Litsy

Harrogate Library and Customer Services Centre | Harrogate, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom (Library)

Took an #audiowalk to my local library this morning, whilst listening to one #ToBlonglist book (Caul Baby).

Did a spot of weightlifting on the way home as managed to find 6 (mainly hardback!) books from the longlist.

I really should visit the real-life library more often, instead of relying on Libby… I really didn‘t expect to find so many #ToB books. There are a few more too that are currently out on loan so I‘ll need to request those.

Megabooks, Cinfhen, BarbaraBB, Ruthiella

Cinfhen Woohoo 🙌🏻 That‘s awesome!!! I MISS going to the library SO MUCH!!!! Happy reading 🤓Keep us posted on your #ToBLongList thoughts 10h

TrishB Great mornings work 👍🏻 10h

Caroline2 Oh I saw outlawed on a kindle deal this morning. I‘m umming and ahhing as to whether I‘d like it as it sounds a bit weird?! 🤔 9h

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squirrelbrain Now I‘ve actually got some ‘proper‘ work to do @TrishB - how dare they when I have books to read?! 🤣 9h

squirrelbrain Depends @Caroline2 …. If it was 99p I‘d just go for it anyway! 🤷‍♀️ 9h

Crazeedi What's the #ToBLongList? And I'm happy to see Carnegie library in your country!! He did leave a legacy 9h

squirrelbrain @Crazeedi - apparently there are a lot of Carnegie libraries in the UK. ToB is the Tournament of Books, a kind of knock-out competition for books. It‘s my first year playing along. 8h

MicheleinPhilly Good Neighbors is TERRIBLE. I‘d put that one at the lowest priority. 8h

BarbaraBB Gorgeous library and that haul is very attractive too! 8h

squirrelbrain Oh dear @MicheleinPhilly - I haven‘t heard anything bad about that one before! 😬 At least I should be better at bailing if it‘s a library book rather than one I paid for….. ETA - just looked at yours and @vivastory reviews - oh dear…! (edited) 8h

vivastory 🤣 I'll be *shocked* if Good Neighbors makes the shortlist. Months later it remains one of the worst I've read this year. 7h

vivastory That's great you found a lot on the long list! I placed holds on several yesterday. I hope to read the entire shortlist like I did this year 7h

MicheleinPhilly Scott and I seem to be in the minority. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6h

Ruthiella Great haul and good tip about looking into hard copies from the library when the ebooks are either not available or the hold lists too long. 👍 5h

squirrelbrain I‘m hoping that the books I‘m able to find / read will be on the shortlist @vivastory - with the exception of the dreaded Good Neighbors of course! 🤣 4h

67 likes15 comments

squirrelbrain

Afterparties: Stories | Anthony Veasna So

I just tried this on audio but had the bail after only a few minutes. The narrator pronounced ‘the‘ as ‘vuh‘ and the word ‘booth‘ (as in a cafeteria booth) as ‘boof‘. I couldn‘t cope!

I hadn‘t checked my actual real-life library for any #ToB books, only Libby and Scribd, and it seems they have a few. This is one of them although it‘s on loan for the next few weeks, but at least I can read a hard copy and pronounce words properly in my head! 🤣

Megabooks, Cinfhen, BarbaraBB, Ruthiella

Cinfhen This was an Audible deal yesterday, and I had to pass after listening to a sample. I believe it‘s read by the author but his accent was difficult to understand 😥 I‘m sure it‘s great in print!! I‘m NOT a fan of short stories so this will probably be a pass for me if it makes the shortlist (edited) 1d

squirrelbrain I checked my Audible too @Cinfhen, in case it was a different narrator, but it‘s the same. (It‘s not the author - it‘s someone called Jason Sean) 1d

Cinfhen I see that now. 😉 1d

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BarbaraBB I want to read this because of its cover and @Megabooks review long ago. But I‘ll maken sure not to read it in audio! 1d

Megabooks It is a good book, and @Cinfhen about half are interwoven, I know you like those better. @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I generally prefer to read short stories in print, so I‘m glad this was a #botm choice! Sorry the audio was 💩 (edited) 1d

Cinfhen Hmmmm, that does change things @Megabooks 1d

julesG Makes my ears bleed just reading about it. 1d

Ruthiella Will definitely read in print then! 23h

Crazeedi @squirrelbrain did you erase??? 15h

squirrelbrain @Crazeedi no I haven‘t touched it, although maybe Jules has seen it too as she‘s an hour earlier than me so may have seen it. 15h

Crazeedi @squirrelbrain a new one up, and cant find the other, so she must have 15h

Crazeedi @squirrelbrain thank you Helen. I'm so stupid. I never fail to screw up my month!! 15h

squirrelbrain No worries @Crazeedi - at least it‘s sorted now! 😘 I only noticed as Caroline is a good friend of mine! 😁 (edited) 14h

57 likes13 comments

squirrelbrain

A Spindle Splintered | Alix E. Harrow

pick

I‘ve never read any ‘twisted‘ or revised fairy tales before, so this was a new genre to me. I wasn‘t sure before I started but figured it was only short (3.5 hours on audio) so I might as well give it a go.

This is based on Sleeping Beauty and, actually, I really enjoyed it. I do think it‘s a bit simplistic / basic for the #ToB though; there‘s nothing particularly groundbreaking/special about it but maybe that‘s just because it‘s not my genre.

Megabooks, Cinfhen, BarbaraBB, Ruthiella

Cinfhen Ohhh, a short audio…that‘s my jam 🎶😁 1d

Ruthiella I put this one on hold at the library. I‘ve heard good things and the length definitely encourages me to try it! Retold fairytales aren‘t really my thing either, but I am willing to be converted. 1d

BkClubCare I thought it was fun. 🤩 1d

Megabooks I hate retold fairy tales, so I‘ll take a pass unless it makes the shortlist. Great review! 1d

70 likes4 comments

squirrelbrain

The Woman in the Purple Skirt: A Novel | Natsuko Imamura

pick

#ToB

The woman in the yellow cardigan is watching the woman in the purple skirt…why?

This started off quirky-weird (like Convenience Store Woman) and I wanted to know more. The last third was just weird-weird and I‘m not sure what the aim of the book was. I think it‘s about obsession but it left me rather unsatisfied and it wouldn‘t make my shortlist.

Still a pick - just. I‘d give it a go though @Jee_HookedOnBookz - you might love it!

Megabooks, Cinfhen, BarbaraBB, Ruthiella

squirrelbrain I also tried this one today but it‘s about a degenerative nerve disease which hits a bit too close to home for me. I knew before I started and thought I‘d be Ok but bailed after 30 minutes of audio. I think others will like it though.

Nervous System: A Novel

Ruthiella Weird like humor can be tricky, right? But still a pick so I‘ll check it out. Maybe it‘ll turn out to be my kind of weird!🤪 2d

squirrelbrain It‘s really short too @Ruthiella so worth a go, I think! 2d

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BarbaraBB I enjoyed this one a lot. So Japanese! 2d

Cinfhen It‘s available on #Scribd but I have to wait until my new month starts on December 4 2d

Megabooks Same @BarbaraBB ! 2d

Jee_HookedOnBookz Ok :) Thank you for the tag! I'll check it out. Waiting for the price to drop 😅 19h

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Trashcanman

World's Greatest Bookstores: 100 Postcards Celebrating the Most Beloved Bookshops | Bob Eckstein

100 Notable Books of 2021 https://nyti.ms/3xethwi

What do you think about this list?

TrishB I can‘t read it here! 3d

squirrelbrain On the fiction list there appears to be a lot of crossover with #ToB. I‘ve read quite a few of those, or have them on my imminent TBR. The NF has a lot more I haven‘t heard of and will have to investigate. 3d

squirrelbrain @TrishB - I just put my email address in and it let me in. 3d

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Crazeedi I wasn't really impressed with the list, but my tastes are different I guess 3d

TrishB @squirrelbrain ta 👍🏻 3d

Karkar I have about 40 of these in my TBR. 📚💸 3d

batsy A bit predictable! 3d

4thhouseontheleft I like it better than the goodreads choice awards nominees. 2d

32 likes8 comments

squirrelbrain

Forecast | Chris Keith

A joint #bookreport and #weeklyforecast this week; completely forgot yesterday..(too busy reading! 🤣)

Top row: books I read before the #readingretreat. All were great apart from Tides, which was just OK.
Middle row: books I read on the retreat. Didn‘t like the Whitehead but the others were fab. Still to review Wolves.
Bottom row: suffering from major retreat hangover now so Stolen Ones will be a great palate cleanser ⬇️

Cinfhen

squirrelbrain Listened to most of this one on the way home, only half an hour to go. It‘s on the #ToB longlist.

The Woman in the Purple Skirt: A Novel

Cathythoughts These all look interesting! I‘ve ordered Wolves.. so looking forward to it & to your review 3d

Jee_HookedOnBookz Been wanting to read The Woman in the Purple Skirt! Looking forward to reading your thoughts! 3d

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OutAndAbout Just caught up on all the #readingretreat goodness. Looks like a fabulous time! And now I have a whole new bucket list item to get to Gladstone‘s for a weekend! 3d

squirrelbrain @Jee_HookedOnBookz - I‘ll let you know! 3d

squirrelbrain @OutAndAbout - we‘ll be doing another one next year; you should try to join us. 3d

Cinfhen Welcome home!!! Your #ReadingRetreat looked FABULOUS and you actually read a lot !! Wonderful 3d

69 likes7 comments

squirrelbrain

Harlem Shuffle: A Novel | Colson Whitehead

so-so

This one wasn‘t for me. There were too many characters and a lot going on but, at the same time, nothing really happened.

I can‘t say I‘ve loved any of Whitehead‘s books that I‘ve read so far; maybe I should give up now! liked Nickel Boys but not Underground Railroad. #unpopularopinion

This is definitely my least favourite of the #ToB longlist so far.

Megabooks, Cinfhen, BarbaraBB, Ruthiella

Megabooks I bailed on this and I‘m not sorry! 4d

Caroline2 Yeah, I found underground really hard work and I ended up skim reading the second half. Think I‘ll skip this one too then. 👍 4d

Amiable I thought “Underground Railroad” was OK but didn‘t enjoy “Nickel Boys.” I‘m not rushing to pick this one up. 4d

Cinfhen I appreciated both Railroad & Nickel Boys but found Harlem Shuffle to similar to Deacon King Kong and that one was way more engaging & entertaining. This was a so-so for me too!! 4d

Ruthiella I‘m still gonna read it, but later if it doesn‘t make the shortlist. I want to be a Whitehead completionist. 4d

76 likes5 comments

squirrelbrain

Untitled | Unknown

Here‘s my list of #ToB books that I can‘t get on Libby or Scribd. (Yes, #spreadsheetgeek strikes again!)

I have one credit due next week so any thoughts on which one I should go for? I‘m thinking The Echo Wife but happy to take any other recommendations….

Megabooks, Cinfhen, BarbaraBB, Ruthiella

Ruthiella Based the reviews from @Megabooks and @Cinfhen , I think The Echo Wife would be a good choice. 🤔 However, since Hell of a Book won the National Book Award, that might have a more likely shot at making the shortlist. (edited) 6d

BarbaraBB So many good ones! I‘d agree with @Ruthiella on Hell of a Book if you want to be efficient 😉 6d

Hooked_on_books The Echo Wife is so good! Plus I really liked Hell of a Book, Several People are Typing, and Outlawed. I wasn‘t as big a fan of Good Neighbors. (edited) 6d

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Cinfhen Ohhh, I‘m conflicted!!! I really liked Echo Wife but it‘s on the short side…use your credit for a longer book…I‘m super excited for this one, even though I didn‘t enjoy Night Watchman

The Sentence

Hooked_on_books Actually, I went back and looked and it seems like a quite liked Good Neighbors, so I‘m not sure why I thought I didn‘t as much. 🤔 Maybe that‘s telling. 5d

Megabooks Several people are typing is hilarious, but not sure if it‘s worth a credit. Echo wife was very good as was Nightbitch. I preferred Nightbitch of those two. I agree that hell of a book would probably be a safe choice for making the shortlist, but I haven‘t read it. 5d

Megabooks @Cinfhen starting the sentence this morning! 👍🏻 5d

Cinfhen Ohhhh @Megabooks in print or audio?? 5d

Megabooks @Cinfhen audio! 5d

squirrelbrain Thanks for all your thoughts everyone! @Ruthiella @BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen , although I‘m still undecided! I‘ll wait to see what you think of The Sentence, Meg, as I don‘t get my credit until next week, then I might go for Hell of a Book…. 🤷‍♀️ 5d

Cinfhen Keep us posted!! 5d

66 likes11 comments

BarbaraBB

Still Life | Sarah Winman

#weeklyforecast 47/21

I started Still Life and the beginning is gooood! I am also starting My Life in Doha for #ReadingAsia2021 and will be trying to read a book from the #ToB22 longlist each week until the shortlist is announced. Looking forward to all of these!

Cinfhen

Cinfhen Ohhh, good idea regarding #ToB 💕💕 1w

TrishB Enjoy ♥️ 1w

squirrelbrain I thought the beginning of Still Life was a bit slow, then suddenly I was captivated so it‘s only going to get better! 1w

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emmaturi I enjoyed Still Life very much 1w

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @emmaturi Looking forward to It! 1w

Vansa I absolutely loved Still Life.Beautiful and moving, and so heart warming 1w

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BkClubCare

Hell of a Book | Jason Mott

Um, I am overwhelmed. It‘s the start of the holiday season and people want my time and my pies and all I want to do is read. This just came from the library; I have two ebooks from the library and less than 2 weeks to read all! Yikes. Grant me the focus to keep my nose in a book! (Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary and hub wants to run around town and “play”…) #NatlBookWinner #tob #tob2022
Photo is #tob2022longlist analysis & strategy

BkClubCare Bailing on #nonfictionnovember and possibly the #bookspinbingo! 😱 2w

Ruthiella Happy Anniversary! 🥂❤️🥳 2w

BkClubCare @Ruthiella - thank you 😊 Letter to you in today‘s mail. 2w

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