What a great book to finish 2025. Lovely, quiet, funny. I was taken by the heart at the end and tears found their way out of my eyes. One of those books that you find yourself asking the question about, “why did I take so long to read this?” But it will be one of the special few that I will revisit.

The four books I am starting with for #AuldLangSpine. I have two books that I am quickly finishing and will start with one of of these right away. @Karisa How far are you into the Gamache series? It‘s been a while since I‘ve read the last one, so I may need to refresh my memory before Reckoning.

I‘m ready for 2026 #Bookspin 🎉🎉. For some reason, I‘m really excited for 2026 reading. I‘m not sure what makes this year different, but it‘s a good feeling. I have high expectations. 2025 was a really high count for me, so I‘m looking forward to slowing down and reading books that are long and slow. And really looking forward to my #AuldLangSpine list from @Karisa

The perfect way to end Christmas Eve. And such a fitting book. Thank you my for my #jolabokaflod package @MrsGagnonreads2024 🎄📖🍫

You might think I should be posting Obama‘s book list but I was geeked out to see his music list because it is book-related. It includes I Wish I Could Go Traveling Again by Stacey Kent. The tagged book is lyrics written by the author to be sung by Stacey Kent, including the one on this list. This was one of my favorite books of the year. It is a wonderful reading/listening/looking at art experience.

Arg! I always forget to take a photo! My #jolabokaflod package has been sent and will arrive within the next week.

My #Jolabokaflod package has arrived! I did some sleuthing and think it was sent from @MrsGagnonreads2024 so let me know if I‘m wrong 😊. Looking forward to one of the best reading nights of the year!

Reasons why my #AuldLangSpine list from @Karisa is amazing:
1. The first two made my own ALS list
2. 2 others *almost* made the cut (5 & 15)
3. I‘ve been needing some urging to get to the next Louise Penny book
4. 1984 could really use a reread right now
5. The ones I hadn‘t heard of are totally my vibe!
I will be starting with 3, 8, 9, and 14. They are already on the way!

#Bookspin for December. Full of holiday reads.

I was inspired by @JenlovesJT47 ‘s post. A year ago I was in Paris (and I‘m currently grieving not being there again this Thanksgiving). I was excited to see this exhibit of bookish installations at one of the smaller museums. I‘m surprised I didn‘t post it a year ago!

November‘s #BookSpin List. Time to start spending my evenings hunkering down under a blanket to read.

The next trend in cover art? White outlines with illustration in the middle?

🎶 It‘s the most wonderful (reading) time of the year 🎵 October‘s #Bookspin list. I love October reading, especially with the #Dewey 24-hour readathon.

Thank you so much for this very fall swap box 🍁🍂. The books are spot on for autumn reading and I was very excited to see the Irish Cream hot chocolate. It‘s my favorite and hard to find. Thanks again and happy fall to you, Tanya! #fffs

My #FFFS package came! I‘m at a conference so I made my husband take a picture. It took a few minutes for him to understand why I needed a photo of a box 😂. Thank you @tdrosebud 🍂🍁🍄‍🟫

Once again, I forgot to take a picture of my #fffs package before sending it (and it was so pretty!). Package sent, looking forward to opening day!

September #Bookspin!

Trying to figure out which book from my August #Bookspin list to read as I wait to finish Tilt after tomorrow‘s discussion…

This popped up in my Facebook feed. Big Brother must know I‘m reading Tilt 😳🧐

Today‘s the day! 🎉🎉🎉
Booker Longlist has been announced. Anyone read any of these?

Oof. This hurts my heart. What a light they left in the world. I first read the tagged book of poems because of Alyisha‘s #ALSpine list and it made me laugh, cry, and feel both seen and exposed. Read their books and watch their videos. It‘s good stuff and a bit heartbreaking that there won‘t be more.

Anyone else nervous to dive into the second half because you‘re afraid it‘s going to feel like watching a train wreck? Can I volunteer to be Zelu‘s publicist? Seriously, why doesn‘t she have one??
#CampLitsy25

I don‘t want to wish the month of July away, but I‘m also excited to see which books make the list. I‘m sure there will be a few gems, like last year‘s tagged book. Excuse me while I go down the YouTube rabbit hole hearing what others think will make the Longlist….

July‘s #Bookspin list. Really looking forward to the tagged and the #CampLitsy25 reads.

Is this too on point? 😂😂. If you need a summer-themed middle grade read, put this on your list.
📸 Lake Michigan

8 years! I remember that I joined after a surgery with 6 weeks to do nothing but read and discover this new app that was all about BOOKS! I really appreciate whoever does the work to post this everyday 👏🏼👏🏼

I haven‘t read the book, but I really loved this film that just came out in the US. So many great things about it, including Shakespeare and Company bookstore being featured.

June‘s #Bookspin list. Summer reading has officially begun.

I love a good road lit novel. My college English capstone course was solely road lit and I loved it. This small book took me back to that course, referencing others in the genre. Witty and reflective, a young man drives across the US thinking about his life, as one does. The format and book as an object were really interesting too. Another one that wouldn‘t have been on my radar if not for #AuldLangSpine

I‘m combining #TuesdayTunes with my review because this book is a collection of song lyrics sung by Stacey Kent with accompanying art that is beautiful. Ishiguro was a song writer before a novelist. Reading while listening while looking at art was such a fun experience. Romantic and sentimental, beautiful sadness if that‘s your thing (it‘s mine). A QR code in the book takes you to the playlist in YouTube. I have one below for your pleasure.

May‘s #Bookspin list. May my reading zoomies continue 🤞🏻

I love this and know you will too.
From author Cate C Wells
List of books: (sorry the link didn‘t copy well!)
https://media.defense.gov/2025/Apr/04/2003683009/-1/-1/0/250404-LIST%20OF%20REMO...

1. Yes, I put them in the mail this morning. Only because I couldn‘t stand writing a check to the federal government. I literally shed a few tears thinking about where my money was going and where it wasn‘t.
2. Reflective
#Two4Tuesday

Okay, so I couldn‘t choose just four, so I threw in an extra. When I was researching options, I wasn‘t blown away, so I‘m really surprised at all the books everyone else is posting that I hadn‘t already seen. Looking forward to another great summer camp! #CampLitsy25

April‘s #Bookspin list. A lot of shorter books/graphic novels, and I‘ll be starting the tagged right away.

Wonderfully gothic and atmospheric. I wanted to recommend this to all of you who have been reading The Woman in White. The author cites that as part of her inspiration. I read this in 2 days, which is rare. The build up is a little slow, and then doesn‘t stop. Identity, desire, hunger, rage, revenge.

I finished this a month ago. And I put it as a blurb because I‘ve been thinking this whole time how to review it and I just can‘t figure it out! The title says it all. Strange things indeed. I feel like a lot passed over my head but I had to keep reading to figure out where the story was going to go. I can‘t say I‘m as enamored by Link as others seem to be, but I want to read more of her. #AuldLangSpine

If you‘re looking for a new comic to read, this one is fun. A group of friends make a band. A riot grrl mother. Strange goings-on. Apparently it‘s the year of the punk rock girl for me 🎸

I‘ve been a reading beast lately. I‘ve been patient and haven‘t peeked the numbers yet for March‘s #Bookspin list. Excited to find out what I‘ll be reading this month.

I couldn‘t resist doing this either! I‘m not sure about Blanche and Coffee Girl, but I very much identify with the top row and especially Audrey with a “What‘s going on…” face while eating a croissant. See @TheBookHippie ‘s post if you‘re curious about this 😊

I feel like I‘ve been through more book slumps than normal in the past year or two. I do two things.
1. I read the first paragraph of like 5 different books that appeal to me and see if any of them immediately suck me in.
2. Graphic novels or middle grade reads that I can read quickly usually help a lot. Finishing something helps me get my reading mojo back.
#SundayFunday

My office is exchanging Valentine cards today and this was from my supervisor. We were both reading Iron Flame at the same time. The poem made me smile and laugh - an essential for a long Friday work morning. It deserves to be shared 🌹💙 Please also note my Dewey‘s Dilemma book puzzle in the background 🤓

I have been curious about this book for a while and am glad I had an impetus to finally read this. What a great little book exploring the life of a neurodivergent person. A lot of great ideas were explored including what it means to live your best life in the space of societal expectations. I was surprised to find myself often tense, wanting the best for Keiko. Another great one for #AuldLangSpine. I continue to read the list as promised!

I finished this at the end of January completing 5 books from my #AuldLangSpine list. This was as great as expected and really interesting to explore loneliness through different lenses with art that complimented the text. I hope Radtke keeps her graphic novels coming.

If any of you don‘t know, @catiewithac is the most generous Litten. Thanks so much for this birthday package. It felt comforting/distracting after a terrible inaugural week. It was fun to open up every little thing - and I loved that the puzzle was from NPR/Invisibilia 😊. Lastly - great wrapping! (For those who can‘t see the little glass vial is matchsticks and says Burn Candles, Not Books)

Excited to see what February‘s #Bookspin brings us!

I continued my cathartic badass female trajectory with this one. I admit I knew little about Riot Grrl and nothing of Kathleen Hanna. I really appreciated learning about this corner of punk/feminism. While it was hard to follow her life‘s story, I really appreciated her growth and willingness to examine herself and create a life that made her feel best. I will be listening to Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, & the Julie Ruin nonstop the week. #AuldLangSpine

One of those books where I want to say “why did I wait so long to read this” but I actually read it at the exact right time. I read this to revisit an #AuldLangSpine list from a couple years ago. 3 women of menopausal age have powers and give some terrible men their comeuppance. Nonviolence is a strong value of mine but this just felt good to read, especially this last week.

France and Italy. War and love. Passion and obsession. Storytelling and fact. A fever dream of a book. What's not to love? Winterson goes such an interesting direction with this historical fiction book that takes place during the Napoleonic wars. She uses a unique voice that I would never associate with a story part war, and characters just as unique. I think I will be thinking about this book for a long time. #ALSpine #AuldLangSpine

Remember when we read Butter for Camp Litsy? Yeah. I‘ve been reading it ever since. I just couldn‘t bail. I loved the concept, but I had a really hard time with other aspects. The translation felt off to me. And I think there are probably cultural differences that kept me being able to get over some things. The views of weight for one. The one highlight: discovering that rice with butter and soy sauce is so good! Between so-so and pan.