Welcome to Litsy!

I want to cook my supper and read my book. He wants me to give him seventy-three treats. Sigh.

I say I want to read my book, but honestly… well. I don‘t dislike A SWEET STING OF SALT as of page 90. I can‘t point to any element and say, “I hate this,” but I can‘t point out anything I love (or really like), either. One of those. I‘ll give it a little bit longer, then consider whether I want to drift away from it. #gaymay

I‘m still plugging away at CAN‘T SPELL TREASON WITHOUT TEA, this time with an hibiscus-chicory blend I really want to finish so I can clear some space in my tea cupboard.

As of 60%, I‘m pretty sure the book‘s gonna stay in like-not-love territory. It feels divided between its cozy aspirations and a more sword & sorcery impulse. Still, it‘s always nice to read something that includes multiple scenes in a bookstore! #gaymay

THE SINS ON THEIR BONES gives the reader a lot to admire, including a secondary world with shades of 19th century Russia, a magic system rooted in Jewish folklore, and a queer-accepting society. I enjoyed it very much, but I probably would‘ve loved it had there been a bit more depth to the characters‘ relationships and a few more chances for the reader to put things together for themself via context instead of direct revelation. #gaymay

I finally get to read something on my new-to-me Kindle, but my ARC doesn‘t have the cover attached so I‘ll still refer to my iPad from time to time. Gotta soak up the cozy bookstore vibes.

I‘m enjoying the book as of 20%, but I haven‘t totally clicked with it yet. Fingers crossed that happens this afternoon, possibly over another salted caramel chai latte. #gaymay

This week‘s library haul, which I picked up just ahead of another big rain. (I like rain, but I like it MORE when it happens outside the times when I wanna go cycling.) I got a bunch of comics for Gay May, plus an experimental novel and the tagged memoir. The Asian Heritage Month display called to me, too, and I chose one cookbook to take away. #gaymay

And now, readerly joy! I loved this YA romance about a trio of queer teenage actors navigating their way through K-drama roles and Seoul adventures and the perils of existing in a society where most of the older generation is actively homophobic. Lyla Lee strikes a good balance between the delight they all take in one another and the very real threats to their careers and their relationships with their parents. #gaymay

And now, some readerly disappointment.

THE BAKER AND THE BARD has extremely cute art. Unfortunately, it doesn‘t match the energy the script puts out. It wants to be a very specific sort of thing, in the same vein as K. O‘Neill‘s work, but it lacks the little details and narrative flow that‘d bring it all together into an affecting package.

There‘s potential here, but the execution could‘ve been much better. #gaymay

Second read of Gay May! I liked this interdimensional novella a lot, but it‘s very much the first part of a serial rather than a full story with a resolution. It‘s always nice to spend time in Dunedin, though, and to meet toast-bunny-monster-pet thingies. #gaymay

THIS BOOK STARTS OUT FRICKIN ADORABLE WITH THE CHARACTERS BOUNCING OFF EACH OTHER ABOUT CHEESE AND FASHION AND DOGS AND FRIENDSHIP, AND THEN IT GETS HEARTBREAKING WITH BRIE PROCESSING FEELINGS AND IDEAS HER SOCIETY HAS TOLD HER ARE IMPOSSIBLE, AND THE ART IS SO GREAT, AND THE WORLD IS SO COOL, AND I LOVED IT SO DAMNED MUCH I WANNA SCREAM ABOUT IT ALL DAY. 5 STARS. #gaymay

This week‘s library haul consists of the final volume of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and some exciting stuff for Gay May. I‘m amazed the librarians processed A SWEET STING OF SALT so quickly. They normally drag their feet on anything genre, but I guess they‘ve decided this one‘s literary enough to merit better treatment.

Then again, THE BAKER AND THE BARD has been out less than two months, too. Maybe they‘ve checked their genre processing bias. #gaymay