Finished Americanah earlier today, so decided to head from Nigeria to Ireland for my next read. HIMSELF has been on my kindle for a long time and I loved THINGS IN JARS so I have high hopes for this title…the description certainly ticks lots of my reading boxes!
#WeekendReading

This is a pick for me even though I can‘t say I loved this book. I found it compelling to see the US through the eyes of a Nigerian woman, especially her experiences and observations on race and gender. The writing is excellent and Adichie seamlessly takes the narrative back and forth between the two main characters. It wasn‘t until I finished that I realized I just didn‘t like Ifemelu. She was selfish, lacked empathy and had a superior ⬇️

My weekend read illustrates something I love about reading: Despite having nothing in common with the characters in a book, there is so much that we all share in the human experience no matter our ethnicity, race, age, country of origin, place or time we live in now…I‘m making a concerted effort in 2022 to read authors who take me completely out of my own life experiences and Americanah is an excellent start.
#WeekendReading

I‘ve been adding my reads to my Goodreads account all year but it was just a few days ago I realized I‘d read 49 books. So, of course, I decided to read just one more to hit 50. This first in a new series by this prolific writer was good, I enjoyed it, but it would have been much better if the book blurb hadn‘t revealed a spoiler about the death of a main character that occurs well into the tale. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy New Year, All 🥳

Interesting article on downsizing, especially your books!

https://www.nextavenue.org/the-perils-of-downsizing/?utm_source=Next+Avenue+Emai...

Merry Christmas to All My Litsy Friends! You Are A Gift in My Life! Advice for 2022? Eat the Cookies!!! 🍪🎄🧒🏻❤️💚❤️

This first in a five part series featuring The Seeker, head of the Guard protecting Oliver Cromwell, is compared to the Sansome series and aptly so, although it is set 100 years after the time of that other Cromwell and his infamous king. I expected to enjoy the mystery and intrigue of this tale and it‘s enigmatic antihero but was unprepared for the beauty of the writing. The author she has a gorgeous way with prose! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I hardly ever do this but Razorblade Tears was so good that I immediately went back and started this previous work. This man can WRITE! His prose is electric and precise like literary surgery. He gets every sense involved so you see, smell and taste the action. He is a gifted storyteller. I hope he will also be a prolific one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. I‘m just going to let the tears streaming down my face and the fact that I spent the last 25% of this book with my hand over my mouth and eyes wide open stand as my review…Wow…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The second installment in what is quickly becoming a favorite series. Flavia Albia is an immensely pleasing and fascinating character: I simply love being in her head and heart as she navigates Roman society and defies all the conventions that society tries to put onto her. Happy to know I have a few more in the series to look forward to! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

No Words … 👨🏻‍🦰🧒🏻 📕 💕

One thing they don‘t tell you about becoming a grandmother. Your heart will simply swell out of your chest with love and pride when you see Your child with His Child.👨🏻‍🦰🧒🏻🧡

This series starring Sherlock Holmes and his partner/wife Mary Russell was my first experience where someone other than the original author features well established characters and expounds on their canon in a compelling way. This remains an amazing series 17 volumes in and this latest adventure does not disappoint. If I ever meet Laurie King I will thank her for this and for opening my eyes to the joys of well written pastiche fiction. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I continue to enjoy several historical mystery series set in India, including this latest title in the Perveen Mistry series. The author delves much further into the roles of women through the eyes of Perveen, the first female solicitor of Bombay, as she endeavors to break ground in her career despite societal obstacles. This series also explores the history of India during the time of British rule, a topic I find fascinating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is #13 in this series and, yet again, Elly Griffiths does not disappoint. The mystery was engaging as is always the case with Ruth Galloway and company. The fact that I figured out who the killer was way before the end wasn‘t even disappointing because it‘s the relationships between the recurring characters that makes this series compelling and a must read every time. Looking forward to #14, especially after reading the last page! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally read this one…what the heck was I waiting for, it was VERY good!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This takes place during the 1889 Paris Exposition. The protagonist is a bookseller/amateur detective. I stopped halfway through when he spies on a woman he‘s become obsessed with and sees her hugging and laughing with another man. He declares she‘s a whore then a few pages later purchases a nude painting she posed for. I nearly threw the book across the room! Hard to believe written by two women; something was definitely lost in translation.

This Twitter post cracked me up this morning 😆 and of course we all love that her arms are full of books!📚
(Posted on Twitter by UK author Beth Morrey)

A haunting story, based on true circumstances but fleshed out by the story of an invented reporter who becomes completely invested in and altered by her experience covering the case. I enjoyed this writer‘s prose and her way of bringing humanity to horrific crimes.
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So Happy to be Celebrating this Beautiful and Precious Child‘s Birthday Today!!!!!!! 🥳💖🎉#GrammysGirl

This second entry in the Giordano Bruno series continues the intrigues of its “renegade monk, philosopher, scientist, poet and magician” as he strives to stay alive and protect Queen Elizabeth from the machinations of the French, Spanish and Scottish courts, all seemingly intent on ending her reign. A historical thriller I enjoyed, despite figuring out several plot points well before the end.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just two more sleeps until I‘m with this little lady!!! 💗

I was in the mood for a historical romance and this cover attracted me but it didn‘t match the contents. The writing was stilted. The hero and heroine were lackluster with no feeling of connection between them yet they share their deepest secrets after one dance.Too much describing, not enough showing. For example, reading about an attempted robbery feels like reading a police report, rather than being put in the middle of the action. Bailed!👎🏼

Many excellent historical mysteries are set in India and this newest series featuring India‘s first female detective inspector is an engaging entry into the category. Most I‘ve read are set during British rule but Khan sets his tale during Partition, a time of political, cultural and religious upheaval. I look forward to future installments of this series and learning more about this difficult and long reaching time in India‘s story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My favorite subgenre of fiction is the historical mystery category and I can count on one hand the series which consistently deliver every time. The Sebastian St Cyr series by C S Harris definitely qualifies. This 16th in the series is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. If you look at each entry on Goodreads they all consistently rank a well deserved 4 stars and above. Basically I‘m in love with Sebastian. Read them and you will understand why!!!🤓

I enjoyed this mystery featuring Miss Jane Marple very much. I did figure out the solution—a first for me lol—but the reveal and aftermath were so entertaining that I wasn‘t disappointed and was actually a bit proud of myself. Read this and you too will learn why little old Miss Marple IS Nemesis!

Read as part of the #readchristie2021 challenge hosted by OfficialAgathaChristie on IG. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I had to choose one word to describe this novel — based on a real-life female serial killer — that word would be INTENSE. A perfect intersection of true crime novel and historical fiction. Disturbing. Harrowing. Excellently crafted. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The books in this enjoyable series are just pure escapism, fun romps through 19th Century British history with lots of spies, disguises and surprises, plus bits of romance and mystery to boot. Definitely recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My beautiful granddaughter, Sophia, loves showing her Pride!!! 🌈 I‘ll be going to Texas to celebrate her first birthday soon. Oh my, Time Flies! 💕

I enjoyed this first book in the Flavia Albia series. She is an informer (investigator) in Ancient Rome, following in the footsteps of her father, the protagonist of an earlier series by Lindsey Davis. Flavia is likeable, whip smart and empathetic, with sharp instincts and the ability to maneuver within all circles of Roman society. I enjoyed Flavia, she feels very modern; if she were to time travel to 2021 she would do just fine. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished!
Not what I expected and a couple of times I almost gave up reading this one because its primary focus is the political machinations of the Japanese police force at the center of the fourteen year old kidnapping and murder of a child, rather than the disturbing case itself. However, I‘m glad I stuck with it so I could enjoy the unexpected revelations and excellent conclusion that I never saw coming!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How to find resources about Tough Topics in the Library...
Brilliant!!! 📚❤️

If you don‘t hear from me for awhile, don‘t be alarmed...I‘m reading this brick!!! 🙀

#RIP Eric Carle, iconic children‘s book artist and writer 🦋

This was my first Miss Marple and while I liked it, I can‘t say I enjoyed her as much as Hercule Poirot. She isn‘t even introduced until nearly halfway into the story! I also must say I missed the traditional gathering of the suspects and dramatic reveal. I will try another Marple sometime, but one where I can get to know her better from the beginning.

Read as part of the #readchristie2021 challenge hosted by OfficialAgathaChristie on IG. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The sixth outing of this delectable series delivers in every way and I highly recommend the adventures of Veronica Speedwell without reservation. However, I urge you to start with the first volume and continue in order because it is the development of the relationship between Veronica and her companion Stoker that you must experience from its curious beginning... 😉
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So today is indeed a big day.
My 59th Birthday 🎂 AND
My 5th #Litsyversary 🎉

I‘ll be having lunch at an actual restaurant with my fully vaccinated family for the first time in over a year! Looking forward to patio dining at my favorite local fried chicken joint featuring chicken, mac & cheese, fried okra and sweet tea, ya‘ll 🤓

This ended up being a darker read than I anticipated. I didn‘t know much about Christopher “Kit” Marlowe going in and reading his Wikipedia page was almost as interesting, though much less entertaining, than this well written debut novel. It begins with the notion that Kit was a spy while a student at Cambridge, which seems plausible, and follows him into danger at every turn of the page.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My favorite girl, my granddaughter, Sophia, she is forever my life‘s Joy 🥰

I enjoyed this intense translated mystery/thriller set in Vitoria, Spain and featuring an imperfect yet sympathetic detective and a well drawn cast of supporting characters, including the city itself and its citizenry. This is the first of a trilogy and I will definitely enjoy revisiting Kraken‘s City again.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first reading of an Agatha Christie novel that did not feature Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot and I found It surprisingly good. It did feature lots of suspects in a small village where it took way too long for anyone to notice the ridiculously high per capita murder rate, giving it quite the Murder She Wrote vibe! 😆
Read as part of the #readchristie2021 challenge hosted by OfficialAgathaChristie on IG ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I know everyone in Vitoria was stunned by the fact that I had been shot in the head, and if thinking hadn‘t been a physical impossibility just then, it would have moved me to tears. A policeman never expects to close a case by becoming the final victim of a serial killer who has plunged his city into a state of terror, but life has sly ways of playing tricks on you. So…yes, things didn‘t turn out too well for me.”

What a compelling prologue! 🤓

The first book of this series featuring Jane Austen as amateur detective is very good. I enjoyed the mystery, the manners and the humor of this story and look forward to continuing the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lately I‘ve been enjoying reading books that have TV series episodes available too. Last night I finished The Seagull book then immediately watched the episode from Season 9
of the same name. Many details were changed this time, but the revealed murderer was the same and, of course, Brenda Blethyn portrays Vera Stanhope perfectly IMO.🕵🏼‍♀️
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It‘s a Good Day...Got my first dose of the Phizer vaccine! 🤓

To All who celebrated Easter today, I hope your day was a blessing...💚💗💚💗💚

This debut compares favorably to the Matthew Shardlake series. It takes place during the early reign of Elizabeth I and, like Shardlake, Giordano Bruno is called upon to serve the interests of the powerful while navigating religious/political pitfalls. The fact that Bruno was a real historical figure who spent his life trying to outrun The Inquisition, as well as excellent atmospheric storytelling, makes me keen to continue this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My heart is breaking with all bad news and awful things happening in the world today. How about a little cuteness therapy??? 👶🏼 💕

This one was interesting and I did not guess the solution at all. One of the Hercule Poirot mysteries narrated by Hastings and apparently taking place in the later years of their association. I enjoyed it, despite Hastings vaccilating between hero worship and second guessing.🙄 Read as part of the #readchristie2021 challenge hosted by OfficialAgathaChristie on IG ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fantastic debut. I‘m keeping my fingers crossed that Ms Murphy continues this as a series. Ma‘am, you need to stay off all social media and bring us further adventures featuring Amelia and Andrew, Jonas and Sidney. Gilded age New York needs them! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️