Welcome to Litsy!

A stream of conciseness tale, told through the voice of Bunny, a writer suffering from extreme depression. Witty and insightful, Bunny is a “headache of a person” not “easy to like” but she‘s clever and sharp and spot on with many of her observations. It took me a little bit of time to warm to Bunny but once I did, I found myself compulsively ”turning” the pages.A wry but serious look at mental health. I listened via Hoopla / great narration 🐰

Up next! I have both print copy and audio lined up. #RoofTopReading 🎧☀️🐰

Display table at work highlighting some staff favorites. Soooooo many good books.

I‘m glad that Kirshenbaum ends the novel by reminding us that this is fiction. Otherwise, I might have forgotten because this reflects my experience with depression more closely than anything I‘ve ever read. Except I don‘t have an Albie to prop me up. But I do have a very supportive cat. 🖤 This book IS funny. And I like the way relationships between the institutionalized are portrayed. Amazing stuff.

Funny how some books have 6+ mo. waitlists at my library and other new audiobooks are available right this second!

One of my favorite books so far this year. I‘m having the hardest time articulating why. I think it‘s the powerful stream of consciousness writing, the voice of the main character, the deep empathy with which this book approaches mental illness. And it‘s funny. I laughed out loud multiple times. I‘m so sad that it‘s over.

This book is extremely upsetting. I can‘t put it down. Can‘t put my finger on exactly why it is so compelling. I think I love it.

Guess who has 3 more books to pick up?!!?! I forgot how amazing the Interlibrary loan system is. I also forgot they charge a quarter per request🤷🏼‍♀️

Binnie Kirshenbaum captures and depression in a way I haven‘t encountered before. Consuming it in fits and starts when my heart can handle it.

A patron just casually dropped this off on my desk like it weren‘t no thang. #doyouevenknowwhoiam?! #itkindalooksgoodthough #rabbitsoflitsy

"People who are not easy to like, they have feelings just like nice people do."?
I am spent. The writing is incredible. I've never read a work of fiction that was so spot on in its descriptions of depression and suicidal ideation. I need a hug.

Oof. Too relatable.

📌Midway: What kind of ending can this book have?
📌3/4 mark: Ending this book is going to be hard.
📌20 pages left: Maybe she can pull off an ending?
📌5 pages left: How is she going to end this?!!
📌Last page:
This book is really good. It's a fearless, raw account of what it's like to suffer from depression and be institutionalized. It's also hilarious. But how do you conclude that kind of story? Maybe by not writing one at all?

Oh Bunny! She is a total curmudgeon. And her mental anguish is vivid and raw. Her depression is painful to witnesss. And yet, this book is hilarious!

Little bunny foo foo hopping through the forest......

"Even at my mental-health best, I'm not one for Activities." ?
Just a few pages into this book about a woman's mental breakdown, and I've already laughed a few times.
Also, this is the second book I've read this month blurbed by Deborah Eisenberg, a writer who I'd never heard of but apparently should read. ?

I just can't resist the new release shelf at the library!

I wrote about new releases from small and indie presses at Book Riot, including RABBITS FOR FOOD and more: https://bookriot.com/2019/05/10/may-2019-indie-press-books/

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I really liked this! It‘s all about depression and suicidal thoughts, so it‘s not for everyone, but the protagonist was fascinatingly difficult and interesting, and I liked the narratorial voice.

April readings stats! I‘ve got three books in progress, too.

Reading update!

“You need to listen to me,” Dr. Fitzgerald says. “I‘m trying to help you.” For the duration of an instant, Bunny goes blind. Everything is black, tar-black and deep purple, which is then followed by a ring of light, a crisp and sharply edged light framed by fire, and the glow bores through the darkness. This is how Bunny sees rage. Slow and measured, she says, “No, you need to listen to me.”

To try to read the look on Bunny‘s face is like trying to figure out what a napkin is thinking.