Another year of celebrating my husband with a Hobbity birthday. We are currently watching Two towers and are resting off our luncheon. #hobbitcore #moviemarathon #birthday

I had a wonderful start to the year with my reading. My favorite was the first- Sea of Tranquility. In between all this I‘ve been working in A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations for my freshman honors class.

#teachersoflitsy #january

Obviously I‘m going to be dying for the next few years until the next one is released. #darlington #darkacademia

#historicfiction #timetravel

My favorite section of “SoM” -the section I teach & share the most. I rejoice in Whitman‘s joy in giving himself (and us) permission to ease & loaf & begin this journey together.

I thirty-one years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.

In 2023, I am taking time to enjoy & celebrate with each of the Whitman‘s 52 sections of “Song of Myself.”

#songofmyself2023 #transcendentalism #poetry

New bookshelves are the best way to start the new year 📚

My husband built this on the 31st and we put the books up on January 1st. I‘m so in love (with the man and the shelves ❤️)

#bookshelves #shelfie #newyearsnewshelves

I am so excited for these two books! Only 3 days until HELL BENT (ie the Gentleman Demon of Lethe) and 3 weeks until Chain of Thorns!

Is anyone else dying in anticipation?!

2022 was an excellent year of reading! Ninth House was my favorite of the year. #2022reading #goodreads

31 years old today. I spent the day, as one friend referred to it, enjoying a very 30s birthday. My husband made me breakfast, I have been reading Sea of Tranquility, and we planned out a new bookshelf with track shelving in our living room. Perfection. Thank you all for sharing your books and joy with me this year.
#birthday #thirtysomething

Did anyone else enjoy the Barnes & Nobel 50% off all hardcovers sale? My husband and I were in Anchorage and luckily caught the sale after returning from visiting his family for Christmas. #barnesandnoble #cookbooks

Cathy Helstone travels to her elusive brother Laon who has been a missionary in Elphame for 3 yrs. There is a religious mystery throughout & tension in the close relationship of Cathy & Laon. Cathy‘s love for Laon guides her throughout. The last 3rd of the book wanders but wraps up the religious mystery.

It is a unique gothic masterpiece- extensive biblical allusions, theology, sin, & taboo romantic partners.

#gothic #elphame #historicfantasy

Does anyone else think that the husband is the stupidest man on earth? This modern story is proving to me for the 1 millionth time why I hate modern story lines in historic novels.

Reading this with my Honors 9 students for the first time. Should I be ashamed to admit that I‘ve never actually read it before? With my regular 9 students we are watching the Muppet Christmas Carol- same thing right? 🎄#Dickens #classics #teachersoflitsy #christmas

I cast on a new knitting project- a red, white, and blue cowl for my mother in law. I‘m about a third done with this novel. I like it, but it also violates my big annoyance which is a dual timeline for historic fiction. I can almost always live without the modern story. In this case I do care for Caroline, but still… #knittersoflitsy #craftersoflitsy #knitting #audiobook

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Over all I recommend this book for some light hearted romantic fantasy, especially the well produced audio. I love some angst, so the ending has me ramped up for starting the next book in the series.

Pros:
-Great audible narration
-Bad ass assassin protagonist with a heart of gold
-A male lead with love on his sleeve

Cons
-motivations feel cartoony at times (like over the top villainy or goodness)

#audiobook #fantasy #audible

Introduction by Carl F. Hovde has some great phrasing to consider for this reread. #mobydick #teachersoflitsy

Great read for Banned Books Week. This is my first Alaska Battle of the Books read for the year. It was quick with some major impact in the brief story. I also appreciated learning about the South Korean political struggles. I had no idea about any of the political violence and fascism so recently in their past. #Bannedbooksweek #alaskabatleofthebooks #battleofthebooks #graphicnovels #bannedbooks #teachersoflitsy

Banned Books Week Bulletin Board! All my classes do a Banned Books activity. Last year, a set of books was withheld from Seward HS library without any oversight from the Curriculum Review Committee after the assistant superintendent decided that the titles were too controversial. Titles included: “I Am A Feminist,” “We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide,” and others regarding LGBTQA representation. Censorship happens near and far.

Excellent! I just picked it up tonight and love it. An Alaska HS Battle of the Books selection for the year. Also just in time for Banned Books week. I‘m reading F451 with my juniors and this book is getting me excited for my censorship lecture! #battleofthebooks #bannedbooks #Korea #GraphicNovel #teachersoflitsy

My sister in law and mutual book lover gifted me with this lovely 10th anniversary edition of Clockwork Angel. This last year Cassandra Clare has been my number 1 read author for sure. The Infernal Devices series is just perfection. Currently reading Chain of Gold! #YA #prettyeditions #shadowhunters #infernaldevices

Enjoying some remnants of summer after a rainy August. Dillon is off on a motorcycle ride and I am attempting Ulysses which I‘ve been putting off all summer.

Enjoying a quiet Monday off work for Labor Day with my new LitJoy mug. On this Labor Day, I am thankful for my right to organize as a labor union. Unions support workers rights. There are a million and one individual who work hard to create effective and supportive local associations. Thank you. #teachersoflitsy #laborunions

Finishing my second book in the #LMPBC Round 15 and working on this sweater for my husband on a beautiful fall Sunday. @Catsandbooks I will have your next #LMPBC book in the post tomorrow after school. Hope it greets you well! #knitting

Starting this read for #LMPBC Round 15. This is my last day before school starts again, so I am frantically painting my house and taking some reading time.

@Kdgordon88 the book made is safely to Alaska and I am enjoying a sit down with it!

I found this book pretty meh. I didn‘t fully care about all of the characters enough and found the only female character lacking in motivation. Even getting in her head didn‘t explain enough. That ending 🤷‍♀️ Honestly, I wish I had just been reading Billy‘s book of Mr. Abernathy‘s heroes. A summer book club pick. I still want to read A Gentleman in Moscow which I assume must be far better for all the love it gets. #bookclub

More Honeymoon reading. 💕📚 I am listening to The Lincoln Highway and working on my Narnia cross stitch. #honeymoon #Alaska

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 The beautiful heart of this novel woven through the magic, mystery, & blood is the relationships of women. At first Alex seems wholly isolated, but as the novel develops the power of her female relationships is intense and connective. She lives for those women, and I love seeing each step up for her as well. Of course there is the mystery of Darlington, but Tara‘s justice is just as valued. I am sequel ready! #LMPBC Group B #BOTM

Morning reading on Prince William Sound #alaska #honeymoon #princewilliamsound

Finishing the last bit of Ninth House on the MV Aurora. Dillon and I are headed to Cordova for an Alaskana honeymoon. I‘ll be posting the book tomorrow from the Cordova PO. I am in love with this book Btw, definitely not ready for it to end. #magic #alaska #readingonthewater #honeymoon #LMPBC Group B @Catsandbooks @Kdgordon88 @HufflepuffGirl90

These books might be the sweetest ever written. James Herriot recounts his Yorkshire Vet work in early marriage, and before leaving serve in WWII. My one critique is that I hope Helen, his wife, is more present in the next book. She is lovingly, but sparingly, depicted as a doting wife, but with little of her own personality, unlike the strong male characters. Photo of cute yard moose caught on film- mid 90s Anchorage #Alaska #moose

Enjoying a quiet day at home for the 4th with a good book and the dogs. The beautiful @Kimberlone left this morning after an excellent weekend!

Spent 3 days with my sister in law Jenna in the small town of Seldovia. Our friend Joe flew us in and we water taxied out. I read the entirety of Queen of Nothing and enjoyed the sun, waves, and a few Blueberry Mojitos (IYNYK) . I‘ll give more thoughts on the book soon. Worth the wait for the ending? Probs not but I still enjoyed it. #adventuring #ya #camping

Talk about slow burn 🔥I loved the second book in this series, and am going to the library today to pick up the third. This one really ends on a cliff, and I need the next to affirm that Cardan has a plan?

Hello from Alaska, ladies! Here are four BotM in my collection that I haven‘t read yet. I have more options if none of these work! @Catsandbooks @Kdgordon88 @HufflepuffGirl90

Dillon had been reading me the illustrated Harry Potter series since before we were engaged. Today was the first time he read me a chapter as my husband. 😊 How could I not marry a man who reads to me? #newlywed #readingisalovelanguage

My dear friend Maggie‘s new HP ⚡️ bookshelf. Last Tuesday she helped me do big city prep for my small city wedding on Thursday.

First Half: meh, Jude is hard to fully empathize with initially - Second Half: builds to a freight train of intrigue and action. Jude‘s journey starts to make more sense and builds in I connective tissue. I loved this book but really only kept going because I was intrigued about how she was going to do anything that would lead to a connection between the two fated lovers. I can‘t wait for the next book!

A fun read, but I probably won‘t be continuing the series. Another example of being about 3 years behind on my Alaska Battle of the Books reads.

Sleepytime tea and books. I love summer and having the option to read as late as I want. #teachersoflitsy #teatime

I recently updated my bedroom and the key addition from Dillon, my almost husband (13 days 🙀), was the hanging of the Mirror of Erised. It‘s been leaning against walls since we moved in a year ago. He knows that he can likely never top that gift as it will always be the best gift ever given. I wanted it for so long and never would have bought it myself. It is beyond lovely! #mirroroferised

It is really hard to take a square selfie with face and shirt in one 😂 So the shirt wins. I love this #outofprint Twain shirt. @Kimberlone knows that Twain love. Someday I want to be rich enough for us to golden girl it down the Mississippi in a steamboat #Twain #teachersoflitsy

Have you seen the musical adaptation of Cyrano? I ❤️ it. It‘s less of a comedy than the play, & I miss the development of the friendships. However, it remains a beautiful adaptation of the core story. I adore the musical element; Roxanne‘s songs are perfect. The best song of the film tho is of 3 cadets pre-battle. If you haven‘t read the play, do! The English translation is witty & fun. Even my HNR LA 10 students love the play. #playtoscreen

These adorable floral bookmarks are the light of my springtime reading. I love them! 🌸🌷💕 #springtime #bookmarks #flowers

Colorful Flower Bookmarks, 30 PCS (Unknown Flower) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TCB9P9J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_51XYESQT1ZBP3KQFEQ8V?_...

Enjoying the morning sun at home with my mom and @Kimberlone for Mother‘s Day. I bought these sweet floral bookmarks recently and give them each some as well. 🌸🌷🌼 #bookmarks #springtime #flowers

62% done & the narrative is running now! It is 🔥 🔥 🔥 Even though Roma & Juliet are older (19 or so) there are only stolen kisses which is fine because the tension and straight out violence of knives, fists, & guns provides excellent physicality. Their angry kisses in the heat of blood feud confusion are pretty compelling. Enemies to lovers, but sadly there are always two beds (& excitingly a million weapons) 🔪💣🏹 #starcrosslovers #Shanghai

I read Heartstoppers Summer 2020, & it was the sweetest antidote to the 1st COVID summer. I was really optimistic about the adaptation. I‘m just here to say that the adaptation is PERFECTION. If you haven‘t watched the show or read the graphic novel, DO IT NOW! Your heart will thank you, these boys and their friends and family are the sweetest. Not a false moment. Also still available as a serial on #WEBTOONS. #lgbt 🌈 #graphicnovel #netflix

I cannot express how exceptional this novel is. As someone that teaches R&J on a yearly basis- THIS IS THE ADAPTATION THAT THE WORLD NEEDED. It is a MUST read. 1920s, Shanghai opposing gangs. In the R&J adaptation, this is more post teen love (19/20 now), full enemies after assumed teenage betrayal. I am already LOVING the sequel. Also, yes, I keep a planner mostly just to past pictures of book covers in. #shakespeareadaptation #teachersoflitsy

My beautiful Slytherin Maggie got me a Hufflepuff set of HP books for my bridal shower. As you can tell from the look on my face, I‘m in love 🦡💛💍

@Kimberlone is in town for my Bridal Shower and we hit my my favorite LBS River City Books 📚 I got my mom a copy of Verity by Colleen Hoover.

Have you ever gone to buy a book and the been told you actually bought it 2 years ago and just never read it? Well that‘s me today with this trash. I guess I should read it 😂