Welcome to Litsy!

A day late #Under250pages

Actually I had to check and they‘re both under 150p and still on my tbr.

#GratefulReads

I absolutely adore this beautiful book. It's full of playful references and evocative language. It's difficult to describe the plot- you're better off just diving straight in. The last section is joyful and exhilarating in a way that reminds me of how I felt reading Molly's soliloquy in Ulysses for the first time. I'll revisit this, and I can't wait to read more of Ali Smith's work. If you're looking for a pick-me-up, I highly recommend it!

This is such a gorgeous read 💜

"And it was always the stories that needed the telling that gave us the rope we could cross any river with. They balanced us high above any crevasse. They made us be natural acrobats. They made us be brave. They met us well. They changed us. It was in their nature to."

"... the story of nature itself, ever-inventive, making one thing out of another, and one thing into another, and nothing lasts, and nothing's lost and nothing ever perishes, and things can always change, because things will always change, and things will always be different, because things can always be different."

My 1st experience of Ali Smith but certainly not my last. Utterly blown away by this all too brief refiguring of the Greek myth of Iphis & Ianthe. The language, the symbolism, the layers, the nuances create a piece of writing that is simply quality with a big Q. Themes of gender identity, same sex love, smashing the patriarchy, water rights. 2 stream-of-consciousness passages that knocked my socks off. Just gorgeous.

3/5⭐ I often loved the truly beautiful, poetic writing that conveyed the character development and themes (family, love, rebellion, access to water, feminism, patriarchy, identity, etc). But that flowing, abstract writing often turned into more stream-of-consciousness passages (page-long sentences, really?) that were incredibly annoying to get through. Overall though I enjoyed what the book had to say and how it said it. #contemporaryathon

So you looked out across the deep waters, Robin said. And you decided, by yourself, and with the help of a clear night and some stars, which way was north and which was south and which way was east and which was west. Yes?
Yes, I said.
Then I said it again. Yes.

#contemporaryathon

A retelling of the myth of Iphis by the brilliant Ali Smith. The myth is woven into the story in multiple layers, starting with the opening line - “Let me tell you about when I was a girl, my grandfather says” - and Smith uses the myth to make a powerful statement about the ways in which gender still factors so much into our lives today. #LitsyAtoZ

Ali Smith is wonderful in every way possible. This little book (a part of the Canongate Myths series) is a retelling of the Iphis and Ianthe myth, in which Smith uses her lyrical and beautiful style to tell a story about love and the different shapes it can take. It‘s a lovely book and I‘d recommend it to everyone I know.

1. Anthea and Robin (Girl Meets Boy)
2. Jane Eyre and Rochester, Hazel and Augustus #unpopularopinion
3. Either Jim and Pam or Angela and Dwight
4. Does Justin and Sydnee McElroy count as a famous couple?
#manicmonday @JoScho

Found it in a charity shop. Sounds promising.

#AndItsAug Day 2 - Girlfriends

A retelling of the gender-bending Iphis myth, this story explores the relationship between two sisters, Midge and Anthea, and Anthea's romantic relationship with eco activist Robin.

If you're going to retell a myth, this is how it's done!

Look, we're spending time together! He has his games, and I have my book! This was recommended to me by a library science school friend, and I bought it just based on her recommendation (and loving Ali Smith in general).

#FeistyFeb Day 23 - "Boy" in the Title

Interestingly enough, this is the only "boy" titled book on my shelves. Part of the Canongate Myth series, this book reimagines Ovid's myth of Iphis. It explores sex and gender through the lives of two Scottish sisters.

Ali Smith rewrites the myth of Iphis as part of Canongate's Myth Series and, as ever, crafts a multilayered take that abounds with intertextual references, sly humour, social commentary and her signature word-smithery. Here she tackles homophobia, mysogeny, peer pressure, corporate greed and acts of resistance, and love. Gorgeous prose. #LRC6 ❤❤

Every time I read a new Ali Smith I fall a little bit more in love with her writing 💖

This is my first Ali Smith books and I loved it. Her words flow eloquently as she paints vivid. I'll be going on to read more Ali Smith and more from the Canongate Mystery Series

I really liked this little book. It packs a powerful punch in its 160 pages. Feminist and forward thinking, anti-capitalist even. But, oh-so-lyrical. I loved so much within it. Perfect prose. The chapters vary in first person narration between two sisters, Imogen and Anthea. Very different people but the way their stories merge was beautiful. My only small issue was the over-use of parentheses in Imogen's chapters. I loved the ending.

I really liked this little book. It packs a powerful punch in its 160 pages. Feminist and forward thinking, anti-capitalist even. But, oh-so-lyrical. I loved so much within it. Perfect prose. The chapters vary in first person narration between two sisters, Imogen and Anthea. Very different people but the way their stories merge was beautiful. My only small issue was the over-use of parentheses in Imogen's chapters. I loved the ending.

Ness I said Ness I will Ness

This was my first Ali Smith book, and all my expectations were met wonderfully. Ali Smith is an amazing wordsmith and has created an enchanting modern retelling if the classic Ovid myth of Iphis. A seminal feminist book of this century!