This almost never happens, but I'm kind of savoring it for now before diving into anything. Lately it feels like even when I like a book I'm not excited and connected to it, so I'm going to contemplate my next pick before diving in

This book has been on my radar for a while, so I snapped it up as soon as I found it on hoopla. It's an exploration of race through a white woman's perspective as she navigates a dual race family. I admit a few sections the pacing felt off and there were times the main character was frustrating, but the section where she reflects on how in 1999 things are certainly getting better and we live in a prosperous and equal time, was spot on.

I'm bound and determined to finish this book this week, I'm almost halfway finished. Got a cuddle buddy who will not leave my side as I read this morning.

Another fabulous house seen on my #audiowalk today. Book is alright so far. A bit slow to start but it's picking up.

This book combines ancient Egyptian history with modern Egyptian history with a big dash of memoir and language study. A pleasure to read thus far!

I wish this had been better organized. His story is certainly interesting, but the book feels really scattered. Some sections went on much too long and there are other sections I'd love to have heard more about. Listened on audio, here's a shot from a walk.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new tote so much! With my new job, I'm back to primarily commuting via public transportation, so this bag is just perfect for that! I started my May #botm as well and it was a great start to the day.

Passed this lovely home while #audiowalking today and listening to the tagged book. It's for readharder. #litsywalkers

This is genius. So sharp and wistful and clever and lonely all in just over 100 pages.

This is all the more poignant as we know that her son died young and she immediately miscarried her pregnancy after his death. 😭

Had a terrific time celebrating #indiebookstoreday at four great Chicago bookstores with @WhatDeeReads , @cdreincarnate and @atlasclouded plus another non litsy friend. Definitely going to binge read the top book on this pile, which I've tagged, tonight.

Reminds me so much of Asymmetry but not as interesting to read IMO. I couldn't connect with these kids at all, and the ending didn't pull it together. Interesting concept though.

Spoiler alert! Pretty sure this is a may #botm choice. Any others out there?

Here's a picture of peanut. With the exception of a few books, this month has been a total slump. I've lost all interest in my hobbies as I deal with severe work and personal stress. Help! How do I get motivated to do something I enjoy again?

I'm really not doing well these past few days, horrible cold. Tried to read Black Leopard Red Wolf but that book is pretty complex and I'm just not up for that level of narrative challenge right now. Giving this a shot instead.

I have a pretty bad cold this weekend, so staying in and trying to read as much as I can of this book. I might be too sick to focus on it though... it's pretty complex!

Outstanding. I didn't know who Marie was but her life sounded fascinating so I picked this up. The author balances her personal and professional life well, you end the book feeling you have a good sense of her as a person. What a life! I hated putting it down, I will have to pick up the collection of her writing that was published posthumously. I'll read just about anything regarding war reporting, and I'm so glad I learned about her.

I'm halfway through this, and it's FANTASTIC, get it on your radar folks!!!

I just adopted this sweet girl after an intense and stressful week. I hope she becomes friends with winnie. Winnie seems lonely when she's alone for too long. Her name is peanut!

Hey littens. Been going through a lot lately. Just wanted to say I love the mental escape of this platform. Going to try to read a bit more of this book. To be honest I'm not loving it, but will give it a bit more.

1. I guess the 90s? But could I be an adult this time and not a teen? Would I survive adulthood without modern technology? 🤔
2. Hardcover. I don't know why really.
3. Well older now because i'm turning 37 today.
4. No, more like 600+.
#friyayintro @howjessreads

I want to read all 5 this month PLUS the nonfiction add ons, but i'm only choosing 1 as i'm a little behind on #botm and want to get all caught up this spring.

Congressional ban on funding research on the health impact of firearms. Wow.

I'm trying so hard to focus on reading these days but i'm struggling. I've been interviewing a bunch for a new job, had an offer I declined last week, am getting an offer tomorrow, and then taking a final interview for yet another job Wednesday. And stressed about passing my job on to the next person. I can't focus!

Winnie wants you to know i'm reading survival math and it's really complex and interesting!!! She's not grumpy, just drowsy!

Letting Lana speak for me. I appreciate the intent on this critical topic, but this book felt disorganized, and too much like a literary art project to really bring the reader in. Also perpetuates the "vanishing Indian" trope

This was everything I wanted from a Karamo memoir and then some. It's great to hear about his upbringing, his current family and how he got into queer eye, but it's exceptional to hear about his experience with abusive relationships, his thoughts on the intersection of colorism and gender, and his reconciliation with Christianity.

If you think i'm going to drop everything else i'm reading to binge read this, you're absolutely right.

Omg I loved this book so much. It's not a thriller. It's a character driven study of sisters and mothers, of ideology, of being a black woman in a white man's space, of being a black non-african in Africa. The main character was strong, smart, passionate and clear.

Such an odd book. Yeah it's about gigging for an ensemble that air-plays over pre recorded music, but it's also about how deeply americans wanted to bury their heads in the sand in the post-9/11 years. I do like her writing style and the mixing of first and second person, but thought this was edited strangely-- instances of describing a thing that was already described, as if it's the reader's first time coming across it....

Alright, bit the bullet. I'll add on What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker later this spring. #botm

Help! I'm split between these 2 add on books. I don't want to add on 2, just one. I picked Lot as my main selection. #botm

This book is NOT getting enough attention. It's the memoir of a teenager inspired to action when her cousin is killed by family to preserve honor in Pakistan. It's also a love story, a father/daughter bonding, a story of arranged childhood marriage, a story of change and hope. Only complaint was it was too short at just under 200 pages. Despite that, read this and immerse yourself in another culture.

A chilly #litsywalkers session today, I forgot to wear my step counter🤦‍♀️ I started this new collection on audio, so far it's just alright.

What a pleasant way to spend a snowy day, reading this memoir. I liked MO before this book and like her even more after. I hate to say it but I think their family is the last presidential family in my lifetime that won't be born with a silver spoon in their mouth, and because of that, this insight into political life is very valuable.

Our library has a "hot picks" shelf that's first come, first serve. No holds allowed. I was lucky to find Becoming there the other day after months of being on hold for the regular circulation edition. Have been enjoying binge reading it today!

#litsywalkers finished this audiobook today on a snowy, slippery walk. Only walked from my gym to home-- thought about going further but too icy.
This book gives the reader a sense of modern Lagos. The corruption, hustle and ingenuity that coexist. At times I thought maybe the author is trying to do too much with too many characters, but I think that sense of chaos the reader gets is meant to evoke the chaos Lagos brings. A worthy read!

What a beautiful story of a complicated family. I loved how the family's religion played a large role in the book, the author is so eloquent when she writes about religion, love, regrets. I do think this could have been a wee bit shorter and I wish the middle sister had been more involved in the story. Good luck not crying. It's a terrific book, great debut.

Winnie had her bloodwork checkup this morning and now we're settled in for a few hours of reading before my #litsywalkers session. I have a fantastic bunch out from the library currently, so I gotta get reading!

After my elliptical workout at the y for #litsywalkers yesterday, we hit up the seafood dive bar in our town for $13 lobster. I'm really enjoying this book, it is meandering, but entertaining and really makes me feel like i'm in Lagos.
Probably no walk today, ny hip is a little sore. But I've had 4 days of good workouts in a row. Ready to go hard saturday and sunday.

Welp it's a snowy icy storm again here in chicago, but I did get in over 12k steps today between the gym and a walk to book club before the wind picked up! I didn't get any pictures though. #litsywalkers

Fantastically well researched history of killings in Osage country to obtain oil rights. I was drawn in from the first few pages and can't wait to discuss in book club tomorrow. I don't know why this #botm choice from nearly 2 years ago was overlooked this long, but i'm glad I finally got to it and highly recommend it.

Finishing this fantastic selection for library book club tomorrow night!

Excellent, excellent collection of oral histories from Syria. I recommend it on audio-- it's on hoopla! It gave me a lot of insight and understanding as to the war there. I finished it on my #litsywalkers walk today, which was indoors at the gym and therefore no pictures! Might go outside tomorrow weather permitting.

So there's some real beauty here, but it's overshadowed by a significant amount of graphic, blatant child sexual abuse. Male lead wasn't developed enough imo and that perhaps the author was trying to do too much with the characters here. I feel had she treated the abuse with a more obscured hand, she'd have more power with her scenes of empowerment. But because it's so graphic I can't recommend without the world's biggest trigger warning.

This is Spud. He's got a cold from life on the streets, so he's hanging out with me for a few weeks.

My sweet Ruby will be put to rest after nearly 15 years of companionship tomorrow. I'll miss her like crazy, but I know this is right. She has a rare type of cancer causing fluid in her lungs, and the odds of chemo working are very low. Since she's currently living in an oxygen chamber, it's time to end her suffering and let her join her brother. See comments

This isn't Ruby, my sick cat. This is Winnie. She's sick too, but she's been treated with diet and medicine and is currently stable. She's been a good little friend helping to cheer me up.
We believe at this point Ruby has chylothorax which is lymphatic fluid in lungs. It's been drained some and she's still at hospital awaiting ultrasound to see if there is underlying cause. I've been told she's breathing better now and resting comfortably

My ruby is very sick. She's at the overnight hospital and having a procedure done to drain fluid from her lungs. Hopefully she does well with the procedure and we can get her home for some palliative care. She is 15 so a long term recovery is not looking realistic, but it would mean a lot to get a little more time with her provided she isn't suffering.

Gritty meets Circe 🤣🤣🤣