Welcome to Litsy!

In all honesty this story was excruciatingly sad. TW for domestic violence and violence against children. But the characters were complex and vibrant and I was enthralled from the first page.

It took me awhile to fall under this book‘s spell but once I did I was fully ensnared by Reina‘s deep love for those who did not always deserve it, her loneliness, guilt, and reluctance to wish for more for herself. I didn‘t always understand her but I came to deeply care about her. Not everything about this book worked for me (especially everything involving the dolphin sanctuary) but I loved Engel‘s writing and this was definitely a pick.

I didn‘t have any books that seemed to fit today‘s prompt so I did some research on books set in #Miami to see if there were any that I‘d be interested in reading. This one seems like it would be right up my alley! #songsofsummer @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

I loved this, although the two halves (visiting her brother on death row; forging a new life in the keys) felt disjointed. Both would be great novellas in their own right!
I especially loved the diving imagery throughout. Read it if you want to be angry, then soothed.

Book 28 of #52Booksin2018

I ordered this from #thriftbooks and got the #botm version. I guess now it goes in my #botmbacklog stack 🤷‍♀️📚

Have you ever read a novel and literally felt like your mind was blown? This one for me fits in that category. It‘s incredibly timely and strangely beautiful. It‘s also one of those books that could go over your head. But if you just follow the story and let yourself get swept in, the reward is a novel that lingers long after you‘ve set it down.

Beautiful novel about love, family and forgiveness set in the Florida Keys, Cuba, and Cartagena. Tragedy has been a part of Reina' s life since she was an infant and her father tried to kill her brother to get back at their mother. Years later, her brother kills his girlfriend's child for the same reason. Reina' s life in the aftermath is an acceptance of the harshness of life and a deep sense of guilt and sorrow. Exquisite writing.

A truly beautiful novel about love and guilt and family and culture. I can't recommend it enough.

This #audiobook narrated by the author is a powerful story of redemption. Ingredients include: families, siblings, immigrants to Florida from Colombia and Cuba, guilt, prison, dolphins, and Orishas. The sum is greater than its parts. Recommended.

“I wish you could see how things are here. I wish you could experience life as a Cuban. No. I take it back.” He laughs. “Nobody deserves that.”

(Internet photo)

Carlito was approaching 3years, still longhaired because people said if you cut a kid‘s hair before he speaks full sentences, he‘ll be mute for life.

(Internet photo)

-My mother says we come from a long line of bastards on both sides.
-We all do.

This book was ah-mazing on audio!!! Typically I prefer nonfiction or mystery on audio and fiction is hard for me to get into, but this was so good. The author actually narrates it and she does a wonderful job. You can tell that she wrote the material, lived with it and was passionate about it in the way she narrates. Her voice is haunting and melodic and matches perfectly with the writing. Highly recommend specifically on audio!

This is a beautiful and heart-breaking story. It also completes my #litsyatoz challenge with the letter V.

This book was a slow build for me, but I loved dipping a toe into Reina's world chapter by chapter. Through her story, Engel explores immigration and homecomings, family, belonging, and faith in ways that will linger with me for some time. Highly recommend.

well I was going to read those books... 📚🐱🤷

The Veins of the Ocean was absolutely wonderful. I will miss the narrator, Reina, and her gentle honesty about a lifestyle most would find difficult to endure: surviving immigration from Colombia, a brother on death row, a fear that she would spend her life alone.

I also love books set in my home, Florida☀️. Engel does an amazing job illustrating issues prisoners and immigrants face, and she does it artistically. This book will stay with me.

Wow, what a sentence 🙇🏻‍♀️

84 pages in and really hooked on this one. I️ haven‘t seen many posts about Veins of the Ocean, but, in my opinion, it‘s really done well.

My mad dash to finish thirteen #botm picks before 2018 is off to a great start 😬

5⭐️ One of the best books I've ever read. Top 5 easily. The beauty, love, loyalty, and sorrow in this book is incredibly moving. Highly recommend!

Check out my new book sleeve! Thanks @Story_Time_Sleeve 👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️😘😘 Definitely check out her Etsy store. I have this book, which I've been slowly reading, in it now. I think that's the only way to read it, at least for me.

For my great German friends, I'm calling this one 99 Luftballons. 😀😀

I feel so bad that all of my #BOTM boxes have arrived, and some people are waiting on their first/only. ? It is nice that the gang is all here, though!

I love how BOTM recommends "putting a mug or wine glass in your picture." Well, what do you think of my dirty coffee mug from breakfast? Really adds something, right? Good thing I'm on Litsy not Insta! ??? We're more honest here, I think. ?

So good!!

I loved this book! I grew up on the East coast in Nova Scotia, so I've always been in love with the ocean. Raina's life has not been easy, particularly with her brother in prison. Her story of how she struggles with this part of her life while trying to figure out life for herself is both heart-breaking and beautiful. I loved how the author connects all of it back to the ocean. Beautifully done. 💕

Perfect evening snuggled up with my puppy and starting The Veins of the Ocean.

Here are a few from my TBR! Such great covers.

#maybookflowers #bodiesofwater

My #botm was waiting for me when I got back from my trip! I went overboard and got 3 this month! I'm excited to dive into these!!

A rare break at work!

Have you listened to Episodes 19 & 20 yet?? One of the books we‘re featuring this month is THE VEINS OF THE OCEAN and you can win your own copy! This book is a sweeping family narative about family, home, and the things that bring us together. Tag a friend below to be entered to win. Contest ends at midnight on April, 26.

P.S. We will be sending you a regular hardcopy, not the BOTM edition pictured.

Patricia Engel tells us about Reina Castillo, who grew up in Columbia, but now lives in FL. We learn early on that her brother, Carlito, is in prison for a crime that is very similar to a crime his father committed. Engel weaves together themes of immigration, life in prison, exile, love, and family in a sweeping narrative that is as beautiful and complex as the ocean that ties everything together. Hear more on Ep 19.

Oh man.

No pic because lazy but eff, this book is beautiful and heartbreaking and maybe will get hopeful but will probably still be heartbreaking.

Skipping #BOTM for April because I joined two book clubs and am already being crushed beneath the weight of my TBR pile. Just finished Stranger in the Woods though thanks to a beautiful spring weekend in my own woods.

Vacation day #2, book #2. Won't have as much time to read today, but I'm already wrapped up in this story. Feeling like it would have been a good book club pick. Eager to get back to it this evening!

Spring break starts tomorrow after work, and I'm ready! 📚❤️🛀🏽🍹

I loved THE VEINS OF THE OCEAN by Patricia Engel. This novel is a slow burn with moving prose and a character-driven storyline. We may be talking about this later for @thereadingwomen Book of the Month-themed podcasts (😉😉), so stay tuned!

#TheReadingWomen #Fiction #BOTM #bookofthemonth

Finally got around to listening to THE VEINS OF THE OCEAN. Was surprised how much I enjoyed this slow-burning novel. The layers of meaning and depth of the novel could have me pondering this book for a long time. Will talk more about this book on @thereadingwomen 😄

This book is very beautifully written, and almost lyrical in a way. I love the concept of trying to figure out what your life is supposed to be after you feel like you've lost what it was. And I appreciated the way the author handled the darker aspects of the story too. 4/5 ⭐️

You don't know what it is to have your family broken by a system, by old men who refuse to die, all because we were born in the wrong country at the wrong time in history, and to be able to do nothing about it.

He trusted my vision of the world, the way I told stories with my own judgments interspersed, because our first impressions of life had been shaped together; we'd been taught the ways of humanity by the same misguided tribe, were fruit of the same knotted and twisted family tree, and had walked through the world together until he lost his place in it.

#nowreading

I started this one a long time ago and kept getting distracted, which is probably more about me than about the book. Now I'm finally getting back to it.

Trying a new breakdown of my reading habits. I DO look forward to 2017 for my first full year of reading outside of school, the myriad reading challenges (we're all mad here, yes?), and most of all, spending time with all you best people.
#SeasonsReadings2016
#BestOfDecember

I am utterly destroyed. This book was so sad, so vibrant, so beautiful. I loved the south Florida Latin American focus, the everyday practice of Santeria (my primary experience of it has been with fantasy novels), and the incredible sense of place. I was there with Reina through her whole journey. This book wouldn't let me go despite being sick this weekend. I need more, and I am also left with a major #bookhangover. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 many times over.

These jokers think they're part of convalescence. 😽🤒😽 #catsoflitsy #catblanket

The quest continues for my next audiobook...you would think with dozens of audio titles on my OverDrive and Hoopla wishlists it wouldn't be that difficult! I loved Engel's short story collection, Vida, so fingers crossed. Pairing with Xmas card signing and 3:30 p.m. beer drinking. 🙃 #booksandbrews #audiocarding??

Chicago Review of Books just featured books to read this Thanksgiving with #dysfunctionalfamilies. THE VEINS OF THE OCEAN is included in the list, with a link to my interview with the very talented Patricia Engel.

You can check out the list here:
https://chireviewofbooks.com/2016/11/21/10-family-novels-to-read-this-thanksgivi...

Gorgeously written book about familial obligation, looking for absolution and more! #BOTM

#PhotoADayNov16 It has gotten quite cold out (it even snowed a bit last night), so it's extra enticing to read a beautiful book that takes place in Florida. #ReadingInBed

#PhotoADayNov16 This is more like a book triangle than a #BookPyramid but here are the print books left on my November #TBR I am really enjoying The Veins of the Ocean so far! It was my #BOTM pick from a while ago.