I loved this rich, madcap but bittersweet story about a genius architect who loses faith in her talents and becomes a sort of judgmental hermit. I know how school functions can push a parent to the edge! I also know how it feels to get so lost in the mundane that you forget life is special and so are we all. The characters are all memorable, even those only hinted at.

So... I'm not really present on Facebook, except for the occasional PTA post, but I check my memories first thing when I log on. What a coincidence that 5 years ago, I had just watched this movie... yesterday I finished his biography. 😭😭😭 #CrazyCoincidence

While tallying up ticket sales for the district Safe Halloween party, I needed a decidedly happier book than my last read... the Penderwicks will absolutely help perk up the atmosphere!

A gut wrenching account of the life, trials and tribulations, and subsequent suicides of a one in a million American treasure. Williams is one of the greatest geniuses of our time and his light burned fast and furious, sputtered and was capped all too soon. This still is from What Dreams May Come, which destroyed me after his death, and is based on the Richard Matheson novel of the same name.

Ugh, ugly crying all over again. What a lonely life Williams led at the very end of his life, struggling with depression and an absentee wife who doesn't seem to given enough attention to a severely ill person. My heart hurts. Williams was the first celebrity death to make me cry, but Chris Cornell was only the second.

I sooo love this!!! Sometimes you just need to look up. ❤

The narrator of this is so spectacular!! Not that anyone can do a Robin Williams impression, he really captures the essence of the frenzied tone Williams used at the beginning of his career!

Now that the #Litsypocalypse is over, I can relax a little... After 15 hours, I ditched The Great Bridge. It was full of so much information, I was zoning out. I decided to go for this, even though I'm sure I won't be able to keep it together. ☹

Today's non reading activity... 12 years ago, @theresidentromantic was trying to give me spoilers for The Deathly Hallows at my bridal shower and today, Miss Megan became Mrs. Megan!!! 😘🤗

Desperately trying to read at the doctor's office but it's SO FLIPPING LOUD!!! Everyone's phones are blaring, the tv is blasting and the office staff is unusually loud, considering they're throwing around PHI! 😖 #grumpyoldlady

I loved this second book in the Brooklyn Bruja series! Lula tampers with the natural order of things and it has serious consequences. We learn how strong the human spirit and family bonds can be! I'm really looking forward to the next installation of this engrossing series!

I'm so loving this book so far but this line just about made my lose it!!! Kids, right??

Well... that and the annoying separate tracks on the B side of Abbey Road... 😂 I laughed out loud at that!!!

I'm really enjoying this book and I hope this series continues! My only problem, and it's not an issue with the book, is that it's in first person but by a different sister than the last book! Lol, I'm getting really confused because I read them so close together! This carousel is featured as the place where Lula & Maks had their first date, no spoilers. This is the B&B carousel on the Coney Island boardwalk, made by Marcus Illions.

Before starting on the Brooklyn Bridge, John Roebling began building suspension bridges to carry trains. This was a bridge built over the Niagara Falls whirlpool! In the 1860s and 1870s, these are amazing feats of engineering!!!

I finished a lot of these so long ago but here's my #Summer roundup for #Booked2019! I'm loving this challenge and the prompts were are spectacular! I'm excited to have kept up! Lol #genrebusting #MuslimMC #BookToMovie #GraphicNovel #GiftedToMe #DiverseMiddleGrade
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

It's no surprise that Carnivale was one of my favorite shows after having fallen in love with Binewski's Fabulon as a teenager. Follow the genetically engineered freak family as they travel the country, ruled by Arty's iron fist and Chick's big heart. Olympia, the albino dwarf hunchback, moves the story back and forth in time, while she develops a relationship with Miranda, her tenant. Secrets hide everywhere! #Booked2019 #Genrebusting

Wild swing in audiobooks from the library!! Lol... I'm in deep for 27 hours! ⛷

Finished up that Ruth Ware & grabbed this one to try. I noticed mixed reviews and I'm hoping the author's reading doesn't kill it for me. I know that can be dicey!! I pulled this out of a long list of Debbie Macomber, Jodie Picoult and naked people on covers... LOL, slim pickings if you're just looking for available audiobooks... or I'm a bit of a snob. Either way... 😤

I remember how angry I had been listening to Flo's nonsensical temper tantrums!!! Everyone was so polite to her when she blew up like a maniac! I'd have absolutely punched her in the mouth before the first day was out!!!! #OhHellNo

I bailed on Code Girls (maybe it would be easier in print 🤷‍♀️) and pulled this up for a relisten for my IRL book club.

I'm really interested in this story but I feel like the book is just all over the place. The author talks about code writing in between telling about people's lives and in differing time periods... 🤔 I'm having a tough time following.

I loved this book!! You really don't have an option to question what's going on as you're thrown into a world where Alex is a bruja and trying to reject her powers before her Deathday. Things don't work out as planned and sometimes we need to realize that what we think of as burdens are really our greatest strengths. #POCMCParanormal #Booked2019 #Autumn
@cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

Not my favorite collection but definitely something for all fans in this one. Something I always loved about these books were the notes and sources. I remember finding books through my library that were noted in Schwartz's bibliography as well! 😁

Still as good as I remember! The Wendigo was always my favorite and this was my favorite illustration! A fun introduction to horror for young readers, but I'm pretty sure you all knew that. There's always room for one more on the Alvin Schwartz bandwagon! 👻

Alice Roosevelt and I have been working through this since 7am, when my mangy mongrel of a terrier had a reverse sneezing spasm. 🙄 No way I was getting back to bed after that fiasco so why not join there Binewskis?

A bright light snuffed out way too early, Margaret Wise Brown helped revolutionize education in New York by writing education materials for students and teachers, as well as the publishing industry by introducing elegant picture books meant to connect with children depending on their age and interests. Her personal life was fraught with complicated and scandalous relationships that affected her writing and gave us the stories we treasure today.

I LOVE a children's book with an unconventional reading style! Robin is a typical kid, driving his parents up the wall with his tricks, until he gets his own space to use as he chooses. Great illustrations and a heartwarming story. #BBRC #LetterR
@LibrarianRyan

In the early days of children's publishing, many companies chose to print in 4 color style,as seen here. Brown eventually left a company in favor of Golden's full color printing. I love the way Muffin is all splotches! Books developed with children's input on sounds to be captivating and educational, Brown created the Noisy Book series. This was published in 1940. #BBRC #LetterC
@LibrarianRyan

A lovely story about life being bigger than you are but trusting in the process. This book was written about the small islands where Brown had a home in Maine. Leonard Weisgard's beautiful paintings are a must see. ❤ #BBRC #LetterL
@LibrarianRyan

I am fascinated by Brown's life and had to get some lesser known books out of the library! #Unpopularopinion but I DETEST Goodnight Moon. I now understand that Brown was inspired by Gertrude Stein's repetitive style and adapted it well for children's books. I do think she's got a wonderful imagination and The Color Kittens is an all time favorite! See below for a spoiler about Robin's Room...

Apparently Margaret Wise Brown was a New Yorker, which I didn't know. The book says she was born in Brooklyn and moved to Long Island at age 4. I got excited... then they said Beechhurst and I blurted out loud, "That's not the island, that's Queens!" Lol... technically still ON Long Island but a city borough, and a ritzy one at that. I'm not sure the island was separated as such in 1910.

I've been on dozens of roller coasters but the Cyclone will beat the living shit out of you and gloat about it!!! It's the roughest ride I've been on with the Wildcat at Hershey Park following a close second! 😬🎢😫

A good, but slow moving account of the Reverend Willie Maxwell who was suspected in the deaths of 5 family members in an insurance scam and the man who murdered Maxwell at his stepdaughter's funeral. Lee didn't feature as prominently as I would have liked but I did find out that she was a Mets fan and would travel to Shea to see them! 😍 Good for lawyers and life insurance brokers but not a casual fan. #Booked2019 #NewIn2019 #Autumn

I know she only wrote 1 book but this is really dragging along.... 😴😴😴

Fun fact: Harper Lee's first name, Nelle, is her grandmother's name spelled backwards, Ellen. She went by Harper because people pronounced her name as "Nellie" and if she told the publishers that she couldn't handle that.

An excellent ending to a great series! I read through this so quickly the first time that I didn't really remember a lot if it. Another cast of wonderful characters (Mother Dust was an instant favorite) and incredible world building that still impresses me! I can't wait to finally get to Map of Days!

So many incredible characters who didn't get their due in this book. I needed some more time with a few. I don't want to spoil anything but a great addition to the series and a great audio reread! Fun fact: I thought I hated Kirby Heyborne as a narrator because he did a book I thought was so awful. Turns out he was PERFECT for this and does wonderful British and Scottish accents, as far as my American ear can hear. ❤

I recall loving the way the story progressed but I forgot how much I began to hate Enoch and how whiny and self pitying Jacob is. 🙄 I can't wait for the twins, though!

I've not read anything about 9/11. Living through those days and ensuing months in post-9/11 New York is enough for me. So much changed that day: the city skyline, lives, people, attitudes, and feelings. I can never let go of the intense need to help in those days after, though. Hearts were so big and full of compassion. That's the NY I like to recall every year. We couldn't do enough for each other. Tell people you love them as often as you can.

I was unaware that I had signed up for a history of life insurance... 🤔

This chapter was unexpected.

Getting this started while I wait for #HollowCity to become available. I have 1 more book for #Booked2019 #summer to go and then I'm set for #Winter! #NewIn2019
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

Organized the piles in my bedroom to adult vs middle grade and realized I need to break up with the library... #MountTBR

A great book about how TR decided to take actions to create the National Parks system and preserve America's landscape and wildlife! A bit bare on some facts but great for grades 1 and 2.

Got this book at Sagamore Hill last week... incidentally, TR didn't like being called Teddy! Lol
#raisingreaders #StepIntoReading

@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft
Trying to look for this prompt has my head spinning and I feel like I'm not trying hard enough. Zombies aren't for me so Dread Nation is out, I read Kindred about 20 years ago and I'm finding lots of paranormal romance which isn't going to happen! Looking for alternate suggestions for the #POCMCParanormal prompt! #Help #InSearchOfSuggestions #LibrariansOfLitsy

Anything involving a dog always packs a gut punch. Dogs will always be too good for us and Enzo is no exception. They are smarter, more loving and more loyal than we could ever imagine. Excellent life lessons in this reread, one being "the car goes where the eyes go". Crying is mandatory.

What an absolutely adorable story!!! I loved every character but Batty was extra special. I can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the series!!!

An excellent mix of anthropology, archaeology, and a simple conversation takes place between Dr. Michael Coe and the reader. He recounts stories of traveling the world as a young Mayanist and what life was like for his family.
Finally caught up on #Booked2019 #Winter #MyHappyPlace
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

😂😂😂 I think we can all relate to this one!!! #mountTBR

Mrs. Tifton.... 😡😡😡😡😡