Welcome to Litsy!

OMG molasses moves faster than this plot. I was ready to give up on it but was told I was at a point where the plot picks up. It did not. If you decide to read it, definitely listen to the audiobook. 2 narrators alternate reading for the main characters and they read in Caribbean accents which is helpful since the book is written in Caribbean English.

Perfect combination of magic realism and gritty reality. Two seperate stories intertwine in this glorious debut novel. Beautiful prose with distinct voices and perspectives for the two main characters. Transports you to Trinidad and Tobago!

Thoroughly enjoyed this - my first ever novel from Trinidad and Tobago. We follow Yejide, a young woman bound to her ancestral home by family ties despite dysfunction, and Darwin, a young Rasta man, pushed into breaking his vows, leaving his mother and moving into the city for work. As their stories circle each other, supernatural forces are at work. @Reggie this reminded me a little bit of Mama Day 😍. This would make a good spooky read for ⬇️

@Gissy thank you for such a fun birthday package! You‘re right- it is fun to have birthday celebrations that last! I LOVE everything but am so glad you sent a fun booksleeve! I love it! And I‘ve wanted a pen pouch for myself- I keep losing my LMPBC pens. Perfect book choices too!!! 😘😘😘😘

First author I‘ve ever read from Trinidad & Tobago! The story is set in the country and is a love story with plenty of mythos involved too. Also the cover is absolutely gorgeous. There is nothing particularly angsty or lustful in this love story. It‘s a curiosity, a being drawn to one another, an entwining of lives. Devoid of the western tropes that are often in romance reads. Felt refreshing and delightful. Also family stories are very present.

I without a doubt 100% recommend this book. It‘s a love story it‘s a belief and how circumstances sometimes highlight challenges. I don‘t want to give too much away but this was a beautifully written story set in Trinidad populated by amazing characters. #travelthroughbooks #trinidad #bigjunereadathon @Clwojick

My #MarvellousMay #Readathon update. It seems when I don‘t make goals, I accomplish more. lol
@Andrew65

‘m not usually into magical realism, but this book was just the right amount of realism, good character development, good pacing of plot, and sprinkles of magical elements to keep me interested. It‘s not perfect, but it‘s entertaining.

I really liked this novel. It's told from the point of view of Yejide and Darwin. Both of them deal with conflicts within their family. It's a story of loneliness and love with a ghost story and magic realism as well. The rhythm of the prose took a little getting used, but by the end it was flowing along.
#WyrdAndWonder @imyril

1. When We Were Birds and My Swordhand is Singing
2. Walden by Thoreau
3. When We Were Birds
#WeekendReads @rachelsbrittain

“'First thing you have to remember,' Granny Catherine hold her granddaughter, Yejide, close on her lap, 'is that there was a time before time.'“
A fantasy novel set in Trinidad.
#FirstLlineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This book was just exquisite! 🦜🌻🌿
#fantasticstrangelings

An epic, alluring, dark and atmospheric tale of love, loss, connection and healing. WHEN WE WERE BIRDS is a gorgeous debut with beautiful prose. Banwo had me hooked within the first few pages and transported into this story which is such a deeply told story. Both of these characters Yejide, and Darwin are old souls carrying heavy burdens, like family traditions and expectations, and complex mother-daughter relationships. I reccomend this one!

Taking a short break from the epic Ship of Magic for this one on OverDrive. Even in Black and White the cover is stunning.

Such a vivid story!

Received this gorgeous #FantasticStrangelings book, set in Trinidad, which is where my mom was from - so excited to read this! ♥️

Also picked up this cozy to pass some time 🔪📚☕️

And look at that gorgeous weather for my day off tomorrow! #pluviophile

And buggy has recently gotten obsessed w those Moomin books… extra cute bc we have a lot of the older-reader books from when Mark was a kid. 🥰🥰

What do you do on a rainy Sunday when you‘re nursing a cold? Settle into the newest selection for Jenny Lawson‘s Strangelings Book Club!

The destinies of a Rastafarian man prohibited from interacting with the dead and a woman destined to care for their spirits collide in a cemetery full of secrets in this magical realist novel set in a Trinidad “with the volume turned all the way up.” I had a tough time getting into this, but that may be holiday distractions. I enjoyed the settings and magical realism throughout the novel. I‘d especially recommend for fans of Practical Magic.