Welcome to Litsy!

Both read for #AuthorAMonth. I‘ve already posted about The Rose Code.
The Phoenix Crown didn‘t pull me in right from the start but I‘m glad I gave it a chance. Set around the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, it follows the story of four women. Last year I read another book about this event, Outrun the Moon by Stacy Lee (#SUNDAYBUDDYREAD), & loved it! I think once I stopped comparing this book to that one, it was more enjoyable.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Pick - while the plot is a bit slow/steady - the women at the center of the story & their friendship is just so lovely and wholesome. I‘d read more about their lives if I could. I definitely think Quinn is an author for me (& her coauthor on this Chang as well!). #AuthorAMonth

Photo is of the kingfisher bird feathers from Google central to the headpiece prop in the story. Not partial to birds - at all lol - but they are quite pretty.

Whether or not you‘ve worked with divas in the arts, this is pretty hilarious…and right on the mark. 😅 #AuthorAMonth

Starting the month with #AuthorAMonth 👑

Thanks again to @Soubhiville for running this challenge and for my prize. This title was what I was planning to read for April all along. 💖

Preliminary April TBR — audiobooks not included obvi. 💖🤘🏻 📚

#AuthorAMonth - the tagged
BOTM titles from Feb & March - need to catch up 😅

I‘ve never read a Kate Quinn book I didn‘t like! This was a unique setting and time period to her other books and I enjoyed reading more about the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. I also enjoyed how Quinn and Chang wrote two different perspectives, better filling out the multiple facets of this time and place. Definitely recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The story was well executed. It tackled the complex issue of gentrification (specifically in a Chinatown context) in an accessible way. At the end of the book, there were a few pages with background information on Chinatowns, gentrification, community activism, and a short note on the language used (Chinese dialogue is used throughout the story).

Full Review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/review-noodle-bao/

Loved this! It's set in San Francisco at the time of the 1906 earthquake.

This is my favorite book of Quinn's that I've read (haven't read them all yet) and the first of Chang's that I've read (will be reading more).