Welcome to Litsy!

I didn‘t know I‘d get regional history as well on this read. Interesting and curious, the author covers these crimes well. At times you cheer on the arsonists, the cops, and everybody between. Not as true crime as some prefer but thoughtful all the same

This true crime story of arson in rural Virginia started out strong. I was quickly brought into the story and wanting the backstory for the people involved.

However, as the story unfolds, I felt the writing became boring and the answers sparse.

It's an easy, quick nonfiction read, but I just personally found it lacking, especially in the courtroom scenes.

Overall, I‘d call this a weak pick. The concept was interesting and I really enjoyed the first 2/3 or so of the story. I just felt the last third or so of the book dragged once the court room stage started. I give the author kudos for the fact that the audiobook only lasted 7.5 hours, but even that felt a bit long with how the last 2.5 hours or so lost momentum.

Come on, Baby, light my fire…

Read for a book club pick. Not really sure why it got turned into a book. I didn‘t think it was that interesting.

Stealing my own photo for this review…

What a wild ride…a stretch of over 60 arsons in a small Eastern Shore town…a love story…volunteer fire fighters tirelessly out there night after night.

Glad to have read this for my first #Roll100 pick - definitely off to a great start. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

My #Roll100 pick (#24) is a #BOTM backlog from July 2017! 😮 Already excited for @PuddleJumper ‘s challenge, which will help me read some titles that have been waiting patiently in the wings for far too long. 📚📚

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
With my son being a firefighter, it was hard reading a true crime story on arson. Firefighters put their life on the line for such senseless acts but with that being said the book was really good and well written. Thankful for all firefighters and what they do daily!

Thanks for the rec Litsy friends! Finished probably my 2nd ever true crime novel.

This one was pretty interesting. Some of the facts and figures, I couldn‘t process. I have a hard time hearing numbers and remembering them. Overall, the story was intriguing! I can‘t believe how many fires were set!

#TeamHendrix #Scarathlon2021 +6pts
#Screamathon
#LittensListen
#OctoberBookBingo - 2 bingos
#OutstandingOctober
#LittensDressedinBlood
#Spookoween

I enjoy true crime books & this one was no exception. The book develops the case well & incorporates criminal &investigative procedure without being dry. I couldn't help but feel terrible for Charlie. Telling the story of rural decline & how frustration, poverty, & hopelessness can influence deviant behavior. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

True crime!! A five-month arson spree that left a rural Virginia county reeling. Charlie Smith pled guilty to 67 counts of arson. But Charlie wasn't lighting fires alone: his crimes were galvanized by a twisted love story. So #maddening #maycharacters @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Very interesting true crime story of a couple who set fire to abandoned buildings/homes over a 5 month period in Virginia. The book covers the crimes, emergency responders, dynamics of the couple, arrest, and trial. #MountTBR

I feel like I‘m way behind on everything because my days are jam packed - including opening my mail

Between my demanding work schedule, and all the extracurricular stuff I have going on, I‘m exhausted and often overwhelmed. My ambition is eating my peace these days

This was such a nice surprise to get in my book mail. Thanks @rsteve388 I can‘t wait to check this one out!

This was an interesting read about the fires that occurred on the Eastern Shore of VA. Two lovers light a series of fires for a multitude of reasons..but mostly for love. Short easy read, Monica Hesse made the book feel like a novel so it was enjoyable and easy to follow.

#NFN #NFN20 here is my physical book list for Non Fiction November!

Also I am sending all of you an email right now to welcome you all to NFN :)

Morning Everyone! I am so excited to see everyone who is participating in #NFN20 starting their non fiction reads this morning. You'll be getting an email from me later today after breakfast and coffee and get some.chorea done. Happy Reading Everyone!

#3booksbasedontruestories @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

##3books #basedonatruestory
Loved these 3.

This is the closest I could come @katy4peas

Anyone have a book with a cat on the cover? #ispy

Your middle-of-the-night throwback is brought to you by the #botmchallenge 2017 😘😘💖🤩 @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi @L_auren

This picture was taken in the dark. I‘ll try to make a better one tomorrow.

Remember when BOTM was awesome?!?

Finished 1/31/20. I was a bit underwhelmed by this. I found myself more interested in the side of the first responders, firefighters, and police who were trying to solve the case than the perpetrators. While I felt sorry for Charlie for how he became involved in the arsons, there‘s very little insight as to Tonya‘s motivations and in the end she is still somewhat of an enigma and pretty unsympathetic. The audio narration was pretty boring. 2.5 ⭐️

I actually started this earlier this week while at work, but I wasn‘t really paying attention to the first two hours, so I started it again at the beginning today while I was cleaning. I remember this book being pretty popular on Litsy back when it first came out a few years ago.

Working on notes for book club tonight!

It was kind of nice to read a true crime story that didn't contain murder! Can't wait to discuss this at book club (and share the picture of one of the arsonists sporting a truly heinous and culturally appropriating hairstyle). #NFNov #24b4Monday #Readathon #litsypartyofone #mrbook1inamillion @Clwojick @MrBook @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

I worked a lot yesterday, but it was just updating statuses on a website, so I was able to listen to a lot of audio, and I made time to read my physical books too. I don't know if I'll get 24 hours total before Monday, but I'm trying!
#24B4Monday #Readathon #LitsyPartyofOne #MrBook1inaMillion #NFNov
@mrbook @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

Home! Drinking some tea and reading while dinner cooks. Also, arson is a crazy crime. Don't make a liar out of Billy Joel (We Didn't Start the Fire). #Readathon #litsypartyofone #24b4Monday #mrbook1inamillion @mrbook @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid

Starting this one for our bookstore's True Crime book club and it also works for #NFNov! #Readathon #litsypartyofone #24b4Monday #mrbook1inamillion @MrBook @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

This was a really good read. Highly recommend for fans of Serial.

ps thank you @Lovesbooks87 for including this in my #summersantagoespostal swap box!

Weekend reads

Really enjoyed this one — it‘s always nice to find a suspenseful, well-written true crime book that doesn‘t focus on grisly murder(s).

#nonfiction #truecrime #audiobook

Happy Monday Litsy! Hope everyone had a great weekend. 😁

I've got a new #Top6List this morning, non-violent true crime! One of my biggest surprises when I came to work at the library was the popularity of the true crime genre. These are true crime books for people like me who can't stand all the murder and gore! They follow crimes that are often twisty, dark, and devious, but rarely get anyone killed. Enjoy!

#LibraryBooks #RA #TrueCrime

My weekend reading.
#nonfiction #virginia

“They believed, based on anecdotal evidence and prurient wishful thinking, that fires were set by young peasant women...In time, scientists began realizing that all women got periods, not just peasants and not just arsonists, and so perhaps a better explanation was needed to explain arson.”

(This is good writing, folks)

American Fire is a highly engaging true crime narrative. It was refreshing to read about a crime that isn't murder, in this much depth. In this book, Hesse does what I love most in investigative journalism, she does just tell the story of what happened, but locates this crime in a place, a community, and a time, which plays such a significant role in our understanding of how and why these things happen. #readharder2019

Back on the audios with some true crime that never fails me #readharder2019

Intriguing #truecrime. Who knew arson could fix relationships?

Struggling to find good light for reading while staying at a non-reader's house for pet sitting. Even though, technically the pet is mine (one of my cats lives at my married-but-living-apart husband's house). #thestruggleisreal #currentlyreading #truecrime

⭐️⭐️⭐️: Non Fiction about a messed up love story, erectile dysfunction and arson.

This was a great choice for a #BOTMchallenge reread. I fully blame @Cinfhen @Reviewsbylola and @emilyhaldi for my newfound true crime addiction!

C‘mon please Accommack County, #gimmeshelter! So many old, deserted places were burned down by Charlie and Tonya, including the Whispering Pines resort, pictured. It‘s great that no one died, but I really feel for the volunteer firefighters called out night after night during the arson spree. 4⭐️

The preface already has me excited.

#nonfiction #americanfire

#ThrowbackSaturday #HowFarIllGo #botmchallenge #MayMovieMagic

Oh, Emily, Steph, and Lauren, look what I checked out!! This one of my favorite nonfictions from 2017!

The prompt works because of how far we went reading all 60 #botm back then. It was fun. 😁👍🏻😁 Also, how far will these arsonists go! Six fires in one night with only volunteer fire departments. Just the whole story is crazy!

“To talk about arson is to talk about buildings burning down. To talk about the term ‘pyromania‘ is really to talk about the unfathomable mysteries of the human brain and the human heart: Why do we do things? Why do we want things? What moves us, and stirs us, and why are some people moved by the things that the rest of us find inexplicable or abhorrent?”

Favorite time of year in the Midwest.

Almost done with this book. As someone who lives in a small town, sooo much of the book rings true for how small town politics and talk work.

My view after doing eight hours of yardwork. Been good for listening to audiobooks though! Making good progress in this one and loving it so far.

Above all this book for me was look into vanishing American rural communities. It is depressing. The hopeless situation and the couple portrayed, the arsonists who set fire to more than 60 of the 100s of abandoned houses there. Their personal situation seemed about as depressing and hopeless as that of the county they lived in. And then that Tonya.. such a manupulative woman...
Thanks for sending me this one Cindy 😘

#ReadingUSA2019 VA

LOVED this book! 5 stars. Sorry too sleepy to expand my review 😪 #lmpbc #Round 4 #GroupL
@Amanda61 heading out today !

Thank you Eurostar for whisking me off to Paris ( faster than it took to go to Leeds last week! ) and my new favourite bookstore - Shakespeare & Co! I was very restrained ( Mr K was getting fidgety!) and just got 2 books... but now I know how easy and quick it is to get there.....🤣 #bookhaul

Interesting delve into a serial arsonist love triangle. 🤪🔥🚒