Welcome to Litsy!

Not for me. Great writing, compelling set up for a trilogy. It didn't drag, it took the time it needed to get the reader acquainted with who and where the main character is in their life, before starting to hint at what that main character is, who they could be. 1/?

Sage advice from bird friend. 🐦‍⬛

It genuinely is as good as people say it is yall. Took me an age to actually read it but that has nothing to do with the book and everything to do with not having enough time in the day. Despite how fantastic it was it is a rather rough read in terms of content so fair warning on that one.

This is how good YAL is done. I‘m not sure I would even put it in that category- this is just a damn good read for those who want indigenous reality, indigenous unreality, a dollop of magic and then a whole bunch and for anyone who just wants a super charged great read! I‘m so happy there‘s more 😁

I may need to read this again. The subtext went right over my head. Gritty, violent, and strange with dark humor. I will never be able to forget the otters. #Indigathon

Once I got used to the writing style, I was compelled to keep turning the pages. The story is dark and bleak but I had some laugh-out-loud moments, as well. Robinson has a sarcastic wit that it turns out I‘m quite fond of. I am completely vested in Jared‘s story now, rooting for him as he continues to mature, and looking forward to what Robinson has in store in the next book.

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦

This year, Canada Day has a very different tone - it‘s time to reflect on our true history, on the genocide of indigenous peoples, and the trauma that indigenous people are still suffering from the residential schools. I‘m spending some time today learning and reading indigenous authors.

How today started 😡 I‘ve been meaning to read this forever. It‘s interesting and I‘m betting the next books in the series take off faster than this now that all the setting up of the story and connections has been made. There is some very cool native magic storytelling in here ( my favourite part) but a LOT of alcohol and drug numbing of the senses. It‘s pretty intense so it took awhile to get through this slim book.

Today‘s mug travels. I‘m finding this book slow going. The substance abuse and physical abuse and all of it are hard to read. I know it‘s real life for a lot of people

I was expecting more fantastical elements throughout this book but I still enjoyed it. I spent most of the day reading it yesterday. Curious to see how the story continues in the next two books.

I found this an engaging book and will continue with the trilogy. Bonus points for the Doctor Who marathon 😂

Saturday morning ( I‘ve been on my phone more than I‘ve read so far 🤦🏻‍♀️)

Reading on the perch in the sunshine ☀️🎉

Next up on Libby: Jared can't count on his mom to stay sober. He can't rely on his dad to pay the bills & support his new wife & step-daughter. Jared is only sixteen but feels like he's the one who must stabilize his family's life. But he struggles to keep everything afloat...and sometimes he blacks out. His maternal grandmother has never liked him, she says he's the son of a trickster & not human. Ravens speak to him--even when he's not stoned.

While I was expecting the fantasy and mythical themes to be more prevalent in this book, it was a great read. The writing was fun and it was very easy to settle in to.

There were times I forgot there was an underlying fantasy element and I felt it was just a coming of age character story. I‘m curious to see where the next book goes.

There‘s so much I could say about this but it all sums up to: 🙄

January 2021 #BookSpinBingo card is all set!
#BookSpin: Son of a Trickster (Robinson)
#DoubleSpin: Bleeding Hearts (Rankin aka Harvey)

I watched the first episode of Trickster last night (it's on CBC in Canada, I caught it on the Gem app, not sure how/if it's available in the States). So far, I'm super happy with the adaptation. Really captures the feel of the book, great casting and performances. Excited for more!

I read the books, I watched the debate - unsurprisingly, I thought all of the books chosen this year were excellent and represented Canada well. I liked the champions (some more than others). And I think they all did a very good job representing the books and the authors. Habib‘s beautiful memoir won the debate, but I think Robinson‘s novel should have won. I encourage everyone to read this year‘s selection of books!!!

“I would bet you dollars to doughnuts that you still trust a human face to be a human.”

I didn't exactly love this book, but I'm excited to see that they're turning it into a TV series...I kind of think that will be a better format for it, plus if Eden Robinson is involved in the scripts there are so many fantastic places the story could go. Maybe it'll turn into this gen's Degrassi 😂 😂

https://www.cbc.ca/books/cast-revealed-for-cbc-s-upcoming-series-the-trickster-1...

At first, Jared‘s life seems normal. Slowly but surely, however, little bits of weirdness creep in around the edges, and Jared‘s chapters are mixed with bizarre, expansive interludes that hint at a world beyond his day-to-day reality. The magic seeps in until it is almost pervasive, slowly invading every corner of his life until he has no choice but to face the destiny he has been running from.
Full review: https://wp.me/p2P6GA-5fX

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson and We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib faced off this morning in the 2020 #CanadaReads finale, defended by Kaniehtiio Horn and Amanda Brugel, respectively. Review and recap: https://wp.me/p2P6GA-5fX

Anyone else tuning into Canada Reads this week? I missed the start of the livestream, but it seemed like there were some high emotions and personal arguments today...

I didn‘t get a chance to read From The Ashes, and I DNF‘d Small Game Hunting, but I‘m still interested in the debate!

Photo from CBC Books Instagram. #CanadaReads #CanadaReads2020

I have to apologize.. I forgot to play last week and now I can't recall who tagged me 🤦🏽‍♀️ Anyways... I want to participate so here goes @TheSpineView

1. Kindred by Octavia Butler
2. A few. Most recently, Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson. So. Freaking. Good.

Happy #two4tuesday!

His tiny, tightly permed maternal grandmother, Anita Moody, had never liked him. #firstlinefridays

This book is un-put-down-able! I was completely engaged to begin with, but now that I've hit the last 100 pages, things are getting intense! Great writing. Admittedly, I don't read many stories following indigenous teens, but between this and The Marrow Thieves, I'm thinking I'll need to pick up more of them.

Starting something new this evening. The tagged book is my pick for #booked2020 #AnimalOnCover.
@BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen

Hmmm. I'm not even sure how to describe this book.... It gets alittle crazy on page 244 until then end. I dont understand the meaning/point of this book, yet I have now ordered the 2nd one in the series...🤨 LOL.... what an odd book.

On to book 2 of Canada Reads shortlist.

Book related crafting, before and after. I gave my cheap, trusty, been-with-me-since-uni bookshelf an upgrade by putting fabric over the corrugated plastic backing. I love how it turned out!

This one didn‘t quite work for me, though I really wanted it to. It‘s like a Jesmyn Ward-style book of living in a difficult family/situation for the western Canadian First Peoples set smashed together with a fantasy story about odd happenings. I would have loved to read both those books separately (and the writing is lovely), but together they just didn‘t work.

But hey, new shirt! 😬

#Booked2020 Cover crush

I had high hopes for this book, but honestly, I just found it terribly depressing. The end started to improve, but at that point it was too little, too late for me. I won't be continuing with the series. 2/5 ⭐️

This was my February #bookspin pick and is a contender for #CanadaReads #CanadaReads2020

Loved this book 🖤 A coming of age story, a trickster story, and a story of multi-generational trauma. Can‘t wait to read some more Robinson. 4/5 stars!

Full review: https://reneereadsbooks.wordpress.com/2020/02/23/book-review-son-of-a-trickster-...

For the most part, this is literary fiction about a basically good kid with a tough family situation and a substance abuse problem. It‘s evocative and layered and very real.

It‘s also a contemporary fantasy about a kid whose family isn‘t what he thought it was—and Robinson crams the bulk of the magic into the last third. I liked the book overall, but I wish it‘d been more balanced. I imagine that‘ll be a sticking point for many readers.

I decided to be good and do my assigned reading next. At 70 pages in, I like SON OF A TRICKSTER way more than MONKEY BEACH (which I couldn‘t finish), but I‘m not invested in it yet. Hopefully that changes.

#2 read for #CanadaReads2020. Two stars. 👎

My current read. My second read for #CanadaReads2020.

This was my second read through of this and it still didn‘t grab me. I re-read it because it is a Canada Reads shortlist pick, but I think this will be one of the first to be voted out. Robinson brings a name to the table, but it just doesn‘t read consistently enough for me. It has some incredible writing right next to some head scratching writing. I just didn‘t connect with this one...again.

Despite giving this a “pan”, I love these quotes. So much emotion in so few words.

This book just wasn't for me, so it just barely scrapes into the “pan“ category. But i have to admit, rating it that was seems harsh...it's one of the first times i've ever felt a pang of guilt rating a book. Maybe it was a case of too high expectations?

This is terrible, but I was kind of hoping SON OF A TRICKSTER wouldn‘t make the Canada Reads shortlist because MONKEY BEACH was way less my thing than it should‘ve been. (That‘s my nice way of saying the first 100 pages bored me silly.) Robinson‘s author bio has totally revitalized my interest. I‘m excited to see what she‘s produced as a gluten-free, tofu-fuelled non-Goth.

I almost bailed on this one. Then it sucked me in and I couldn‘t stop reading. The ending wasn‘t the best. There is a lot of story left to tell. But it‘s supposed to be the start of a trilogy, so I‘m ok with it.
#CanadaReads2020 #24B4Monday
@Andrew65 @jb72 @TheReadingMermaid

I have 7 library books to work my way through this weekend. I‘m sure I won‘t get to them all, but hopefully I will have time to finish a few. Let the readathoning begin!
#24B4Monday
@Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @jb72

I love Canada Reads, even though I am not Canadian or live in Canada. I wind up reading all 5 books every year and will talk to the YouTube repeat while watching it. This year, I am happy because I have 4 of the 5 books. Small Game Hunting is the only one I can‘t get without paying 2x the cover cost due to shipping. I‘m ready! https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/meet-the-canada-reads-2020-contenders-1.543...

#CanadaReads2020 shortlist
Since I don't live in Canada the Canada Reads selections can sometimes be difficult to get. One I have coming from my library, one is coming on Overdrive, two are coming as interlibrary loans, and one hasn't been released in the US yet.

It's Canada Reads time! 🇨🇦 🍁 Every year, I'm less and less impressed with the debates that go on during Canada Reads week. Every year, I tell myself I'm not going to bother next time. But somehow, *every year*, I skim the synopsis on the short list and think “Oooh! That book sounds interesting!“ What's a gal to do? So many books, so little time. 🤷‍♀️

https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/meet-the-canada-reads-2020-contenders-1.543...

It‘s still really cold here, so we are snuggling and reading and watching Lord of the Rings. I started the tagged book today. Not sure if I like it yet.