Welcome to Litsy!

This book was not for me but I appreciate that for others this will be one that stays with them. While fictional, it shows a window into society in Egypt.

Read for #ReadtheWorld2025 #Egypt

Adding five countries to #ReadTheWorld2025 for September and October: #Ukraine #Albania #Austria #Croatia and #Portugal, coincidentally all European.

I now have read 31 countries!

I knew so little about Liberia, its past and its customs. This was an enlightening memoir that is infused with the history of both the author and the country. Highly recommend.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Liberia

After 9/11 the narrator of this book moves from NYC to Lisbon to wait for the end of the world. He‘s waiting for his partner Cecilia in his new apartment, that very much resembles the NY one.
Described as a psychological thriller the book is much more a stream of conscience novel and I have to say I got very confused at the end. Just like the narrator. Not sure what to think.

📸 Lille, France

#ReadTheWorld2025 #31 #Portugal

Read on the recommendation of my friend‘s mom. An extensive memoir on Betancourt‘s time in captivity with the FARC. At times it felt a bit sanitized (she seemed to have more issues with fellow hostages than her captors), but I also can‘t imagine enduring what she did.

*small pot in pic is from Cartagena, Colombia.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Colombia

Such an enjoyable, short, coming-of-age novel. I feel like every girl growing up has a piece of Annie in her. I loved Annie‘s contradictory nature and the simple sentences structure.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #AntiguaandBarbuda

#BookerLonglist #6

A highly original novel about 3 Ukrainian women on a road trip with some men they keep captive while Russia invades their country. Also, they are looking for a special kind of snail. I loved the fist half and the part which is an interlude by the author herself. Then however I lost interest a bit. So many super interesting story lines and yet I felt like nothing much happened. A so-so for me.

#ReadTheWorld2025 #28 #Albania

Well-written, informative, upsetting, and inspiring. A wonderful memoir.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Afghanistan

#BookerLonglist #5

Very elegantly written, I became engaged in the book immediately I enjoyed following the narrator‘s struggle to live in NYC while she‘s still strongly rooted in the Albania she left behind. Het empathy for other refugees jeopardizes her mental wellbeing as well as her closest relationships. She moves between this empathy and self-preservation and there seems no closure. An impressive read.

#ReadTheWorld2025 #27 #Albania

Adding some new countries to #ReadTheWorld2025 in July and August: #NewZealand, #Finland, #Peru, #Pakistan, #SriLanka, #Hungary and #Sweden.

I now have covered 26 countries!