Welcome to Litsy!

A quiet, character-based contemporary story of unrealized dreams set in Ottawa & featuring dysfunctional family dynamics, sisterhood, alcoholism, art & artists. Berkhout is a #Canadianauthor with five previously-published books of poetry. This debut novel reminded me of Jane Urquhart‘s writing, which I also enjoy. 🇨🇦

“I deliberated whether I might be stronger inside if I drank silk milk. Or ate spiderwebs.”

Mention in this novel of genetically modifying goats (with spider genes) had me googling. Yes, they are real. Image from this Business Insider website and article: http://www.businessinsider.com/genetic-engineering-goats-spiders-2016-4/?r=AU&IR...

I thought about how being killed by a unicorn would be like being killed by an icicle or by alcohol. There would be no evidence afterwards. No weapon.

I like the way Edith‘s friend immediately assumes that Edith‘s question is related to something that she is reading.

Although his eyesight hadn‘t yet begun to fail, in the hazy details and waning shapes it was as though Monet had foreshadowed his own blindness on this canvas, and the years when he‘d used only the memory of colour to paint. [‘Rain, Pourville‘ by Monet]

Going into this book, I was certain it was going to be about discovering mythical creatures. Well, the author used "lost species" as a metaphor for the main girl's sister who has addiction.

Maybe it's because I grew up having absolutely no connection to my junkie sister, but I just had no sympathy for the characters, felt it was preachy and just overall didn't like it.

If you were transported to the setting of your current read, where would you be?

I'd be in Calgary with Liam and Edith! 🇨🇦

Love when I have the break room to myself and I can read in peace. 😃 I'm the type who, if you ask what I'm reading, will lift my cover and just keep reading. Like honestly, I don't have enough time to gush about this book on my lunch break. 😂

Anyone else??

I'm about 50 pages in, and this book is amazing so far!

(I scoured the house for a unicorn toy, and all I had was a dinosaur... close enough? 🦄)

Magical and real with despair and hope. Read it in a day, loved nearly all of it.

"Over time, my idea of happiness has changed." So good. The slow burn of acceptance of so many things.

I have to admit that this book drew me in because of the unicorn...at first! Then I got super attached to the characters. Edith and Viv are just so believable as sisters and the disfunction of their family was striking! I used to live in Ottawa and so it was a little nostalgic for me too. LOVED!

Intrigued by the paradox in this book of sisters being dependent on each other yet being almost total strangers.

Jimmy (in background) is intensely focused on outside.

"Maybe I idolized her so much because I'd never existed without her."

Sisters. One of the best, strongest, but sometimes most fraught relationships out there.

Next up.