Welcome to Litsy!

Sepetys is an amazing author, and I'm so glad I finally read this! The audio narration is done by a wonderful cast (even Alfred!). A very sad reminder of the youngest victims of war and a very timely (sadly, still) story of refugees.

Sorry I've been away from Litsy! I had to take a break to focus on writing but I'm back to reading and looking forward to diving back into this community that I love! ♥️📚

🔊 Question: What's one of your favorite audiobooks?
Hands down, mine is Salt to the Sea. The four narrators brought the story to life for me and I believe I enjoyed it even more on audio than I would have if I read it in book form! A rare occurrence for me.

This is definitely the first book in quite a long time that was required reading and I actually thoroughly enjoyed it!!

It‘s a quick read.
Thick? Yes. But the flow is easy and poetic, even though the story is heavy and difficult to comprehend.

If it were a movie I definitely would have beef with the fate of the characters journeys. I did as a written work.

It was gripping, page turning work of historical fiction that won‘t soon leave me.

The shoe poet has done it again!! 👏🏻😩👠😭👏🏻

Just under 1k to go to reach 30k litfluence. ❗️❗️❗️

And to think that a while back my goal by the summer months was 10k. 🤯

I think I‘m going to be a little bit more ambitious and up that goal to 50k by the end of summer!

I have full confidence in you, my fellow book nerds!! 💯

The trees. 🌲🌳

#QuotsyJuly19 #community
@TK-421

“Books join us together as a global reading community, but more important, a global human community striving to learn from the past.”
(The quote is from the Author's Note)

New stuff! #bookoutlet

I see why this guy was nicknamed “The Shoe Poet” and why it stuck!

This dialogue exchange exemplifies the poetic depth of how this story is told and how beautiful the writing within the pages really is.

👞 🥾👟👢👠

But brave warriors, we brush away fear with a flick of the wrist. We laugh in the face of fear, kick it like the stone across the street.

Trial run of Libro.fm FOR THE WIN!!
CD version of the audiobook has been “in transit” from my local library for days, but I have this now and can catch up on the pages I‘m supposed to have read by now. 👏🏻💯👏🏻💯👏🏻

Have some listening goals that are undone on Audible so I haven‘t canned it yet....but I‘ve found and “added to wishlist” quite a few books Audible hasn‘t shown they have....so we‘ll see what happens!
Might be the end of an era!

Required reading for my summer class.
Anybody read it?
Like? Love? Hate?
First 150 pages need to be read by Thursday!

I read this last year and realized I didn‘t review it. This was an exciting suspenseful read, I read it in three days. It follows four people in World War II, three trying to flee the nazi‘s and how there lives intertwine trying to board a ship to get them out, and one very young brainwashed nazi soldier you almost feel bad for him because he‘s so ignorant and knows nothing about anything, except a manipulated misplaced hate for jews.

Excellent!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5...loved the characters and learned about some history I hadn‘t heard about before.

Currently listening to Salt to the Sea, and enjoying it immensely.

☀️☀️☀️#weekendreads

Another gripping historical fiction by Sepetys. Sepetys is so good with her characterizations and descriptions that some scenes really had me on the edge of my seat.

In January 1945, the MV Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed, whilst evacuating refugees, civilians and military personnel from the advancing Russian Army. This is the story of 4 young people and their journey to the ship.

It‘s an incredibly well-researched novel, yet wears it‘s research gently, never feeling as though you‘re being preached at or lectured to. And it kept me turning the pages. But with 4 rapidly switching viewpoints, 👇

...I've never heard the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff. This account, with stories of savagery of the Soviets, saving treasures from the Nazis, frightened children, a brave nurse, a kind shoemaker, a blind girl, and many others, will stick with you long after you have finished the book.

Getting to Know You Survey
1)What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Alvin, TX, USA.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Salt to the Sea.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? Coffee.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I've blogged at Readerbuzz for ten years.
5) What‘s one thing you‘ll do different today? This is my 25th readathon. I plan to read and blog.

Next up.

There are very few books that I recommend to every single person, regardless of what genre they like to read or their taste in books. But Salt to the Sea is one of them. From the moment I read the first page, I knew that this book would stick with me for the rest of my life. Salt to the Sea is incredible. The characters(I really still hate Alfred), the writing, the plot. It's shocking and honest. It's eye opening and emotional.

Those who have read Salt to the Sea did Alfred get on your nerves. I really can‘t stand him and I am only half way through the book.

“How foolish to #Believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.”

#LiteraryLuck

Disclaimer - I listened to the audiobook. This one took some time to get used to. The narration changes perspective with each chapter and while “clear”, is sometimes hard to follow what‘s going on. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book, though. Well written and good scene building.

Can‘t choose just one:

Salt to the Sea
The Velvet Hours
The Lost Wife
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
A World Without You

#bestbooksofar2019

All snuggled in before the bad weather hits. Just going to sit right here all day and read. Sounds like the best safety plan ever! 🌪 🌪 🌩⛈

#frideas @SailorMoon
1* mostly fiction
2* tagged and highly recommend!!
3* algebra 2
4* I have several: early 1900s, ww2, and 1950s-1960s
5* @jmtrivera @julesG @Elma

This was a great historical fiction retelling of refugees, soldiers, and a shipwreck during WWII. https://www.instagram.com/p/BueVfpdHI1L/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=5625xk...

I finished this days ago but I haven‘t been able to stop thinking about it. 💔 It was beautifully written. Historical fiction isn‘t always my cup of tea, but I enjoyed this. I knew nothing about Wilhelm Gustloff & now I want to know more because of this book.

I listened to the #audiobook version & I loved that each character was voiced by someone different.

The ONLY thing I didn‘t like was part of the ending. Otherwise, 4/5 for me.

I picked up a reservation & library card at a local library tonight. I now own a total of three library cards, for three different libraries.🙊

I didn‘t want to leave the library. It was quite big & it looked well stocked! Libraries will forever be my safe haven & favourite place to calm down & relax. 🙌🏻📚

Booked tagged is my current audiobook. I picked it randomly then realised it was on my ‘to read‘ list on Goodreads!

#library #audiobook

It is incredible that the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is such a little known part of WW2 history. This book provided the story from 4 perspectives. Interesting, but I was left wanting more.

The paths of four weary travelers converge during WWII as they board the ship Wilhelm Gustoff. It was to be their 'ship of dreams' and to carry them home 💔
#carrymehome #TimbitTunes @TheKidUpstairs @Cinfhen

📖 Dandelion Wine, mysteries
📚 reorganizing book collection
✅ salt to the sea - omg
🤚 double-jointed
💙 will do
#friyayintro @howjessreads

@kellyann28 ❤️❤️❤️ thank you!! I love everything - and as you can see, a certain 6 year old already had to sample the candy 😂
Happy Valentine‘s Day!! #jb @kaye

I have been so wrapped up in WW2 historical fiction lately. I am always so grounded and inspired by those who could find even the smallest spark of light in such a dark time. I have just started “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys, but am already so entranced by the characters and writing style ❤️

This was such a beautifully written but heartbreaking story. 5 out of 5.

What a group we were. A pregnant girl in love, a kindly shoemaker, an orphan boy, a blind girl, and a giantess who complained that everyone was in her way when she herself took up the most room. And me, a lonely girl who missed her family and begged for a second chance” p130

Once I got into this book, it was an easy and compelling read. Septys does a nice job weaving together the 4 main characters stories, based on the refugee experiences of Eastern Europeans running from both the Russians and the Germans as WWII was coming to a close. A timely reminder of how humanity can be lost amongst nationalists fervor.

1. Current read is tagged 📚
2. Hufflepuff 💛
3. Would I Lie To You? 😂

#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain

A stunning example of historical fiction at its finest. About a little known event from WWII 1945, in the Baltic Sea. The ship Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed by a Russian sub, and sunk, with loss of life of 8000+, over half were children. This was kept secret for a long time. Author Sepetys is keen to explore/inform readers of the little known tragedies of that war. Told in multiple POV

1. Central PA, USA
2. Ruta Sepetys
3. Insurmountable
4. Living room couch
5. Salt to the Sea (historical fiction billed as YA that reads adult)

#littenintro @tessavi

Of all the history lessons on WWII I never knew about the refugees aboard the Wilhelmina Gustloff until today.

#subjectofthemonth #historicalfiction @Tove_Reads

Ruta Sepety's does it again. Her books are beautifully written, but deals with such sad subjects. Once again she writes about a period in time during WW2 that I had never heard about. I had never heard of the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff and how more than 9,000 people died. How so many people braved such awful conditions to get to the ship only to die. The message of this book was very powerful!

Fantastic. Joana x Florain

An amazingly written book that not only captivates readers while breaking their hearts, but teaches about an important and TRUE tragedy of WWII. Honestly, what else can you ask for from a historical fiction novel. The characters were well written and believable, the plot captivating and heartbreaking. Also, when a book is compared to Code Name Verity you KNOW it‘ll be AMAZING.

Just one of many TBRs in my life
#tbr #seasonsreadings @vkois88 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Hi everyone! I finished Salt to the sea tonight. It was so good. It definitely made me cry. I always learn about new history by Ruta Sepetys. I recommend everyone read it. Also between shades of gray. I'm so happy! I read 9 books this month. I'm not sure how I did it. ❤📚😀😄 #library #bookgeek #litsy #kindle #kindlefire #paperwhite

Salt to the Sea is a story of refugees during World War II. It‘s part of the author‘s family history, and her research into real-life events is meticulous. And yet, this is a story of people, not just history. The history is the why and the how, but the people in the novel are its heart.

This is a YA book so grounded in history—and tragedy—that it feels like an adult book.

Full review www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2018 #pop18 #setatsea

Just started this one yesterday, and I‘m flying through it. I‘m not a YA reader, but so far I like the historical fiction WWII story. And it should count for #pop18 #setatsea.