I had no idea this book existed until I saw the preview for the movie. Naturally, I immediately had to grab a copy. I normally don't like books composed in letter format, but it was best for this particular book. You get a vivid image of all characters involved, and a hefty dose of history. I loved the ending, but I'm craving a sequel. I just want to know more about all of their lives afterward!

I had known that Michael II was the last Tsar of Russia before I picked up this book, but it's not something I ever really thought about. When you think about Russia in 1918, you think about the horrific murder of Nicholas II, Alexandra, and the children. Michael was a true patriot and devoted son of Russia, and he deserves to have his story told and be remembered for the change he tried to bring about. Rest in peace, Micheal II.

Hetty Green was a name I'd never heard before picking up this book, and now I understand why. Hetty was a woman who made her own way in the world, and by any standards, wildly succeeded. She wasn't afraid of what people said, and was a force to be reckoned with. She was an astute businesswoman, and had more financial sense than most men. She paved the way for countless others, and has inspired many, myself included.

This book is both heartbreaking and inspiring. These women are astounding, and we owe them more than we can comprehend. These courageous women endured so much, and everyone needs to know their story. Their sacrifice directly led to workplace safety laws and the understanding of radioactivity that we have today. May these inspirational and selfless women never be forgotten.

This is a great dystopian sci-fi. It's vaguely reminiscent of The Andromeda Strain mixed with City of Ember, but it goes a different direction. It's an intriguing read, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

I finished this in less than a day. This book pulls you in right from the start and doesn't let go. The characters are well developed, and you become emotionally invested in these characters quite fast. Overall, this is a wonderful book that has quite a powerful message about perseverance, friendship, and family.

This is a fantastic biography of Empress Josephine. Her life was truly fascinating, and she lived during one of the most tumultuous periods of French history. This book was well written and paints a well-rounded picture of who this incredible woman was.

Game of Queens in an excellent analysis and depiction of the framework of female rule during the 16th century. This book covers quite a few key players throughout the 16th century, so you're given an overview of their lives. The focus is on the network of these women, which the book is very successful at covering. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning about the connections between the ruling women of the 16th century.

This is a lovely, in depth biography. I didn't know very much about Queen Mary going in, but I got a full overview of her life with this book. It was very informative, impartial, and well researched. I very much enjoyed this book. My respect and admiration for Queen Mary has increased tenfold.

This is the best non-bio mom book I have read so far. It is about the author's experience before, during and after motherhood. It really offers perspective, advice, and tells her family's story in the most relatable and honest way possible. It tempered some fears I had been having, and opened my eyes to possibilities and situations I hadn't considered yet. This book is funny, inspirational, helpful, and something I will reread many times.

I found this book to be extremely helpful. It's a collection of submitted stories from non-bio moms, and how they've dealt with the journey alongside their bio partner. My wife and I are planning to try for a baby soon, and I have a lot of their same fears and concerns. It helps to know that I'm not alone. There aren't a lot of modern resources for lesbian parents, so this book and the insights provided within are worth their weight in gold.

Prince Jorg has become one of my favorite badasses. This book is dark, graphic, and deep. This book shows us who we could be if we let the fury and darkness in the world swallow us, but it shows us that even from the darkest places, you can still come back. I think whether we like it or not, Prince Jorg reflects a little bit of us. The characters are well developed, and I can't wait to read the next installment.

This book is truly unique. The writing style is elegant and intelligent, and the characters are well developed. Baru Cormorant is an amazing heroine. She's fiercely intelligent, and sacrifices everything attempting to gain the power she needs to save her homeland. I can see myself reading this again and again. I must say, I didn't see the twist at the end coming.

This book was both touching and heart wrenching, while being extremely informative. The author's explain very well how the assassination was directly tied to WWI, and the political terrain leading up to and after it. The best part about this book is learning about the intimate lives of Franz and Sophie, and the fate of their descendants. It's extremely well written and engaging. If you're interested in this subject, you should read it.

This is a fictional story about an undiagnosed woman with ASD, and the struggles she goes through when her parents die. One of her coping mechanisms is cooking, which is fantastic. Being around the same age and undiagnosed myself, I found myself relating to this book quite strongly. It's well written, and the author has done her research. If you're in this situation or know someone who is, or are just looking to increase your awareness, read this.

Contact.

When someone touches me wrong it isn‘t a feeling. It isn‘t hate or fear or pain. It is just blackness and a chant in me: get/out/get/out/get/out.

Neil Gaiman did a great job modernizing these tales, while keeping the accuracy and starting true to the stories. This is the first book I've read by him, and I look forward to reading more. I could see myself reading this to my kids at night (when we have some). They're more accessible than the poetic and prose eddas. I disagree with his assessment of Loki in general, and the other gods in some places. However, it's a good read.

George Orwell created a terrifying masterpiece in 1984. It reminds me a bit of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It puts me in the same headspace. Big Brother is a looming, omnipotent figure. Everywhere and nowhere, always watching. Those who aren't loyal to the party or who know too much are vaporized and erased. The Thought Police are always watching and listening, waiting for any slip-up. This book is horrifying and illuminating. Read it.

How could you have a slogan like "freedom is slavery" when the concept of freedom has been abolished? The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking - not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.

@LitsyFeministBookClub #influentialwomen My mother (left) is one of the most inspiring woman I know. She is legally blind, but that has never stopped her. She was a CNA II for the State of NC for 11 years, then after retiring went to college for photography and then got her AAS in Esthetics. My mother is a tour de force. She has faced so many challenges in her life, but she has faced them all with determination, humor, and grace.

This book has been a miracle for me. Cynthia gives extraordinary detail and examples of how the ASD brain functions, and most importantly of all (for me) why it functions that way. I'm 25, and was never diagnosed as a child. Cynthia Kim has given me the user's guide to my brain, and advice on not only how to make my life easier, but advice for helping my NT loved ones understand me better. This is the most important book I own.

Not been too bad of a year, I suppose. Book-wise, anyway. #yearinbooks

This is one of the most beautifully written, yet terrifying books I've ever read. It honestly seems like something that could happen in the not too distant future. The eloquence and brilliance of this book just blew me away. It is a must-read.

Excited to get into this one for #NonFictionNovember! I'm hoping it's as good as I want it to be. #southernhistory

I thought this book was beautifully written. I love the concept and storyline. I love the resilience and solidarity among the butterflies, but I also love the morbid beauty that the Gardner creates with them. Overall, this is a must read. This is one of those books I can see myself reading over and over again.

This is a book that should be read by everyone. It is so eye-opening and the facts are astounding. To really be confronted with where our sex has come from and the struggles we have endured puts in perspective our place in society now. It makes you realize what we have left to accomplish, and it makes you infinitely proud to be of the enduring, wise, and stubborn female population.

When your wife sometimes thinks you love your books more than you love her. And would maybe sell her for that oneeeeee book you've been looking for... 🙄 #booknerdproblems @RealLifeReading

Overall, this was a good read. I finished it in two days. I didn't find it particularly suspenseful, which was a little disappointing. I think the best thing about this book is that the true hero is Millie. I love that the author chose to feature a young woman with Down's Syndrome as the clever sister, and I think more authors should follow that lead. It's time to break the stereotype. #wednesdayreads

Those times when your cat doesn't give a fuck that you're reading a suspense novel and pins you to the pillows to lick your face anyway. #mondayreads #catsdontgiveafuck #ownedbyacat 🙌🙌😹

This is one of the most inspiring, accurate, and heartbreaking books I've ever read. I live in the mountains of NC, and I can say from experience that sexual abuse is handled just as badly as it was in this book. This is an intense read, but somehow, I think it gave me some measure of peace. This book has found its way into my heart, and I don't feel quite so alone anymore. Thank you, Dorothy Allison.

Language can carry us past the horror to the sense of purpose in a life that refuses to surrender to that darkness.

I want the society in which I live to be clear about the reality of our families; to know all the ways in which we avoid the issues of violence, abuse, and societal contempt; and to see survivors as more than victims. If we know more about what it means to survive abuse, we will be better able to help those still caught in the whole shameful secret world of physical and sexual violence.
#awareness #bannedbooks

This book blew my mind. I've never read anything like it. I've been in a little bit of a reading slump lately, and this book pulled me right the hell out. The originality of the concept was refreshing, and it was quickly addictive. Best of all, it keeps you guessing. The writing is great. This is one of those books I will read over and over again.

Wrestling a guy to the ground? Alright.
Biting off his nose? Slight overreaction.
Swallowing the damned thing? Someone call for the priest. Exorcism needed.

But when memory embraces the night
I see those days, long since gone,
like the ancient light of extinguished stars
traveling still, and shining on.
#firstlines

This was a great read. I've been missing Downton Abbey lately, and this made me feel so much better. It's informative and has awesome little side notes about court life and quotes from aristocrats. Without women like Lady Randolph Churchill (née Jennie Jerome), we wouldn't have gotten great men like Winston Churchill (Winston is on the right). These women were brave and bold, and they deserve to be remembered.

The English aristocrats, by the 1890s, had finally learned what to expect of the American heiress. She wouldn't pack a pistol, throw tomahawks or dance the cancan. Her voice would be loud, her dresses showy, her parents preposterous and her dowry large.

There are a ridiculous number of books out there with various theories about the afterlife, and I was afraid that‘s what I was getting into. However, if you can push past the initial urge to roll your eyes, this book blossoms into a unique and well-told story. Plus, the fact that the author tried to throw in as much historical accuracy as possible is a definite bonus for me.

Heaberlin takes you on a complex journey where a woman is trying to unlock her own memories from one night of horror to save the life of an innocent man. I‘m not going to spoil anything. I will say that I loved the plot twist. I thought it was just… devilish. @Litsy This is a great #AllHallowsRead!

The Help is one of the best books I've ever read. Kathryn vividly captures the Civil Rights Era from a point of view that not many people consider. She takes you through a vast range of emotions, all without giving you whiplash. The best part is that the story stays with you. Before you know it, you are so immersed in the lives of these fictional women from 53 years ago, that you almost feel lost when the novel comes to a close.

I thought this book was brilliant. I love the dark emotions and intelligence that this book is full of. The main character is intriguing and fierce. I thought the conclusion was perfect. I related to this book quite a bit, and it's now among my favorite reads.

True worship occurs as a natural result of feeling and expressing an immense love through your thoughts and actions, whether it is directed at a spirit, an ancestor, or a god.

From my perspective, the Ragnarök of Völuspá has already occurred. Our gods met their death at the hands of the White Christ and Óðinn was swallowed by the wolf of the Roman Catholic Church; but thanks to new believers, they have been reborn. The Ragnarök of the conversions has passed and our gods have risen from the ashes, alive and well.