Welcome to Litsy!

This book 😍 I have been wanting to read it since it was published and I‘m so glad #ALSpine finally got me to. This is my favorite form of writing: one novel made up of short stories that connect. It worked so well. I was equally intrigued by all characters and wondering how the story would weave kept me from putting it down. Another #ALS book to probably make my top of the year. I‘m just going to stick to #ALS books to ensure great reads!

#Top23of23. Thinking of @Cinfhen today as I post my top reads of 2023. So many of these, if not all, came from Litsy reviews, #AuldLangSpine, etc. Looking forward to exploding my TBR from everyone‘s list. Thanks @BarbaraBB for keeping it going.

This book was 11 years in the making and I think it would have been incredibly hard to write an unbiased account of all the players in Roe v Wade. I think Prager did that. It is long. I listened on audio, got lost a couple of times and cringed a bit at some of the descriptions. It is complete account of the woman behind Roe, her family and children as well as the religious leaders and politicians of the time. Another great pick from my #ALS list

#Bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

I finally got a full board. 😊 This has been an incredible month, I've read some great books and whittled through the tbr. All the fab challenges helped #als #aam #buddyreads #serieslove2023 #Booked2023 #Roll100 and my own #NaturaLitsy group
Many thanks for hosting @monalyisha @Soubhiville @Cinfhen @alisiakae @BarbaraTheBibliophage @PuddleJumper @Librarybelle

I often have the reading version of “my eyes are bigger than my stomach,” so I didn‘t read near as many as I had wanted, but I‘m really happy with what I did read (and look forward to finishing the #ALS list throughout the year!). The tagged was a standout. Keegan‘s work settles deep in my heart. And Wayward, I have a lot of thinking to do about. I really enjoyed getting to know you @monalyisha and reading your faves of 2022. Thanks for hosting ⬇️

Wayward felt like a snapshot of 2016. I didn‘t necessarily want to go back to those days - they give me anxiety 🙃. I finished this last night, and it‘s going to take time to process before adequately reviewing. It poked at uncomfortable points - who I am and who I will be as a white woman, mother/daughter relationships, etc. Lily‘s home felt like respite for me as a reader, as it was for Sam and Ally. I‘ll be thinking about this for a while. #ALS

Keegan‘s books are different than any I have read. They contain multitudes: small but mighty, dealing with hard issues but somehow leave me feeling calm and peaceful. Characters who are every day people but have such depth to them. They are stories that stick with me. Foster is no different. I also appreciate some of her male characters - they aren‘t perfect but they are good. I hope there are many more small books to add to my Keegan collection.

I always WANT to read more poetry but am afraid I‘ll have to think too hard and the meaning will go over my head. I‘m so glad I picked this up first for #AuldLangeSpine. It hit me in the feels so many times. It‘s meaning was evident - it demanded me to think about it but in a deeply reflective way. Each poem was great, but some caught my breath, some made me sob, and some felt uncomfortable because they were way too personal. (Cont ⬇️)

Starting this #ALS read tonight. This paragraph is the whole first page, and I‘m intrigued.

Oh holy f***. My husband and I were having a conversation tonight about feeling like it‘s time to start saying no to some things that are good for the greater good so we have some more time for the things that strengthen our souls and bring us joy. And doing it without feeling guilt. And then I read this, about sometimes making a decision that rubs up against our values for humanity. Choosing one love over another. It made my eyes leak. A lot 😭