Compelling story of a young woman forced to become a Sin Eater as punishment for theft. Part conspiracy thriller, murder mystery and part commentary on power, and what it means to be feared or “undesireable”. The ending felt all at once toO quickly wrapped up and open ended that makes be think there might be a continuation of the story. Overall a great read.

Been listening/reading to this of and on for about at week and have been struggling. The narrator is overdoing it so much I can't hear what she's saying past her forced musicality. It's completely wrong for the topic. Will probably switch to pbk as I keep wanting to highlight and make notes anyway.

This collection was so well done. Huge props to all the writers who wrote about a painful impossible topic with deep intelligence, anger, humor, reflection and vulnerability. It is a difficult read. It articulates so many complex ideas while simultaneously making me feel less alone. I wish every one would read this. #metoo

This. Book. Chung has written a memoir that feels like we had been meeting on some imaginary plane since childhood. Talking about things we could never voice allowed when all the world wants Adoptees to “just be grateful and happy”, sparing themselves of the complexities of adoption (especially Transracial adoption) that adoptees can‘t bypass. Her confusion and sorrow are real and raw, though thankfully not overwhelming. Pre-ordered already.

I am so happy I got an AR of this. Nicole Chung is one among many talented adoptee authors that I follow. Her writing is always thoughtful and empathetic even when critical. I needed hear a strong adoptee voice especially after the horrible news about Devonte Hart and his siblings last week.

Feeling very grateful to have her out here telling her story.

This was an incredible debut. I am not usually emotionally overwhelmed by books but Xiomara was so real and raw and I felt so much for her and with her. Midway through the book I gave up trying not to cry and pretty much didn't stop till the acknowledgements.

This was so good. I wasn't scared like a lot of people have posted but still thoroughly engaged. Michelle McNamara was a tireless investigator and amazing writer. Hopefully this renewed public interest will lead to GSK's capture.

Also pictured: kitty Earnest, fellow Murderino. #SSDGM #littenkitten #catsoflitsy

Aren't we all?

This is so sad.

Just realized I can't go to Levar Burton Reads bc I have to work a library event that night. Library events are worth it but this by no means negates the need to self-soothe. Also, I have no self-control.

My phone didn‘t register the time change until yesterday, AFTER I was an hour late for work. I woke up so refreshed & was amazed at how warm/sunny it was - I should‘ve known it was too good to be true. Today I am wrecked by fatigue. But then I got #bookmail & #teamail, and so far the cats haven‘t vomited up the grass I got to distract them from the other plants. All of which improves the situation significantly. #daylightsavingsproblems

I really appreciate and love Debbie Reese‘s work at American Indians in Children‘s Literature. It isn‘t often she talks about the Adult book world but today she posted about News of the World by Paulette Jiles. https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2018/03/some-questions...

Is 10:15 pm to late to start a new book? What am I even saying? If it is I certainly don‘t care.

Currently Reading: not quite a 3rd finished but so far this is excellent. I really hope more people read this and reconsider the pedestal GW has been put on (can we stop calling them founders and call them colonizers & slaveholders already?). The lengths the Washington‘s go to to not only capture runaways but also to circumvent new laws promising freedom are appalling. Not surprising but terrible nonetheless. #audiobook

This was so very good. I listened to it on audiobook and will probably buy the hard copy because there is so much I want to mark and highlight in here. Seriously, a must read.

Bc I cannot resist @Powells when they have a sitewide 30% off sale. 📚

Got this on netgalley - so excited to dive in.

I put up the bird feeder for the, you know, birds. Also the cats like watching them. But this Squirrel just mission-impossibled its' way down the outer screen and jumped into the feeder. 😒 Gonna have to rethink placement.

Oh man this is so good. I usually struggle with sci-fi because I'm a little slow when it comes to grasping world-building but so far I am loving this trilogy. I can't wait to finish Stone Sky and then watch the whole thing when the series comes out.

I got to see Malinda Lo and Kate Elliott in convo last week and ended up reading this in a sitting later that night. I want to read it again. It was great reading it after a conversation that touched on "unlikeable female characters" and what girls/women are allowed/expected to exhibit to be considered likeable. That said - I really liked the protagonist - Jess is trying to figure out so many things - and I just couldn't not feel/root for her.

Ended up migrainkng 🤕pretty badly today so had to switch my format to audio books and avoid screen time. But I did get 2 books finished and a good chunk into two others. Will put up reviews when I'm doing better. #deweyreadathon hope everyone had a good time!

In the last 2 years there has been a newly published edition of Parables is Sower/Talents. Last years are on the right side, this years on the left. As a birthday 🎁 I to myself I am getting them just not sure which ones.My instinct is to buy the ones on the right (aren‘t they stunning) but it seems weird that they redid the covers so quickly and I want to know if anything else is redone. Which should I get?

I don‘t know if anyone else had trouble with Sci-Fi like I do. It takes me a while to adjust to the world building and figure out what the conventions are so I‘m usually timid about starting a book. Audiobooks or having my husband read aloud helps a lot. Anyway - we just finished this and I am stunned. The world she has made is stunning in its strangeness and familiarity. I immediately ordered the rest of the trilogy.

I won't be using this promotional material at my library. While I am sure the books are good reads the list is overwhelmingly white and heteronormative. I know for a fact (thank you netgalley) that there are a lot - not a few - ALOT of incredible books coming out this summer by poc and lgbtqia authors and they are barely - if at all - represented here. 🙄 I don't know why I expected more but I did. #wndb #bookscoop

Just a rehash of pretty much every self help book ever. She asked for an open mind and I went along with her on the higher power, affirmations, inner child, and cosmic energy stuff but I draw the line at saying people who are depressed are just wallowing in victimhood or are attention seekers and *could* snap out of it. Nope to the mother-fucking nope.

Back porch chillin' Easing my way back into reading after a migraine with this historical romance. A lovely way to start a new week.

Started this in hour 7 and am close to finished. She made my heart hurt from the get-go. #thereadingwomen #deweyreadathon #readathon

This is actually the first book I've read by Solnit though I've read individual pieces by her before and it is incredible. I am constantly amazed at how she is able to write so beautifully about such very dense and complicated topics. There is and abundance of information but there is also humor and lyricism. I read a few of these essays out loud to my husband and we had a lot of great conversations because of it. #deweysreadathon #readathon

An aside:

Last night watching Great British Bake Off

Him: I found out something today. You know the drawer under the oven that we keep pots and pans in? It's not for pots and pans. You put...

Me: Wait - THAT'S the MF-ing proving drawer?!?!?

Flying through this for #deweysreadathon #readathon

Welp, guess I better get to bed. #dewesyreadathon

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng was a beautiful book that has stayed with me for years.

This was so good. 7 short stories of North Koreans living under dictatorship. Bandi is not coy in his writings, his stories are nothing short of cries of dissent. What stands out for me is his anger, not just for himself but, for his fellow citizens caught up in this decades long impossible situation. #GRABBYHANDS #stagetruth

Even self-soothing with tea and butterscotch pie can't make this book less bleak. It's really, really good but so very sad.

This is our bed, or bower as I've taken to calling it. I love being surrounded by books even as I sleep.

"Because - how do you explain that it is never inspiration that drives you to tell a story, but rather a combination of anger and clarity?"

I am so excited to read this and am so effing proud of what my fellow Colombian adoptees are doing. All proceeds from this book go toward funding DNA kits for Colombian adoptees and first families. #adopteesrock 💖🇨🇴🌹🇨🇴💖

This book. This woman. Irby is (insert all the expletives) incredible. One moment she has you gasp-cackling so hard that you will be utterly shocked when she breaks your heart in the next.

I've been in the depths of a reading slump and am finally, slowly, dragging myself out of it. This, so far, has been the perfect choice for reentry.

This was so, so good. Seriously, if you can see it - do.

I swear to god, if anybody ever returned a personal book to me in this shape I would cut a bitch.

Got to go to a Paul Auster reading today. I was super wiped out from work but he was worth it.

I love Binti so much. She is a hero and does impossible things but still struggles with her identity, walking the line between parental/cultural expectations and her desires. The writing is excellent - Okorafor even makes math seem whimsical and vibrant. I really hope I don't have to wait long for the next book. #arc

I forgot how much I love this little book. I wanted to do a quick reread before I jumped into my ARC of Home (Binti #2) and was swept away. The world is so lush and Binti herself is someone I wish I knew. Hard to believe that it's less than 100 pages. If you love sci-fi and worldbuilding with unique well developed characters you need to be reading Okorafor.

I don't know if any of you saw the story in Vanity Fair a couple days ago re: Carolyn Bryant recanting the story she told that lead to Till's murder and definitely aided in the acquittal of his murderers but that interview is in this book. That said, Tyson lays out very clearly that any recanting is mere formality in a case that was clearly doomed from the get-go. Alternately illuminating and gut wrenching, a definite must read. #arc

"After all, how do you give a crash course in hatred to a boy who has only known love?" This book is infuriating and heartbreaking - there are some jaw-dropping quotes that clarify the events and people's behavior so well.

"Was this a true story? I don't know. But I do know this: Somewhere between the fact we know and the anxiety we feel is the reality we live."

This was so much fun. And anxiety inducing. Neuvel manages to get so much out of characters through a format that seems like it would be cold and distant. Really, really great follow up to Sleeping Giants. #arc #vozalta

Earnest may just be my most faithful reading partner yet. #catsoflitsy