in that direction. The loss felt forced and unnecessary. I put the book down several times before finally deciding to finish it.

This book was not clicking with me, I bailed before I made it 50% of the way through.

YA book you should not miss reading/listening to 📖🎧

I am a long way from high school but I really enjoyed this story. Has a geat trio of main characters, family conflicts, love, tragedy, religous views, and especially becoming your best self. Some may not like what happens but that is how life often is. A really worthwhile read, but I would say it's for about 16 and above.
[image from Amazon]

This quote says it all...what this story is in a nutshell --painful, brave, and beautiful. A story about friendship, circumstance, bullying, good parenting, bad parenting, tragedies, a splash of (clean) romance, a lifestyle blog, a well-loved staff, and a snake-charming family legacy. A story that breaks you down and puts you back together by the end. In essence...absolute perfection.

I have a doctor‘s appointment tomorrow and am leaving this on my desk for my sub. #TeachersOfLitsy

An okay read. I enjoyed the first half of it, but the book quickly turned from a small town friendship story, to just another YA romance. There were some beautiful quotes, but I couldn‘t understand the character‘s reasoning, or what the author was trying to achieve. There was also a subplot about depression that was wrapped up too nicely to be realistic.

My July #bookspin #bookspinbingo

@TheAromaofBooks

#bookreport

We reopened to the public this week at work-busy, but great to see our patrons again.

I finished two audiobooks- “Chemistry” and “The Girl Who Smiled Beads.” Both ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just started “The Serpent King,” and “American Royals” today.

@Cinfhen

Got my July #bookspinbingo card ready!

Tagged is my #bookspin, “The Serpent King,” and my #doublespin is “Sweet Black Waves.”

@TheAromaofBooks

This was one of those books someone mentioned was one of their favs. Since I had never read it I added it to my tbr. I went into it blindly, thinking it was going to be a YA fantasy fiction because of it's title. It is def not that. Things you should know:
It is a YA coming of age story about 3 seniors in high school. It's an easy read. It will make you cry. It's hard to put down. There's a ton of quotable quotes. Lydia's parents are the best.

I've been alerted by @HappyLitsyversary (thanks!) that today is my 4th Litsy Anniversary. I haven't been too active in a while, but I'm hoping to change that soon. I recently moved so here's a picture of some of my new bookshelves!

This one just didn‘t work out for me at all. I found it very slow, boring, and sometimes confusing.

This one just didn‘t work out for me at all. I found it very slow, boring, and sometimes confusing.

I loved this book! I loved the characters, the writing was very good, and it was really cool to read a book set in rural TN (where I lived for a while). I‘ll read more by this author!

The only snakes in my house are the dog and cat‘s toys, though I have had pet snakes in the past.

I would highly recommend this book, but see spoiler below for triggers if needed.

This is the first book I‘ve read from my summer swap box, thank you @Megnogged !

Read this. Pass it on to every young person you know. Talk about it with them. Pass it on again. Repeat. #theserpentking

Done! (Doesn‘t mean I‘m gonna stop reading though! 🤣)

I‘m only about halfway through The Serpent King, but I think it‘s my favorite read from this readathon. The main characters are 3 friends, seniors in a rural TN high school, each with their own quirkiness and challenges in life. I can‘t wait to see where this story goes!
#24in48 #hour42challenge

My #favorite of this #24in48 was far & away The Serpent King ♥️
A coming-of-age story about 3 misfits, this book has so much heart. I laughed; I cheered; I wept - truly sobbed, tears pouring down my face. And I was reminded how real life is for some kids at a young age.
The dialogue is fresh & sincere. The circumstances of each friend ring true. And the love they feel for each other is palpable.
I tore through this one - read it!
@24in48

It's been a while since I've read a book in one sitting, but that's what I did two days ago, from 8.30pm-12.30am. It may have been a bit predictable, but what struck me about Zentner is how well he writes dialogue. Several times, I found myself nodding, thinking that was exactly what a character in that situation would have said. Thoroughly enjoyable.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So cool to see so many references to your hometown in a book! The protagonist ends up going to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where I am a professor! Also found shout-outs to the TN Ren Faire, nearby Cookeville, & other colleges and high schools within driving distance. Made me smile every time I saw a place I recognized. ☺

"Why aren't you up Travis' ass about this too?"
"First of all, don't assume that I'm incapable of being up more than one ass at a time. I can be up many asses at the same time. Multiple asses. I cause rips in the space-time continuum with how many asses I'm capable of being up. Stephen Hawking had to come up with a parallel universe theory to explain my up-asses omnipresence."
"So you're up Travis' ass?"
"No."

? ? ?

"[Her car] was parked in the rear of the lot, Lydia's preferred spot for quick after-school escapes. She even had a track of fast banjo music that she played on her iPod for these getaways."

? ? ?

The first day of senior year is when you realize that summer might never again mean what it used to. Before you even enter a classroom you learn that life is composed of a finite number of summers, passing us by in a haze of ice cream, fireflies, chlorine-scented hair, & skin that smells like coconut sunblock. We live in a series of moments & seasons & sense memories strung end to end to form a sort of story. (continued in comments)

Finally, I can read in the 🌞! Well, I'm in the shade but it's sunny around me. Reading this one from @eraderneely - it's really good 💔
#dogsoflitsy

Oh my gosh @Megnogged ! You truly spoiled me! What a variety, all so beautiful! I think I‘ll start with The Serpent King, since you love the author ❤️. Some of these have been on my TBR for years. Thank you so very much. I love the entire stack, and I can‘t wait to get started on them. #summersantagoespostal

Whet a book! I think I enjoyed it! One character battles depression quite extensively and at the risk of sounding unsympathetic, it was overdone. I got so tired of his whiney mentality and his "woe is me's". Rather than fixing the problem, he wallowed! Other than that, I really liked this one!

Oh mylanta! Could Dill be more of a whiner? I don't think so! He's wallowing in self pity and just doesn't want (refuses, rather) to get himself out of it. Ugh!
*Chucks book at wall*

Hello #GroupO for my pick, I went through my Goodreads TBR list and picked some of the top rated novels that were on there. Which would you all be most interested in? I will tag the novels in the comments as well — all are fiction, two are historical based and I believe one is YA. #lmpbc

This book is phenomenal so far! I'm really enjoying it!

High school senior Dill feels like he can‘t escape his family‘s past. His dad, the leader of a religious cult, is in jail and his mom overworks herself to pay off legal debts. The only solace he has is with his two friends, Travis and Lydia, and his music. He looks towards no college until a tragedy forces him to reconsider his future.

An amazing portrayal of southern teens who do not exactly "fit in". Dill, Travis, and Lydia are very different but have formed a tight bond. Difficult situations abound, but so do light-hearted funny moments. These characters felt like real-life teenagers trying their best in a world where they didn't quite fit. An excellent #audiobook from #libby enhanced my reading experience. Loved it ♥️?

Ok, did NOT see that coming!!!! What!? #audiobook
This #ya novel has popped up off and on for years on my radar and I just randomly downloaded it from Libby the other day. Not a bad decision. 🐍

#QuotsyFeb19 Day 1: Feeling #Naked when one‘s desires are seen. I read this book a few years back and was impressed by its truths. Heartbreaking, though. But very real.

It was okay not bad per say but not my cup of tea either. The characters where great but many times Dill got on my nerves and I just could not get over the fact of all the wining

And if you‘re going to live, you might as well do painful, brave, and beautiful things.

Such a beautiful, interesting, harrowing and heartbreaking book. 5/5

“Why aren‘t you up Travis‘s ass about this too?”

“First of all, don‘t assume that I‘m incapable of being up more than one ass at a time. I can be up many asses at the same time. Multiple asses. I cause rips in the space time continuum with how many asses I‘m capable of being up simultaneously. Stephen Hawking had to come up with a parallel universe theory to explain my up-asses omnipresence.”

Finished this up while I was cleaning house today. It wasn‘t exactly what I expected, but it was really good! I‘m kind of sad that I waited so long to read it.

It‘s a house cleaning day 🙄 #thankfulforaudiobooks

Religion, social class, poverty, incarceration, mental illness, and alcoholism are a few of the issues looked at in this coming-of-age story.

#YAWednesday

📷: Google Books

I‘m not sure how I feel about this one... I think it liked it; it definitely broke my heart. But I bought it solely on the recommendation of a friend and colleague who recently did some really terrible things, and I think my feelings about the book are mixed up with my disappointment in this person.

Next up!

It is Finals Week, which means I‘m up to my eyeballs in work, but I can read while I proctor so I‘m almost finished with this book. I reach for YA when life is busy. Also, my cat may be broken. Sophie is summing up my thoughts on the week. 🤪 #catsoflitsy

I leave the room for ten minutes to blow out my hair and Anthony crashes. Poor guy worked almost 50 hours already and is snoring like crazy. Sophie is laying like a weirdo on the other end of the couch on her blanket. Looks like I get some bonus reading time!

#hello Litsy photo challenge, its been awhile. I‘m almost to the “other side” (had to throw in an Adele reference) of the semester. This is the last week of classes. I won‘t have time for this book today, but by this evening I hope to put a dent in it. I‘m not sure I‘ve ever seen a book use a big quote on the cover instead of the title. 🤔 #adelesmaymashup

So that was a massive gut-punch! A lot of emotions with this one. Wow.

Sorry not sorry for the descriptive review 😂 still recovering

#freakyfriday

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5