Welcome to Litsy!

Time to dive back into my stack of ARCs. Some of them—hi tagged book, I see you—have been languishing there for some time. 😬

He is such a good writer! Interesting and different writing style, but such beautiful prose and this story of two men with complicated relationships with their families and each other was very well told. I hope they stay together!

This was slightly better the second time around (not a pan!) mainly because I sat back and enjoyed the secondary characters more. While I don‘t have to like characters, I need to understand them and Benson, Mike, and their relationship were opaque to me, but Mitsuko, Eija, Lydia, Ahmed, etc. were all way more vibrant. #LMPBC #GroupB

I definitely recommend his short story collection, Lot, over this.

If not for #LMPBC, I probably would not have left a review, because my thoughts are all over the place and I‘m not sure how to review it. It felt like there were walls to Benson, and I had a hard time finding any depth to his relationship with Mike. Cooking with Mitsuko was a welcomed reprieve, and I was much more interested in Mike‘s life in Japan. I found myself saying, “Ugh” a lot. Glad to have this one off my shelf.

At 2:00 pm central time (here is 4:00 pm) a candle was lighted in memory of Sharon, to our Litsy friend Sharon.
🕯 ❤️😔

#rememberSharon @sharread

@TheBookHippie
@alwaysbeenaliverofbooks

Rom-com? More crappy marketing. It‘s definitely not a rom-com. I really enjoyed this, great flawed characters, messy relationships and messy families. Mitsuko is a great character, I felt she was one of those mums who could convey a feeling with a raised eyebrow.

While not the best book I've ever read, the plot is compelling and the characters are flawed humans much as we all are. I imagine I'll think about this book for a long while. It's a good reminder of how much privilege cis white people have.

Loved the writing in this novel about a gay couple in Houston trying to figure out if they still love each other and if they should stay together. Mike is going home to Japan to see his father, who is dying, at the same time his mother comes to visit. Benson spends time alone with Mike‘s mother, trying to figure out what he wants.

Wow! This novel was unexpected and fresh, full of flawed characters and tricky situations. I loved the Houston setting and the examination of a gay relationship and the interplay between family and lovers. While I own this book, I listened to the #audiobook (read by the author) and recommend it. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #pride #ownvoices

Excellent writing style. Many personal topics are discussed with strong emotion. I didn't care for the profane language but the context used it to make an emotional point. #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

It‘s been said before, but I‘ll say it again: this is not a rom-com. It‘s taken me some time to write a review because I found I had more feelings after finishing than I did while I was reading it. Like the two main characters, the novel felt a bit standoffish. It was only when I was done that I realized how sad it was. Two men, together for four years, work through the dissolution of their relationship. Family traumas, secrets, and hidden love 🔽

I'm so torn on how to review this book! I loved the focus on a homosexual, interracial relationship that did not include a white man. But the level of toxicity in the relationship between Mike & Ben was disturbing. Viewing their relationship in terms of their personal experiences revealed the lacking growth of both men.

As for the writing style, I can't decide if I liked the lack of quotes in the dialogue.

The ambiguous ending was perfect.

^^Mitsuko p 297: “The point is that this is how you came to be, she says. One thing happened, and then another thing happened. We didn‘t think about whether it would work or not. We just did it.”

Sons trying to piece together family histories, trying to understand their own story as a couple. Mom busts in & after a margarita or three, reminds them that the stories we tell ourselves about our lives happen AFTER. Now, it‘s just “something happens.”

Ben & Mike: a breakup romance. Evocative of Houston, lots of food passages. Odd roommates, food as peacemaker.

Abandonment, finding family, estranged parents & children, roles & responsibilities. Identity.

Clever, quippy dialogue—loving portraits that make for emotional involvement. Yes, there‘s a sappy factor. A lot can be solved by just acknowledging love. Sentimental? That‘s the point. Breakups (with lovers, with fam) can be hard to do. 2020

Nap time!

1. I recently read the tagged book along with the audio because I was on a long car ride and it was so noisy I couldn‘t concentrate on the book otherwise. My noise canceling earbuds don‘t work very well to filter out talking or music unfortunately. First time #immersionreading for me, it did help but had to speed up audio.
2. I really don‘t do well with audio but I wish I did- any tips appreciated!
#two4tuesday

I‘m trying to decide what I liked so much about this book that has inspired such varied responses. Maybe it‘s having to figure out a complex character like Benson, seeing the problems he‘s having in his relationship, his work, his family. He‘s private, even on the page, and getting to know him was like a very slow unfolding. There is Mike‘s perspective too, which gives another side to the story - ⬇️

This book from the #TournamentOfBooks shortlist is a quiet and touching exploration of family relationships, forgiveness and reconciliation. #tob21

Current totals for the #20in4 readathon: 6 hours and 10 minutes. @Andrew65

I can see why this polarises opinion with some loving it and some hating it.

I liked it but didn‘t love it although I think if I‘d read it rather than listening I might have bailed. It‘s one of those books that looks at the minutiae of life which I always think works better on audio.

None of the characters were particularly likeable or memorable and, in fact, I don‘t think that this book will stick with me for long.

Not bad, not great!

Two more excellent books in the #ToB21 if you ask me. Today's judge chose for Memorial. With a majority of just 8 over 7 we voted for Memorial too in the #LitsyToB21. We'll see it back in the Quarter Finals against DKK.

Well I loved this book. Particularly the section that takes place in Osaka. Ultimately, it‘s a book about healing family relationships. It‘s really beautiful. Can‘t wait to read more from Bryan Washington.

A seemingly simple story that has more layers than appear on the surface. I wish I'd felt more connection with either Ben or Mike. Unusual for a modern novel, Washington did away with quotation marks. Great choice. The page felt less cluttered. The writing style made dialogue easy to follow. The lack of punctuation made pages visually crisp, subtly sharpening the reader's focus. Looking forward to more from this young author.
#ownvoices
#lgbtq

“They were chasing this cat and the cat was letting them. They‘d named him Bruno, but also Gabriel, Victor Hugo, and Senor Gato. When their father, a heavy dude, came outside for a smoke, he called the cat over. It sat on its ass while he rubbed its belly. Once the cat looked my way, so did everyone else.”

#catsoflitsy

Love Your Pet Day!

“Mike‘s taking off for Osaka, but his mother‘s flying in to Houston.” #firstlinefridays

Mixed feelings ~ truly bittersweet. Two men in the process of uncoupling. Mike & Benson can‘t even remember what brought them together until Mike‘s mom comes for a visit, just as Mike is preparing to leave. I‘m glad I listened to the audio, I‘m pretty sure I would have bailed in print. This book was slow, lots of dialogue but buried in the words was some very heartbreaking storytelling. I just don‘t think this book will stay with me. #ToB21 👇🏼

#AudioWalk #HeartSpotting Another book that seems to be 90% dialogue #ToB21 I listened to Bryan Washington narrate his short story collection and I found his voice very robotic and now once again I‘m disappointed by his lack of emotion 😕

Lots of mixed opinions on this one ☝️ #ToB21 Curious to see where I‘ll land and hoping I can use this for #ReadingAsia21 #Japan

This is a story about relationships that aren‘t going very well for a whole range of reasons. Because of this, much of the action involves people feeling awful, and being relatively awful to each other in a range of ways. What I liked about it, was the eye Washington has for small moments of real human connection. In the end it felt like there was too much void of connection, in this novel whose message seemed to be “only connect”.

I don‘t know when this trend of authors‘ initials on the fronts of hardbacks started, but I like it. 5 and a half hours in and enjoying my second read of #24in48, 10th of #TOB21!

This started strong, but quickly lost momentum. It is a story about romantic relationships centered around the relationship of Benson and Mike, but it‘s also about the relationships of others in their lives (parents, co-workers). We don‘t get that much insight into the actual relationship of the two narrators so much as we do their individual hang ups. Overall, everyone seems pretty miserable and we get to find out what everyone is eating (?).

What‘s coming our way this year; great for TBR lists!

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/02/2021-in-books-what-to-look-forward...

Book #3: Another Christmas present from the fiancee! Loved this writing style

A stack of books finished in January.

Overall I read 21.5. Not only is that an amazing number for me, but I also had two substantial bails this month. The .5 is for one of the bails, Fingerpost, since I got 400 pages in before throwing in the towel. 😂 After 5 days, I couldn‘t allow it to count for nothing.

12.5 physical books
1 ebook
8 audiobooks

Top books of the month: Transcendent Kingdom, Memorial, and The Sisters Brothers.

I don't remember the last time a book made me cry this much. This one was on all the Best of 2020 lists and deserved to be. It made me homesick for Houston.

This was a beautiful story. It was written in such a way that at some points throughout, it felt like a poem and at other times it felt like a novel. It explored, love, family and the importance of relationships.

New episode of Books on The Go is up! Memorial by Bryan Washington. We loved this book! 🎧💕

Up Next:
1.) Physical Book: Memorial By Bryan Washington
2.) Audiobook: Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Ben has to cope when his boyfriend Mike unexpectedly leaves for Japan to spend time with his dying father; meanwhile, Mike's mother has arrived for a visit, just as her son is leaving. Told from alternating perspectives, Memorial quietly explores the relationship between two men with difficult fathers, and their legacies of poor communication, anger, rejection and abandonment.

Bryan Washington‘s in the house! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Even on zoom, I get overwhelmed by the celebrity of authors like this. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I‘m starstruck!

#bookspinbingo update, halfway through the month. This book also counts toward #booked2021 #authorsfirstnamestartswithABorC

I will be thinking about this one for a long time. Washington‘s previous success with short stories shines through in the style of this book. It was so insightful and packed a punch, but to the extent that I feel ill need to read it multiple times to get the true impact. #botm #botmbacklogchallenge

Bargain U.K./Irish friends 😁😁

I get to hear this author speak on zoom tomorrow! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

That said, reviews on this one had me scurred. Now that I‘m a good chunk into it, I can totally see why it has its detractors. I‘m not sure it will end up being love for me, but I am enjoying it. Also, is is just me or is Mike a huge douche? #botm #bathandbook

Whoever it was who labelled this a rom-com has a sense of humour that is very different from mine. It is not funny. It is a slow, sweet exploration of a disintegrating relationship and of the fractured families that created the two confused men trying and failing to fully connect with one another. The settings and supporting characters added depth to the underlying themes of race, class, identity and belonging. It has left me with an aching heart.

A tender novel in two voices: two gay men—one black, one Japanese American—figuring out whether their relationship is going towards the rocks or the open sea, while physically separated—one is in Texas, one in Japan—and also reckoning with their families. The interior shifts that occur while navigating rough water are portrayed with deft nuance. #Audiobook works well with two narrators: the author and actor Akie Kotabe. #LGBTQ

“This isn‘t a part of town that historically takes well to outsiders.”
“History changes,” I said. “It adapts.”
“In the best case scenarios,” said Ben. “ And this isn‘t a best case country.”

While Mike leaves his boyfriend Benson to stay with his dying father in Osaka, Benson stays in Houston with Mikes‘s mother who just happened to visit from Japan.
While getting settled in a new situation, both explore their not so perfect relationship.

What is perfect is the balance between plot and character development and the way Washington describes the melancholy love between Mike and Benson. ⬇️⬇️

#ToB21 #Booked2021 #containsphotos

So much of our relationships are in the things we don‘t say. This book captures those silences perfectly. #12bestof2020 #12booksof2020

Outstanding. Sharp, witty dialogue, Mike & Ben‘s tough exteriors belie their vulnerability. Their multicultural community is heartwarming. Their relationship feels real, ambiguous as they care but resist trusting too much. Their self-worth & love for their families is fragile. Issues like homophobia handled sensitively. Sense of Houston & Osaka adds texture, writing propels you along, I fell in love with the characters and couldn‘t put it down.

Amazon‘s 2020 Best Books To Read...click link. https://amzn.to/2KXu6pp Which one‘s do you need to read and which one‘s were your favorites?bestbooks #books #readers #tbr

#WeeklyForecast 01/21

Starting up this year‘s reading challenges. Breasts and Eggs and Memorial are #ToB21 books. The former and Jamilia I use for #ReadingAsia2021 and Rodham is my #bookspin. I hope to read them all, although I have to start working again tomorrow. Let‘s see!