#AlphabetGame Letter J

According to reviews I seem about the only one who enjoyed this book and it was hard to find a good book starting with J so there you have it. Some love for a book that deserves it!

#AlphabetGame Letter I

This is the kind of book you want to start read again directly after you‘ve finished it. Such a WTF ending!

#AlphabetGame Letter H

This book made me laugh and cry and loving every page. It also reminds me of great Litsy times when everyone was reading this and raving about it!

First I hoped this book would turn out to be some kind of Of Mice and Men but then it went totally off the road - or I did. Anyhow I have no clue what this was all about and do not really care either. It probably won‘t make the shortlist for the #BookerPrize2022

Loved this poem. Yasmina Nuny writes about her motherland #GuineaBissau, black womanhood, politics and Kanye. And cursing, obviously 🙌🏾

#ReadingAfrica2022 🇬🇳

#AlphabetGame Letter G

This book had been sitting on my shelves for years. #ReadingAsia2021 was the reason I finally picked it up and how grateful I am for that. It turned out to be my favorite book of the challenge and an all time favorite. A wonderful mix of Malaysia and Japan.

[Book not in database]

Another wonderful and wry story by Mieko Kawakami with another awkward main character. This one spends her days in expensive department stores where people spend insane amounts of money on clothes, jewelry and make-up. In between she checks her Twitter, where she follows anonymous girls who do everything to look like models.
In just 35 pages Kawakami again pulled me in completely. Thanks for sharing it with me Meg ❤️❤️

#WeeklyForecast 32/22

I am having Chandelier in progress. This week I want to read another book for both the #BookerPrize2022 and #ReadingAfrica2022. A Single Rose is a recommendation by @Addison_Reads and I can use it for #FoodAndLit 🇯🇵

#AlphabetGame Letter F

I was planning to only choose books that I read a long time ago so I wouldn‘t be digging the books again that you‘ve already heard me rambling about!

But I can‘t ignore this one, last year‘s favorite 🤷🏻‍♀️🥰

#BookReport 31/22

Just two books this week, I have been insanely busy at work. Good ones though!

I can‘t believe this story is based on a true one. Call me naive or maybe things are different across the ocean but I was shocked to find out. Kiara‘s story is so bleak. All alone she fights like a lioness to protect the people she loves. Fighting against the system, against a police force that‘s supposed to protect her, against racism. Leila Mottley presents us a girl who should be a hero instead of a victim. #BookerPrize2022

(Pic: Me & my girl)

#AlphabetGame Letter E

This was one of those books I could not put down, loved every page (and there are many) and didn‘t want it to be over. Kind of the perfect book 🤷🏻‍♀️❤️

Such a interesting thought: have I chosen an ethical or an aesthetic way of life? I think many of us have asked ourselves while reading this book. Let‘s discuss below for our final question.

Enjoy the second half of the week and we‘ll be back next week to discuss the whole book!

The second question is about all the references to other books. We are very curious if you did enjoy this aspect of the book and if you came across quotes or books that have a special meaning to you. Personally I loved how Batuman explained the difference between a good writer and a good novelist, using Ishiguro as an example of the latter 🤍

I am sorry to post the question a bit later than announced but here I am with out fifth #CampLitsy read.

Either/Or received mixed reviews among our Campers so I am very curious to see what you‘ll make of today‘s questions. We‘ll discuss the first half, so please avoid spoilers and enjoy Selin‘s (inner) world!

#AlphabetGame Letter D

Moshfegh gets better with every book. I haven‘t read her latest one but this one is so so good.

#AlphabetGame Letter C

This was a 5🌟 read for me. From the. It went downhill between me an Sally Rooney but this one I loved!

#CampLitsy It took a while for me to get caught up again in Selin‘s life at Harvard. But then it felt good to observe life with her in a way I never would myself. She really chooses an aesthetical way of life (instead of an ethical) and in line with that makes choices (or rather let things happen) that make her such an interesting person for me as a reader.

(Pic: Venice, Italy)

#AlphabetGame Letter B
Your favorite book beginning with B

At one time in my life I was obsessed with reading about WWI and it‘s aftermath. Of the soldiers who survived the terror of the trenches many did so heavenly traumatized. Pat Barker wrote the outstanding Regeneration Trilogy about it and at least as good and heartbreaking is this one.

#AlphabetGame Letter A
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Your favorite book beginning with A

Thanks for the tag @MrsMalaprop and @jenniferw88 🤍

It‘s hard to narrow it down to just one favorite book but in the end I decided that I can‘t ignore this classic which opened my eyes to a whole new world: that of the Russian novels.

Tagging my fellow #CampLitsy friends @Megabooks and @squirrelbrain

#WeeklyForecast 31/22

It‘s my turn to host #CampLitsy so I‘m reading this month‘s first book, Either/Or. I also want to read as much nominated books for the #BookerPrize2022 as I can get my hands on! I already had a copy of the tagged book. And I want to read the little Kawakami that @Megabooks sent me ❤️

#JulyStats

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This Time Tomorrow
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Every Last Fear
Ain‘t Burned all the Bright
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After You‘d Gone
At the Table
We Do What We Do…
Cabin Fever
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Small Things Like These
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Devil House
Mensen in de zon
Decagon House Murders
Little Snake
All the Lovers in the Night
⭐️⭐️⭐️
You Made a Fool of Death
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
Radiance of the King
⭐️⭐️✨
Red Island House
House Across the Lake

The difference between a good writer and a good novelist, explained by using Kazuo Ishiguro as an example of the latter. Love it.

While relaxing on the beach, walking the grounds, mingling with other campers or sipping a cocktail, you can listen to the sounds of Selin‘s somophore year, a playlist compiled by Elif Batuman herself. Selin is the protagonist of Either/Or. #CampLitsy

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3r9SGyq7tpE1s7h8LScHkm?si=8Kuqidb3TWCZ-VP1Nt3r...

Today the legendary 😉 #NYRBBookClub, led by @vivastory , came to an end. For more than three years we have read and discussed an #NYRB classic each month. I have discovered many fantastic books and our discussions have been a monthly highlight on Litsy.

This is a shout-out to Scott, thank you so much for making this happen. I gladly share my top 5 of highly recommended books.

“… the worst that could have happened was already behind him; the thing not done, which could have been…”

I had neve heard of the so called Magdalen Laundries, institutes usually run by Catholic orders, housing “fallen women” who were forced to labor there. The last one was shut down in 1996!

This little novella is set during Christmas and while also being quite atmospheric, packs a punch.

Copying @squirrelbrain tags for the #BookerPrize2022

It‘s almost August, our third and final #CampLitsy month.

@squirrelbrain and @Megabooks did a great job so far, I‘ll be your host in August.

First we‘ll read Either/Or by Elif Batuman. It‘s a sequel to The Idiot but you should be able to read it as a stand alone book.

Let‘s read Parts 1 and 2 and discuss on Saturday the 6th around 5.30 CET/4.30 BST/10.30 CT. See you there!

Fuyuko hardly speaks or connects with other people. She starts drinking after years of abstinence, yet living her life in a disciplined way, each day repeating the one before. I didn‘t understand her at all, kept asking myself why she did (or mostly didn‘t do) the things she did. Yet she made a fascinating character and I loved the Japanese context and Kawakami‘s writing style.

(Pic: Chioggia, Italy)

Only two countries to add to my #ReadingAfrica2022 challenge in July. Still on track though!

🔸Madagascar: Red Island House
🔸 Guinea: The Radiance of the King

This charming little book is a modern fairytale. One day Mary meets a small golden snake called Lanmo, and they become friends. As the years pass, life becomes hard for Mary. The city grows colder and darker. Wars start, bombs fall and eventually Mary and her parents are forced to flee their home. Lanmo tries to keep them safe.

Thanks again for this lovely gift Helen, I read it with a cup of your Morrocan tea 🤍

#192025 #2016

And another four colors to add to the #Pantone2022 challenge.
#Blueberry, #Midnight, #DahliaMauve and #CaramelCafe 🤍

Excited for this. At first sight it looks very doable and I am happy to see Oh William and The Trees among them! #bookerprize2022

“This book is for everyone who endured 2020. “

In hindsight it‘s even worse. It‘s George Floyd, it‘s BLM, it‘s wildfires, it‘s climate change and of course it‘s staying at home, keeping our distance from one another, it‘s too many people dying of this pandemic.

In three breaths and 300 pages of poetry and fantastic artwork this is an intense book that‘ll touch your heart.

#NYRBBookClub

Clarence has been shipwrecked in Africa, lost all his money gambling, and is about to get kicked out of the dirty inn where he stays. So he needs to meet the king, who will surely give him, a white man, an important job. Instead of the king he meets a beggar and a pair of teenage rascals. They help him stay out of trouble and accompany him to the south where the king will probably show up again. ⬇️⬇️

A great book! Such real to life and loving characters, their story, their lives and their games. They pulled me back into the 90s, into playing adventure games on enormous computers with hardly any capacity. I laughed and cried with Sam, Sadie and Marx and they left me behind with a smile on my face.

#pop22 #CharacterOnAceSpectrum
#52books #TechnologyThemed

#WeeklyForecast 30/22

Back from vacation, I need to continue our #NYRBbookclub choice. I am also eager to read the Kawakami so I can read her Chandelier afterwards. I also want to read The Little Snake, a sweet gift from @squirrelbrain
But before all of this I have to finish my current book: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.

#BookReport 29/22

The tagged book is not in the photo because my daughter is reading it but I did read it along with these other beauties. This Time Tomorrow is this week‘s favorite but I honestly loved them all!

I hope you had a safe trip home Cindy 🤍

It‘s not the right title ⬆️ but upon coming home today I was welcomed by this little booklet by Mieko Kawakami! I feel kind of special to have a copy (I think it was a limited edition) thanks to my dear and thoughtful friend Meg 💕

Everything you wrote in that gorgeous card is so true and I am excited to learn a bit more about Japanese society!

You‘re the best ❤️❤️ 🇯🇵

“It‘s okay to lose people. Loss is the point. You can‘t take away the grief, the pain, because then what are you left with?”

This book 💔. I can‘t remember having read about fathers and daughters more lovingly. Or about New York for that matter. The time traveling added more wise lessons than I could have wished for.

I‘d be surprised if this book won‘t be my #CampLitsy winner.

(Pic: Havana, Cuba)

❤️❤️ This book feels so personal at times ❤️❤️

A club of university students spends a week on an island off the coast of Japan where a gruesome crime has recently occurred. Soon the first among them is murdered.
The characters in the book are flat, there is no poetic line to be found, but this cult book is an example of the “shin honkaku” genre — a Japan-specific reboot of the classic whodunit. Recommended!

#19822022 #1987 #52books #InvolvesAClub #pop22 #SetInThe80s

(Pic: Havana, Cuba)

Five friends decide to pay a surprise visit to the man who has taken care of them as a friend and patron. They are about to conquer the world as artists, novelists, musicians and scientists They believe that talent and success are ultimately inextricably linked. On a winding road to they drive head-on into another car. The book is set 20 years afterwards.

#192025 #2013

(Pic: Hotel, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba)

A perfect day at the beach with the perfect beach read. This is such an engaging read, from the first to the last page. Filled with twists, great characters and even cloudy eyes because of all that happens to the Pine family.

(Pic: Playa Pilar, Cuba)

#WeeklyForecast 29/22

Another week of Cuba and reading! I am in the middle of Every Last Fear and completely hooked! I am not sure yet what to read next but I will of course read the first half of Straub this week for #CampLitsy. Looking forward too to the tagged book, the Zevin and the Dutch one!

A cruiseschip sets sail in March 2020 and inevitably COVID travels with one of the thousands of passengers. While people are getting sick the world closes down and leaves the ship drifting. The book reads like a horrifying thriller.

Trigger warning: The parts describing how the seriously I‘ll people fight for their lives were very painful to read.

#pop22 #SetOnCruiseShip #52books #NonFictionBestseller

(Pic: Cayo Guillermo, Cuba)

#BookReport 28/21

It‘s been a great reading week! The tagged one was disappointing to me, the Persephone not as good as most others but the other three were all very good!

Having another week of vacationing and reading ahead of me 💃❤️

Cindy have a good trip to Spain!

In het first year at university Mallory meets the woman, a professor. They get into a secret relationship, marked by inequality: Mallory‘s self esteem is quite dependent on the elder woman‘s views, feelings and opinions. She admires the woman more than she loves her and takes all she experienced during their time together with her in further years.
A wonderful debut.

#pop22 #SapphicBook

(Pic: Playa Pilar, Cuba)

Well that was surprising. At least the second half. The first one was The Girl on the Train all over again. I still wonder what all the alcohol added to the story.
And then that second half. A plot twist I didn‘t saw coming. Not one I liked per se. But it was an okay holiday read I guess.

(Pic: Remedios, Cuba)

A #Persephone novella about a wedding or more specifically the wedding guests. The book sketches the guests in a minimal way and yet they feel like real people. Most of them are not very likable, including the bride herself, but they feel so real. The mother of the bride tries to arrange all as best as she can but there‘s more than meets the eye!

#192025 #1932

( Pic: Mausoleum Che Guevara, Santa Clara, Cuba)

Such a fun read. A family (father, mother, adult son and daughter) falls apart after the parents separate. I recognized so much in all four of them. A delight to read. Thanks for the rec, @TrishB !

(Pic: Trinidad, Cuba)