@BarbaraBB on Litsy

Seascraper: A mesmerising portrait of a young man hemmed in by circumstance and class, but dreaming of more | Benjamin Wood

#WeeklyFavorites

I have been selective in my choice of #Booker reads because my TBR shelves are already exploding as it is. The tagged book is the first of these few books I purchased and I am happy that it tuned out to be a favorite, at least of this week!

Read4life

10 likes

BarbaraBB

Silent Parade | Keigo Higashino

#FridayHappyReadingHour

Can I join this hashtag? My mom has dementia, it‘s slowly increasing and I am cherishing these moments with her and a glass of French rosé wine

mcctrish, Aims42, kspenmoll, Tamra

mcctrish Absolutely- looks like a perfect reading spot with your mom 14h

AlaMich I‘m so sorry about your mom. 14h

BarbaraBB @mcctrish @AlaMich Thank you 💝 14h

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Cathythoughts Lovely time to spend with your mom ❤️ 14h

Tamra The more the merrier! I‘m glad you are getting time with your mom, even if it‘s not as it used to be. 💕 13h

Yuki_Onna Have a lovely time with your mom 💞 13h

AmyG Sending much love to you and your Mom. Cherish every moment. My Mom had this, too. Sending a hug. 13h

squirrelbrain It looks like a lovely evening! 😘 12h

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts @Tamra @Yuki_Onna @squirrelbrain Thank you, Litsy friends are truly the best 💝 (edited) 12h

LeahBergen I‘m so sorry to hear that, Barbara. Sending love. ❤️ 12h

Leftcoastzen Oh that‘s hard ! Hoping there are some small joys to be found.Hugs to you . 12h

Ruthiella Sorry to hear that. Glad you are cherishing the moments you have. It‘s easier said than done. ❤️ 11h

Librarybelle So sorry to hear about your mom. ❤️ 11h

BiblioLitten To these small joys and cherished moments. Sending hugs 💕 11h

Amiable Hugs to you —and to your mom. We have a very close friend who has frontotemporal dementia and we‘ve been watching him steadily decline for the past 7 years. It‘s heartbreaking to lose loved ones piece by piece. 🙁 11h

Aims42 I‘m echoing what everyone else has said, the more the merrier!!! Cheers!! 🥂 I‘m sorry to hear about your mom, it‘s such a mean disease 😔 11h

rebcamuse Sending you love as you navigate this @BarbaraBB. 10h

dabbe So sorry about your mom. Sending 💛🤎🧡 to you, your mom, and your family as you cherish your previous moments with her. 6h

CindyMyLifeIsLit So sorry about your mom. I went through that with my mom, as well. It‘s a terrible disease and we mourn as we watch them forget more and more. If it‘s any comfort (it was for me), my mother was happy. She wasn‘t aware of what was happening (after a certain point) and was just content with being around her loved ones. It comforted me that she wasn‘t suffering. I hope it does you, as well. ❤️ 6h

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella @Librarybelle @BiblioLitten @Amiable @Aims42 @rebcamuse @dabbe Thank you so much for your comments. It means a lot 💝 2h

BarbaraBB @CindyMyLifeIsLit thank you for reaching out! I think my mom is too, most of the time, fortunately. It is just when she can‘t remember how to do ordinary things as how to undress or use her telephone, she becomes sad and frustrated and that‘s heartbreaking 💔 2h

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BarbaraBB

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens | Shankari Chandran

pick

Set in a fictional Nursing Home in Sydney, this novel follows Sri Lankan immigrants Maya and Zakhir, who transformed the home into a sanctuary where “people will be valued.” Decades later, Maya is a resident, while Zakhir‘s disappearance remains unresolved. The flashbacks to war-torn Sri Lanka do complete the book.

Thanks for sending me this Carolyn🤍

#ReadTheWorld2025 #24 #SriLanka
#fictionaltraveler #someplacehot

GatheringBooks, CarolynM, julieclair

julieclair This sounds fascinating! Stacked. 2d

Jeg I loved this book and gave it as a gift to several friends . 24h

BiblioLitten Ah I wish this was in our local library. I suggested it but they said it was not published in Canada. Only Amazon has it. 😑 10h

BarbaraBB @BiblioLitten It‘s hard to get a copy where I live too so I was very glad that an Aussie Litten sent it to me ❤️ 4h

BarbaraBB @Jeg good choice! 4h

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BarbaraBB

Deal Breaker: The First Myron Bolitar Novel | Harlan Coben

so-so

I listened to this one to see if it might be a series I‘d enjoy but I don‘t think so. The plot is good and so are the twists but I didn‘t really warm up to main character Myron Bolitar. Also the sexism of Bolitar and his friends and probably Coben himself as well, was irritating. I know the book was written in the 90s, but is that an excuse?
So I‘m kind of relieved I can let go of these series!
I will try another stand alone Harlan Coben though.

Lesliereadsalot I wish I could remember some good ones, but I can‘t. Could be this style is just not for you. Beach reads, every one of them! 3d

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I enjoyed that stand alone one that I read a few months ago so I will get another one of those! 2d

Lesliereadsalot The tv series about Myron Bolitars son was horrible! 2d

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BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot his son? Jessica‘s as well? 2d

Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB The mother in the tv series was named Shira. Myron was supposedly dead and Mickey, the kid, was looking for him. I didn‘t watch that much! 2d

Readerann I‘ve given up on Coben. 1d

BarbaraBB @Readerann I get why! 1d

61 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Seascraper: A mesmerising portrait of a young man hemmed in by circumstance and class, but dreaming of more | Benjamin Wood

pick

A truly lovely book about a boy who scrapes the sea for shrimp and then meets a man who promises him Hollywood. The setting and scenery are drawn out so well, Thomas Flett is quite a special boy and the ending is… wow. Do visit the website mentioned at the end of the book 🎶

#Bookerlonglist #2

squirrelbrain I‘m glad you loved it too! ❤️ Gorgeous photo! 3d

Caroline2 Ohh I‘m so intrigued by this book. So glad you liked it. 👍 3d

BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs This seems totally your kind of book! 3d

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BarbaraBB @Caroline2 Do read it! It‘s short but very powerful! 3d

Graywacke Sounds lovely! 3d

BarbaraBB @Graywacke I hear mixed things about this year‘s longlist but this one is definitely worth reading! 3d

TheKidUpstairs I think it is! I think I'll have to put in an order from Blackwell's for this one. I'm being slightly more selective with my Booker reading this year, but everything I've picked up so far has been really good. 3d

ImperfectCJ I can't get this one here yet, but I did put another by Benjamin Wood on hold at the library 3d

ImperfectCJ @TheKidUpstairs Thanks for mentioning Blackwell's! I totally forgot about ordering from them! 3d

ChaoticMissAdventures I have been having a hard time getting ahold of this one in the States, going to see if I can nab an English copy next month when I am in Czech. 3d

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures How cool you are going to Czech! If you can‘t find it over there, let me know. I‘ll send you my copy. It‘s your kind of book too 3d

Lesliereadsalot Sounds so good! Will look for it. 3d

Graywacke @BarbaraBB so far I‘m smitten with this year‘s list. Love the variety and the fun and literary play 2d

BarbaraBB @Graywacke that is good to know! I only read this one and Audition so far and both are at least memorable! 2d

Cathythoughts Great review! I‘m just starting it. 👍🏻 2d

Chelsea.Poole I think this‘ll be right up my alley. It‘s one of the ones not available here at the moment. Something to look forward to 😊 2d

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BarbaraBB

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens | Shankari Chandran

#WeeklyForecast 33/25

I‘m about to start my first (well I read Audition of course) #Bookerlonglist book, which is Seascraper. Afterwards I‘ll read the tagged one.
And I hope to start another Keigo Higashino.

squirrelbrain Seascraper is top of my Booker list so far - enjoy! 6d

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain That‘s good to know! 6d

CarolynM I still haven‘t read Chai Time🤦🏻‍♀️ I hope you like it, I‘ll have to get to it soon. 5d

BarbaraBB @CarolynM I‘ll keep you posted 5d

66 likes4 comments

BarbaraBB

The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel | Stef Penney

pick

This had been on my TBR since 2009 but I am glad I finally picked it up. It‘s a great read, set in Canada in a historical setting of empty landscapes, trackers, hunters, etc. A man is murdered and a boy is missing. What follows is a journey across the winter landscape with lots of pov‘s and storylines.

You were right Soubhi, it is a good read!

Soubhiville

Soubhiville I‘m glad you liked it too ☺️ 6d

BkClubCare Cool pic 📷 6d

Caroline2 I really enjoyed this one too. 👍 4d

BarbaraBB @Caroline2 I was pleasantly surprised, it had been on my shelves for so long but it‘s great story! 4d

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BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25 question 1

Today we‘re discussing part two of Tilt.
As usual, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find both other questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 7d

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 7d

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 7d

See All 45 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 7d

BarbaraBB @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 (edited) 7d

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 7d

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 7d

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 7d

Kitta For me it was the children. The boy trapped in ikea, the one she gives the caterpillar too, the daughter they‘re searching for in the school. I think because Annie is pregnant, her descriptions were extra heartbreaking. 7d

Jas16 The parents searching for their children at their school. Even trying to imagine myself in their situation… 7d

mcctrish The children 😭I liked that at least one reunion could be made. It struck me that one had to make split second decisions on whether to trust or not and it could go either way fast adding another horrible level of stress to survival and coping 7d

AmyG The woman from IKEA looking for her daughter at the school. As a mother, I just couldn‘t imagine. That part made me so anxious. (edited) 7d

DGRachel I guess since I don‘t have kids, they had less of an impact. For me, if was the clerk at IKEA who pulls Annie from the wreckage and who later reconnects with her. I don‘t think Annie would have made it as far as she did without the other woman by her side. 7d

Butterfinger The parents. When the woman from IKEA decided to crawl in the tunnel, and she was probably still there during the aftershock. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! Secondly, the girl who knocked Annie off the bicycle. 7d

ImperfectCJ Taylor definitely stands out for me, how Annie's impression of her goes from an annoyed (annoying) employee to mom driven to get to her child. Also the teens at the end are particularly puzzling/disturbing to me, and the creepy guy in the van who she doesn't get a ride with. Still not sure if he was legit or a predator. 7d

Zuhkeeyah Taylor stood out because we were able to hear and see her full story while others were passing moments along the side of the road. Also, the love for her daughter was a strong contrast to Annie's lukewarm excitement about becoming a mom. 7d

BkClubCare And the creepy guy who walks with her for a bit; described as soulless. Annie‘s hackles up but she plays along until he finally leaves. But that was what provoked her need to get the razor blades (which I admit I was baffled by until we saw why) 7d

BkClubCare And the married couple out for a bike ride - heartbreaking 💔 Her wanting to help but needing to survive. That scene hurt me. 7d

BarbaraBB Oh so interesting we all mention other characters. I‘ll add one too, that stuck with me the most: I keep thinking of that man who offers her a ride in his van, and how she argues“Men aren‘t necessarily bad… Every man was once a baby… nobody wants to hurt a pregnant woman,” yet she still turns away, frozen. ❤️‍🩹 7d

squirrelbrain I agree @ImperfectCJ @Zuhkeeyah - we could see the full trajectory (almost) of Taylor‘s story. But the snippets of all the other people she encountered were valuable too. 7d

vonnie862 Oh my gosh, the children! 7d

Deblovestoread Definitely Taylor‘s journey with that desperate need to get the her child. 7d

yourfavouritemixtape For me it was Taylor too, being a parent, the scenes at the school were what hit me the hardest. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel I agree, I also think since she spent so much time with Taylor stands out the most to me. But honestly I keep thinking about the military men. The guys who are blocking Annie's only way to her husband (maybe, if he is still in the west side) and I agree with @Butterfinger the girl who knocked her off the bike is just horrifying. Nature is going to do what it does, but it was the bad actor people who really threw me. 7d

GatheringBooks I echo what everyone else is saying about Taylor - hers is the most enfleshed narrative, I thought, and there was also a full circle kind of twist in the end when they found each other after all they have experienced. 7d

Megabooks Taylor, of course. I read this the first time months ago, and I've thought at least a few times a week about her crawling into that school since then. I'm not a parent, but I can feel her desperation.

The man on the bike whose wife is obviously dead. That moment when everyone deserts her because they have to survive themselves. Those decisions made me grapple with my own humanity and how I'd feel as any of those people. 7d

Lesliereadsalot Whoever stole her water bottle really pissed me off! 7d

willaful Taylor's story is excruciating... they each saved each other, but Annie may never know what happened to her and her daughter. 7d

CBee Definitely Taylor - I wish we‘d had more resolution with that part 💔 7d

Hooked_on_books I read this book back in March, so reading all the comments are refreshing the details in my head. But before reading the comments, the person I remember most is the pickup driver with a load of people who stopped for her. When someone is worried for their own safety and people yet stops for a stranger, that‘s humanity at its best. 7d

TEArificbooks Well, like everyone, Taylor‘s story and the bike riders and the children really moved me. So I‘m going to add the mother at the school that found her child had died and how Taylor and Annie held her through the Initial trauma and grief. They had their own people they were searching for and time was of the essence but they both stopped to see that woman through for a few minutes. 7d

BarbaraJean Like so many others, Taylor stood out because Annie‘s with her the longest. @ImperfectCJ Yes—how quickly the dynamic shifted between them once the earthquake hit! I loved how the annoyed employee & customer end up keeping each other going. I appreciated the realism of how many people Annie encounters and never sees again, so the reader never finds out what happens to them, either. But I also REALLY wanted to know what happened with Taylor. 7d

BarbaraJean I also appreciated the range of encounters we saw: the best and worst of people, as well as everything in between. @Megabooks That man and his dying wife really haunted me. Everyone leaving felt so callous at first, but I kept thinking: what else could they have done? The teens at the end really shocked me, though. 7d

Megabooks @BarbaraJean I think there were so many slices of humanity at its most desperate in this book. The teens did not shock me. I think with the brain development level, there's a finer line between being taken over to violence or negativity. It seemed that one girl was really egging the other teens on, but she also could've been turning them against others to protect herself. 6d

Suet624 @Hooked_on_books I love that you brought up the pickup driver. You‘re so right… 6d

Suet624 Taylor - needing Annie to go with her to the school but then, once there, being brave and desperate enough to go inside the school on her own - was the character that we knew more about and so it makes sense that‘s the character we focus on. But I appreciated how many other possibilities we encountered along the way- those who help, those who hinder, and those that hurt. 6d

MeganAnn @Hooked_on_books yes, the pickup driver stood out to me as well and also the people in the back of the truck who helped lift Annie into it and find her space to sit. 6d

MeganAnn I loved how the characters she meets along the way each seem to show another side of humanity. We see good and bad and in between and I think it makes her journey through the disaster of the city more realistic. Of course Taylor is memorable since we get to know more about her with Annie, but I also think the brief moments with all these other people are just as important. 6d

Chelsea.Poole Great question! Those side characters really did pack a punch. I‘m with everyone who mentioned Taylor. I‘d be crawling into that brick pile that used to be a school too, searching for my child by any means necessary. An aside in the next comment [with a spoiler] that doesn‘t have to do with the book but happened while I was reading it and related to this scene mentioned above. 6d

Chelsea.Poole My second grade teacher‘s grown son (late 40s) went missing in our area while I was reading this book. He‘s a brilliant man but dealt with mental illness throughout his life. He left home around a boat ramp and the search party gathered there. I‘ll never get the image of his mother sitting there day after day at his last known location. Tragically, he was located deceased after a week. It brought to mind Taylor‘s reaction to her missing child. 6d

Chelsea.Poole Also, the husband and wife bikers really hit hard. Annie showed such a kindness to them both. 6d

CBee @Chelsea.Poole that‘s just horrible 💔 6d

Maggie4483 Maybe it‘s my “Murderino/Crime Junkie” side coming out, but the potentially or explicitly dangerous characters (guy in van, guy near bridge, teens) that stuck with me the most. It reminded me of The Walking Dead, where you think the villain in the story is going to be one thing (zombies there, earthquake here), but it‘s the people that you have to watch out for. The zombies and/or tectonic plates are just doing what comes naturally to them… 6d

Maggie4483 When there is a big natural disaster like this, I think the news tends to show only the best of humanity-people providing medical aid, helping clear rubble, handing out food and water-but there will always be those who take advantage in these situations. 6d

Chelsea.Poole @Maggie4483 excellent point! Also makes me think of The Last of Us. 5d

51 likes45 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25 question 2

Let‘s discuss the title (and maybe the bird on the cover?)!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Susanita The literal tilt during the aftershock at the closed bridge was alarming! The story of the bird was very sad to me. (edited) 7d

mcctrish The cover made no sense until it did and it was bittersweet. The entire story was one where Annie was trying to get her footing, first as a playwright, in a relationship, in a job she didn‘t really want but was good at and needed, in a relationship, pregnant, in a disaster. The title was kind of brilliant 7d

AmyG @mcctrish YES. I kept thinking how life tilts one way, then another. Her marriage, how it was not “tilting” or leaning in a good direction. I, too, thought the title was perfect. 7d

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ImperfectCJ I think the title fits well. Some of the tilts I noticed: sitting with the cyclist (and deciding to leave), her observation of Taylor and other parents at the school, the bridge scene and having no way to get to Dom, her recollections of the sneaker wave and her mom's birds. All push her towards a self-reliance and confidence in her own strength that I don't think she had before. 7d

Butterfinger I agree with @mcctrish her stability was her mother, and then her husband. It was a brilliant title. I think, when there was no where else to go, was when she decided she was the only one who she can lean on. She was so strong when she fought back. The bird...just encapsulates her feelings towards the mom. It didn't do anything for me. It could have been the caterpillar, broken bridge, anything. 7d

DGRachel This is fascinating to me because I didn‘t even think about the title once I started the book. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ 7d

Jas16 The title was well chosen. You go into the story just thinking it refers to the earthquake and then realize it captures so much more. 7d

Bookwormjillk I agree with everyone- it was a good title. The literal tilt of the aftershock was most memorable to me. 7d

Zuhkeeyah The title is perfect. Everything is shifting for Annie literally and figuratively. The world no longer makes sense as it was because a big change is here. 7d

BkClubCare @ImperfectCJ - excellent thoughts 7d

BkClubCare Yes, how off balance you feel physically and morally, all of it. Constantly unsettled. 7d

BarbaraBB I agree with everyone. Such a well chose title. Annie has tilted into a new reality: one where survival is about carrying forward with a new clarity about what matters. 7d

squirrelbrain The more you think about it, the more places you can see how perfect the title is. 7d

vonnie862 The title matched the book. Everything was shifting: the physical world and Annie's life. 7d

Deblovestoread II was glad we finally figured how the bird related because it didn‘t seem to fit what is a perfect title. 7d

yourfavouritemixtape What @squirrelbrain said: I notice the more I think about it, the more perfect the title becomes. And I also like the fact that the word itself feels almost… soft? And not at all like the horror she lives through. 7d

JamieArc @yourfavouritemixtape I agree that the title feels a bit soft. I still think it‘s a good title. I think a lot of her relationship with her husband. I imagine it tilting and tilting until eventually it‘s going to fall over. 7d

Christine Well said, @mcctrish ! Including about the bird. And I realize design/visuals are subjective but the cover was not for me!! I love a house finch (the most prevalent bird in our backyard), but I was planning to skip this one until it became a #CampLitsy25 pick, in large part, I think, bc of the cover! 🤦‍♀️ (Glad I didn‘t skip!) 7d

GatheringBooks I love the question. I think one pivotal “tilting” moment for Annie was when she went back home after feeling out of sorts in her 1st semester in NY - what would have happened if she stayed? Or if she did not marry her husband for health insurance, another tilting moment; & finally her husband‘s decision to lie & go to that audition thing which led to Annie‘s miles-long trek. It‘s the little decisions we make that make a world of difference 7d

Megabooks I never gave it a thought until Barbara wrote this question. I can see what all of you are saying. I can also think of it as “tilt“ in a pinball machine - are things stuck until you give it a shake? I'd say Annie was certainly stuck in a lot of ways. The aftermath of this will greatly change her and her child's life. 7d

Ruthiella @GatheringBooks Great point! So many decisions that led her to be where she was at that moment. 7d

Lesliereadsalot The tilt affected everything in Annie‘s world, so it‘s a much larger tilt than just the earthquake. It‘s a tilt of how she will now perceive herself, and Dom were he to show up. One big tilt changes all the other aspects of her life. 7d

willaful Some of the other editions had a raccoon on the cover, which may make more symbolic sense, but I hate it. 7d

CBee It‘s a perfect title - not much to add as I agree with everything said here. The bird was odd at first and then it wasn‘t - that was a difficult part for me (my own loss and symbolism of birds in my life too). 7d

mcctrish @GatheringBooks yes!!!! 7d

Jas16 @Megabooks I like your thought about the pinball machine. 7d

Hooked_on_books I hadn‘t thought about the metaphorical meaning of the title, only the literal one, but you‘re absolutely right! It adds depth to the title, linking it to all the life events in the book. 7d

TEArificbooks I agree with everyone here life is being tilted figuratively with a baby and realizing her husband will never grow up and do responsible things for her and her child. 7d

TEArificbooks I think another pivotal tilt was the bike riders. On a normal day, if someone is hurt you stay and help until first responders come. But knowing they weren‘t coming really changed things. It was her first oh things are really bad moment. Yes she survived the earthquake and new things were bad, but it was her first situation that showed all fast humanity devolved. 7d

BarbaraJean @mctrish YES. I actually felt like the circumstances of Annie‘s life as they were revealed made the earthquake a little too on the nose as a metaphor! The title was perfection. There were a couple pivotal tilts for me. When Annie decided to head downtown to find Dom once she reached his work and discovered he‘d called out, and then on the bridge when she can‘t get through to where he would be. Those two shifts are almost reversals of each other. 7d

BarbaraJean @yourfavoritemixtape @JamieArc Yes, the title seems like a huge understatement. These are jolts and ruptures and irreversible breaks, rather than a small tilt! But I love the sense of being off-balance that the title evokes. I think that‘s perfect for the aftermath of the violent ruptures Annie goes through here. 7d

Suet624 @megabooks I really liked what you had to say about the pinball machine. So true. 6d

MeganAnn I agree with everyone‘s comments about the title. At the beginning it simply seems to refer to the earthquake, but after finishing the book it has so much more meaning. I think the same can be said of the cover. The design with the bird feels absolutely perfect for this story after reading it. But, I don‘t know if I would have read it off the cover alone had it not been a camp pick. 6d

Chelsea.Poole Loved the title. Loved the cover art with the bird 🥺 I perked up at use of the word “tilt” throughout, used in several situations without reference to the earthquake. 6d

Maggie4483 I kept staring at that bird trying to figure out what it had to do with the story…and didn‘t notice the wire legs until just before I got to that scene. When her mom comes home without selling a single bird was heartbreaking. We all eventually come to the realization that our parents aren‘t perfect and infallible. But seeing your parent‘s vulnerability or insecurity, especially after a “failure” is on a whole different level. 6d

48 likes35 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25 question 3

That was quite the ending. You must have thoughts about it. Talk to us!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Suet624 Questions 1 and 2 are not showing up on my feed and that also means that no one was tagged. 7d

BarbaraBB @Suet624 you were too fast, they‘re here now 💕 7d

Susanita I found the ending a little frustrating TBH. Somehow, though, I knew better than to expect everything to be tied up in a bow. 7d

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mcctrish The ending was gripping - I was getting Walking Dead vibes sometimes in this because of how fraught it is for a pregnant woman to be alone in the world #idchoosethebear EP is a MASTER at building tension 7d

ImperfectCJ The ending feels right to me. The teenagers attacking her (and her self defense) seem brutal in comparison with her previous thoughts/actions, but I read it as an indication she was moving out of her ambivalence and into Mama Bear mode. She's accepted doing this on her own, even not knowing what happened to Dom. The birth scene uses language similar to how I describe my son's birth (although I was in my dining room, not a park), which was cool. 7d

AmyG At some point I realized the ending. And all her doubts about being a mother….her instinct took over. It was all inside of her all along. 7d

DGRachel I did not like the near-feral teen scene. It felt thrown in for shock value, but I liked that she still hadn‘t found Dom. There was an inner strength that I think finally became clear to her when she gave birth alone, like @AmyG said. 7d

Butterfinger I liked the ending. Everything that @AmyG said. Instincts took over. Pattee even described her as snarling when she tried to pass the teens. 7d

Jas16 I agree with @DGRachel I didn‘t really like the scene with the teens but the rest of the ending felt right to me. 7d

Bookwormjillk I would have liked a more detailed ending but I do understand why it ended that way. You can‘t really tie up something like that neatly. 7d

Zuhkeeyah The ending was fitting for her journey. Annie found a new axis to spin around despite all the uncertainty she had experienced since the morning. 7d

BarbaraBB To me the ending felt inevitable in a way that matched the rest of the novel‘s tone.There‘s a sense that Annie has tilted permanently into a new reality: one where survival is about carrying forward with a new clarity about what matters. But maybe that‘s how I want to see it! 7d

BkClubCare I didn‘t “like” the scene with the teens either but I think it worked. She needed to be provoked into her fierceness and know she could be ready for what might be next. I am liking the book more and more upon reflection and I was on board for it before and during. (And the cover is perfect, too) 7d

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @DGRachel @Jas16 @BkClubCare - the scene with the teens felt really jarring at first but looking back on it, it did fit with the narrative and led on to the ending. 7d

vonnie862 I had mixed feelings about the ending. The attack from the teens and the birth were fitting but I needed closer when it came to Dom. 7d

Deblovestoread The scene with the teens was tough but I think necessary so the we know at the end Annie has the determination to face the future with her baby in her now chaotic world. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @ImperfectCJ goodness! Can I ask, did you mean to have a home birth, or was it a surprise? I agree with your thoughts on the book, the ending felt good to me also. I like how you describe her going into mama bear mode. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel I also like that she didn't find Dom, though I felt bad for her about it, I know she loves him but throughout the book IMO he did nothing but drag her down. She will be so much more without him. 7d

ChaoticMissAdventures I was a bit nervous about the ending, you can feel the birth coming, and I was getting flashbacks from a book I hated (Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy - I despise the birth scene in this) but I think this one worked for me, it lead to this cumulation of Annie's development, bringing in new life, to her whole new life - being stronger, not having Dom, knowing herself better, and being in a physically new world after the quake 7d

JamieArc I didn‘t need her to find Dom. The reunion would have felt… I don‘t know. Not true to the reality of their relationship? But the abrupt ending left me a little “ugh.” I didn‘t love it. 7d

yourfavouritemixtape I agree with @BkClubCare she needed to be provoked to have her do what she‘s able to. I knew the end had to be open, but somehow I kind of hoped that the story would end before her giving birth. I don‘t really know why. 7d

GatheringBooks @mcctrish agreed about the mastery in building up tension - it was such a gripping read and it is the perfect length for it. There is a tightness to the narrative - kind of like pared down to its barest essence and so subtle too, that it works well. Yet the lines are snappy, the momentum ever moving forward, and the story pretty engaging thruout. I am a fan of ambiguous open endings, plus it felt fitting for me. 7d

Megabooks I liked the scene with the teens. I think EP needed to show how far Annie would go on her own to save her life and the life of her child. I like that she finally finds her inner strength. Not knowing (or really believing) Dom was alive also made her realize she had to be strong enough to face the aftermath of the earthquake and parenthood by herself. TBH, at times I thought of him more as a millstone around her neck than a husband. 7d

Christine I liked the ending! And I just assumed Dom was dead with the news of Old Town being flattened - anyone else? 7d

Lesliereadsalot I agree with @Christine I liked the ending and I was sure Dom was dead. That “deadweight “ will not be around to hinder her growth and she and the baby will be just fine. 7d

willaful It might be because I identified too much with my own situation, but I found the lack of closure upsetting. 7d

CBee At first I wanted more, but as I thought about it further, it needed to end that way. I had a feeling it would end with her giving birth. I was actually surprised she made it that long! 7d

mcctrish @DGRachel @ImperfectCJ @Jas16 the teen scene has been niggling in the back of my brain - it did feel shocking or had greater shock impact to me because the other moments of violence were fleeting. So many adults were tethered by concern/worry-their loved ones, their property, their jobs so they don‘t react poorly, but the teens have had their ties to normalcy cut so gang mentality reigns. 7d

Jas16 @mcctrish it some ways it just seemed too soon for me for the teens to be roving around in violent packs. Which I know sounds silly but if it had been a day or two of chaos later- sure. 7d

mcctrish @Jas16 I get that completely - these ones were already bad to the bone 😂 they needed no persuading to go to the dark side 7d

Hooked_on_books I thought the ending both worked for the book and was realistic in the sense that such a major shock spurring early labor is unsurprising. It was also a nice ending for Annie character arc. 7d

TEArificbooks At first I wanted more at the end. I wanted confirmation that Dom was dead. I wanted her to find her home was still standing and give birth inside her own home. And I wanted her to have a safe place to recover for a few days at least. But I respect the author ending it when she did and adding the teens drove the Annie‘s character development to believing she has to do it alone and she can do it alone. 7d

BarbaraJean For me, the ending was both too abrupt and also the only way this could have ended. I assumed Dom was dead (I‘m with you @Christine and @Lesliereadsalot!), especially after the bridge. And with what‘s revealed about their marriage and how little support I assume Annie would have had as a mother—no matter what, it was still going to come down to just her and Bean in the end. It was just the most extreme version of that! ⬇ 7d

BarbaraJean (Cont'd) So it was as expected and it felt right to me… but I was also disappointed. I wanted more answers, more resolution. I wanted to know definitively what had happened to Dom, to Taylor and her daughter, to so many others… but in the end, all that Annie was going to have was Bean. And that was enough. That felt right. 7d

ImperfectCJ @ChaoticMissAdventures It was a planned homebirth, so MUCH different circumstances, but still the birth itself Pattee described in words that really resonated for me. (I wrote about the birth at length on my blog, if you happen to like birth stories: https://imperfecthappiness.org/2011/08/08/my-sons-birth-story-part-1-ramping-up/ It's my son's 16th birthday today, so I'm thinking about his birth a lot) 7d

JamieArc One thing that drove me a little crazy was why did Annie think that Dom would stay where he was instead of going to look for her? It felt risky. I would have just gone home first. 6d

Leniverse @JamieArc Agreed! Although it made more sense to me with the ending. Her instincts were telling her to find her partner. Although I kept thinking that nesting at home would make more sense, I am also reminded that I paced the hospital hallways for about 12 hours on the day I gave birth to my first child 😂 Being still didn't feel like an option. 6d

Leniverse I hate open ended books. This wasn't even an ambiguous ending, it just stopped. The only thing that had been resolved was her feelings about her baby. And as cathartic as the birth scene was, unless Annie has watched a YouTube tutorial on how to safely cut the umbilical cord with a razor blade coated in someone else's blood, I hope whoever is out there with a flashlight has some medical training. 🤪 6d

Suet624 @Christine yes, I assume Dom is dead. 6d

Suet624 @Leniverse I laughed out loud when I read your comment about the book just stopping and how to safely cut the cord. I felt the same way. 6d

Suet624 I am so glad that I‘ve been able to read other‘s thoughts about the book. The comments have offered some insights that I hadn‘t thought about. Generally speaking, I enjoyed reading the story but was disappointed by the ending. 6d

MeganAnn @BarbaraBB I agree that the ending felt inevitable. I thought it matched the tone of the novel and that we are getting the parts of the story we need to show that with the birth of Bean, Annie‘s reality has tilted into being a mother. It didn‘t really bother me that we don‘t get more answers. 6d

MeganAnn @Leniverse your comment made me laugh as well as @Suet624 🤣 I‘m just going to assume that whoever is out there knows what to do and will take care of Annie and Bean. 6d

Christine @Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraJean @Suet624 I wonder whether Annie also immediately thought he was dead but pushed past that? Can't remember if that was alluded to in the book.
@JamieArc I 100% would have gone home!! Though I guess the fact that Annie didn't might be saying something about what she knew or thought she knew about Dom...
6d

Lesliereadsalot @Christine I think she continued to think he was alive, but when she couldn‘t get to him, decided to go home. She couldn‘t let her mind go to where he might be dead. 6d

Chelsea.Poole The only part about the book I didn‘t like was the teen girl attack. It felt…wrong, somehow. @DGRachel I agree. And @Jas16 6d

Chelsea.Poole I agree with @christine and everyone else who assumes Dom is dead. And @JamieArc I agree—Annie should have gone home to find him. I thought about what I would do in her situation and I like to think I‘d go home, but who knows how I‘d react in such a disaster. I‘m usually the panicking type. (edited) 6d

Well-ReadNeck @Leniverse Yes! 💯 6d

rockpools @Zuhkeeyah Love your comment about her finding a new axis to spin round - and describes really well her relationship with her Mum and with Dom. The whole day has been a conversation with Bean, so ending with her birth seemed right, even if everything is unresolved. 6d

Maggie4483 I think we‘re all so used to disaster movies, where the MC‘s husband (played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) would show up at just the right moment to rescue her. Real life‘s not like that; it will likely be weeks or months before Annie knows what happened to Dom (if ever). So I think the ending, while somewhat unsatisfying, was more realistic. 6d

42 likes50 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

This is a very violent read, as was to be expected of Cosby, yet I loved it - as was to be expected too.
Characters and their dilemmas are so believable that I can tolerate the violence just to stick with them. And the ending is mindblowing - at least it took me by surprise.
Looking forward to our #CampLitsy25 discussion next weekend. First tbe second half of Tilt though!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

AmyG Oooo I am almost finished. Love a good ending and figured it will be bananas. I love this author. 1w

squirrelbrain Great review! 1w

Lesliereadsalot After you said you liked this author, I figured you‘d like this one too. Lots of people loved it! Just not for me. 1w

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I get that he isn‘t for you. As long as we stay in sync about our other books 😉 1w

Lesliereadsalot I‘m not worried! 🩷 1w

peaKnit He is a bit too gritty for me, but boy can he write a story, and it was believable despite all of the wildness. 6d

86 likes6 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Hi Campers, while we‘re still have to finish and discuss Tilt on Saturday, I want to give you a heads up regarding King of Ashes, our final #CampLitsy25 read. Summer is progressing way too fast!

On August 16 we‘ll discuss the first part of King of Ashes until chapter 19. The final discussion is on August 23.

After that we‘ll ask you to vote for your August favorite and for our overall winner! So stay tuned 🧡

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 1w

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 1w

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose 1w

See All 20 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ 1w

BarbaraBB @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod 1w

squirrelbrain Exciting! Although, sad that were nearly on our last book of camp. 🤨 1w

BarbaraBB @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 1w

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn 1w

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 1w

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape 1w

Megabooks I‘ve started it but haven‘t made as much progress as I‘d like due to a flat tire! 😒 Hopefully I can get it finished by the weekend!! 1w

BarbaraBB @Megabooks No hurry! I‘ll probably finish it tomorrow and will email you and @squirrelbrain my ideas for questions for the discussion! 1w

mcctrish I‘m putting an alert on my phone so I don‘t get carried away like I did with Tilt ( where I thought both weeks had transpired within one 🤦🏻‍♀️) 1w

ImperfectCJ I started it, and then it was snagged back by the library (I got a skip-the-line copy on Libby and didn't read fast enough). The hold says 7 weeks wait, so I might need to acquire the book another way to finish it... 1w

monalyisha I love how much love the Camp picks seem to be garnering! I‘m disappointed that I haven‘t made time for them…but it just means that I‘ll inevitably read them in January when I‘m reading off my #AuldLangSpine match‘s list (if I haven‘t already). 😉 I‘ll get there one way or another! 1w

Zuhkeeyah Looking forward to this one! Can you please add me back to the tag list? It seems I fell off during the handoff from July to Aug. 1w

BarbaraBB @Zuhkeeyah I am sorry. And I will!! 1w

BarbaraBB @monalyisha You probably will and you probably will love most of them too! 1w

BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ haha 😉 1w

76 likes20 comments

BarbaraBB

I See You've Called in Dead: A Novel | John Kenney

pick

Bud Stanley writes obituaries for a paper. After a bad breakup, a disastrous date, and one too many Scotches, he accidentally publishes his own obituary. The paper tries to fire him—only to find he‘s now listed as dead and can‘t be fired. Stuck in a bureaucratic mess, Bud tries to find meaning in living. This sounds sad but it‘s actually funny too!
Good recommendation @Lesliereadsalot

TrishB There are many days I‘ve fancied calling in dead!! 1w

BarbaraBB @TrishB 🤣 1w

Cathythoughts That‘s a great title. Stacking. 👍🏻❤️ 1w

See All 6 Comments

Lesliereadsalot I knew you‘d like it! I loved the characters, they all seemed so real, especially Tim and the neighbor little boy whose name escapes me. Laughed and cried through the whole book. Now read A Language of Limbs!! 1w

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot yes! Tim and Leo were my favorite characters too. I will definitely read A Language of Limbs too! 1w

Reggie Stacked! Fab review! 1w

85 likes7 stack adds6 comments

BarbaraBB

The Tenderness of Wolves: A Novel | Stef Penney

#WeeklyForecast 32/25

I started King of Ashes for #CampLitsy25 and have read a bit in I See You‘ve Called in Dead too. The tagged book is an oldie, I can‘t even remember why I bought it. It‘s my #Roll100 read for August.

Soubhiville I liked Tenderness of Wolves. I hope you‘ll enjoy it. 2w

BarbaraBB @Soubhiville Maybe your review made me buy it! 2w

Lesliereadsalot Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts on the other two! 2w

70 likes1 stack add3 comments

BarbaraBB

Crying in H Mart: A Memoir | Michelle Zauner

so-so

I didn‘t love this book as much as most of you did. The narrator has been looking for her identity ever since her Korean mother died of cancer.
I loved the delicious Korean food descriptions and I could relate to the taking care of a dying parent but there were so many other subjects, that didn‘t really work for me. Less is more, I‘d say in this case.
Oh and I wish we had an H Mart where I live…it sounds amazing. #14weeks14books book 8

Liz_M

AlaMich They‘re pretty fun, I have to say. 2w

ImperfectCJ I wasn't a huge fan of this one, either. It feels a little too performative for me. H Mart is pretty cool, though. 2w

mcctrish I‘m glad I listened to this 2w

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB @mcctrish It‘s a perfect book to listen to I think. 2w

Suet624 I'm so glad to see you felt the same way about this book. I felt nervous saying I considered it a so-so read. 2w

BarbaraBB I felt a bit nervous too, everyone seems to love it! 2w

85 likes6 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

It‘s August and I‘m taking over the hosting from Meg for our final two #CampLitsy25 books. Today we‘re discussing Part One of Tilt.

As ever, if you‘ve read ahead, please try not to include spoilers for those who haven‘t.

Also, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find the other two questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 2w

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @Cbee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 2w

See All 66 Comments

BarbaraBB @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 2w

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @jhod 2w

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks (edited) 2w

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape 2w

Meshell1313 Ooh I think it def adds more drama and makes the story more high stakes. I cared about her survival more and her situation seemed way worse because we were worried about the baby. 2w

Kitta I think it‘s provided an interesting way for her to tell the story - directly to the baby. And yes as @Meshell1313 said it adds drama! I cared about her either way but it certainly seems more high risk given she‘s heavily pregnant. 2w

jenniferw88 I'm probably going to be the #unpopularopinion here, but I think she'd have done the same things, pregnant or not. 2w

Lesliereadsalot I agree with @jenniferw88 Of course she was trying to save two lives, but at the end of the day, everyone tries to save themselves. I couldn‘t stop thinking about how cumbersome it was to be heavily pregnant! 2w

Ruthiella Would she have behaved differently if not pregnant? If anything she would have been perhaps more reckless? The whole book I was on edge. She thought more of her husband than her own or her child‘s life, it seemed. 2w

squirrelbrain I agree Kitta - it was a good way to tell the story. Otherwise there would have had to have been another person with her all the time, or it would have been a stream-of-consciousness inner thoughts-type book. 2w

BarbaraBB I agree the pregancy added to the drama - 36 weeks 😱 @Lesliereadsalot I kept thinking about that too, but I agree with @jenniferw88 in thinking that she‘d make the same decisions without being pregnant. Like @Ruthiella points out, she seems to hardly think of her baby. 2w

Megabooks @Ruthiella Me too. I was on edge. I think it also made the periods she reflected on the relationship with her own mother more poignant and impactful. I have heard there is some brain fog in pregnancy, and I have that with my chronic illnesses. Her actions and the split between being single-minded and not always rational is reminiscent of that for me. 2w

jenniferw88 @Ruthiella this 100%! She doesn't seem at all bothered about her own life, nor her baby's. She is SO NOT ready to be a parent. 2w

JamieArc I think one of the aspects that is directly affected by the pregnancy is how others perceive her or help her. More people are aware of her because of her pregnancy, and we as readers see that. And would she be getting the help she is if she weren‘t pregnant? 2w

TrishB Jeez, harsh judgements 😁 first baby/pregnancy, hard to imagine a child or being a mother! I don‘t think it‘s that she didn‘t think of the baby, she was just panicking. I mean she made some dodgy choices. I think as @squirrelbrain says, it‘s a good story telling device. 2w

Bookwormjillk @jenniferw88 I agree. Other than the physical issues she didn‘t really seem to think about the baby. The big thing though is that without the baby she would have been at work instead of crib shopping at IKEA. 2w

jenniferw88 @TrishB, my medical conditions may be influencing my judgement for this book! As I've said somewhere else on one of my posts, I probably can't have children, so I can't empathise with Annie at all because I'll never be in her position. 2w

TrishB @jenniferw88 no one is ever ready. It‘s life changing. 2w

BarbaraBB @TrishB You‘re absolutely right, it‘s life changing, and I think she did what she thought was best - under pressure of the earthquake and not knowing where Dom was. I think she would have made those decisions anyway, mainly because she isn‘t a mother yet. She‘s a lonely panicky woman at this day! (edited) 2w

Susanita She was “talking” to the baby constantly, for one thing. Yeah, she would be a hot mess regardless, but I think the story would have been different if she wasn‘t pregnant. Also, saving her life IS saving the baby‘s life. 2w

mcctrish I agree with @TrishB that first babies/pregnancy are hard - no matter what you read it‘s a constant feeling of being out of control imo, I think Annie feels that on so many levels, she isn‘t exploring her dream job, finances are a shit show, her husband is going rogue, and there‘s an earthquake. She‘s lost herself and not having her mother is 💔 2w

TrishB @mcctrish yes- that‘s a great summary. 2w

TrishB @BarbaraBB she definitely is a lonely panicky woman! Felt for her. 2w

vonnie862 Yes, I think her pregnancy added to her decisions and how people perceived her. 2w

Chelsea.Poole I think the late stage pregnancy added to the emotional impact of the book—both in the present day earthquake aftermath and the lens through which we get Annie‘s past (her mother, her partner). It changed both others‘ perception of Annie and her own interactions/thoughts with the crisis (the little boy alone in IKEA, etc.) And I think that‘s pretty much how it is in real life. Motherhood colors everything: both the way I am seen and the way I see. 2w

DGRachel Nothing new to add, but I think the pregnancy made it the experience physically harder for her. She‘d still be a hot mess if she wasn‘t pregnant, but I can see myself being just as lost, especially if I was alone. I agree with @JamieArc about it impacting the way others perceive and help her. I think if she hadn‘t been pregnant, she‘d have been invisible. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures I have a moderate tokophobia, so normally I would never read a book centering pregnancy in this way, but I do think everything is heightened a bit by it. I am with @Kitta it provided an interesting way to narrate the story, @Megabooks pregnancy brain fog added to disaster confusion, I honestly thought she was holding up pretty well so far. I cannot imagine the pain in the body, I thought Pattee did a great job describing it. 2w

AmyG Yes wha mt you have all said. I believe it changed how she might have reacted. We will bever know. It wasnmt just her, it was her and the baby. I also agree it changed how th e reader reacted to her. I may not have had as much compassion for her if it was just her. 2w

Zuhkeeyah Her pregnancy definitely played a role in how others interacted with her. Annie seems to be mostly ignoring the existence of the baby despite being late in pregnancy. There is also an element of shock to it all that leads to some decisions I don‘t agree with. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @jenniferw88 I agree she is not prepared, but more so what the heck is she doing with that man, having a baby with him??? @Susanita yes, constantly talking to Bean, I almost think having someone to constantly talk to is a bit grounding for her. My stream of conscious would have been out of control, but it seems like she is able to talk to Bean in a way to get her thoughts a bit more in order than if she was just talking to herself. 2w

GatheringBooks Was laughing out loud as I was reading the responses in this thread. Poor pregnant Annie lols. I echo the sentiment that pregnant or not, Annie would most likely make the same choices. However, I do sense her efforts to protect her Bean - she is very much aware of her own baby, but perhaps she overestimated her own capacity and underestimated the chaos and danger? As a first time hormonal mother, I think she would go even crazier if she went home. 2w

Jas16 I agree that her pregnancy had a large impact in the ways others perceived her and in her physical capabilities, I think in some ways though the feeling of not feeling being prepared for the way a baby is going to change her life and the way she reacts to an unexpected earthquake, digging deep insider herself are connected. 2w

Deblovestoread Not much new to add. I think she might be a bit better prepared for Bean‘s birth if she had a partner not just a husband. 2w

Butterfinger While reading, I was comparing myself to Annie, not really thinking about her not being pregnant. I remember being scared out of my mind and being very rash when I was at that stage. I locked my keys in the car when I started laboring so I calmly went back into the trucks top restaurant to grab a chair. I was not going to have my baby at a truckstop. My husband, who stupidly was not panicking, said let's just call someone. I WAS NOT IN A DISASTER 2w

Butterfinger I couldn't imagine being in that situation. I know I would walk to my husband's workplace to be with him. Maybe, if she hadn't been pregnant, she would have been more willing to offer aid to others hurt far more than she. 2w

Hooked_on_books The physical challenges alone for her would have been so hard. She‘s late in pregnancy, so she‘s quite front heavy having to navigate broken ground. She‘d also have leg swelling and reflux at this stage. It would change everything compared to having to deal with all that. 2w

CBee So strange - I never got a notification! Will check out all of the questions soon. @BarbaraBB Litsy being glitchy 🤪 2w

CBee I kept thinking that what she was doing was impossible. But somehow, she did it. Being pregnant definitely influenced her decisions. 2w

BarbaraBB That‘s frustrating @CBee I did tag you. I hope you‘ll enjoy the discussion nevertheless 🤍 2w

CBee @BarbaraBB no worries on my end! I know Litsy can be wonky sometimes 🙂 2w

willaful I'm maybe the only person here who has actually been this situation - NOT, thank goodness, pregnant! -- and getting home to my then boyfriend (now husband) was the only thing I cared about. I made what in retrospect were very foolish decisions and could have been killed.

I feel no one is giving Annie credit for listening to her intuition, turning down a bad ride for example. She's doing her best in incredibly dire circumstances. 2w

peaKnit @AmyG I agree, I would not have had as much empathy if she wasn‘t pregnant either. I totally think her pregnancy influenced her decisions. 2w

TrishB @willaful I hear you! I haven‘t been in this situation (thankfully!) but I understood the making decisions in a stressful situation and that‘s just the way it is. Some harsh judgements here 😁 2w

BarbaraBB @willaful You‘re right, I cannot imagine those circumstances. Next week we‘ll discuss her encounters with people along the way! 2w

cariashley Gah, this was such a tough read 8 weeks postpartum but better to read it now than when I was 37 weeks! The whole time I just kept thinking she was in shock and on autopilot out of sheer desperation, which I can‘t imagine would have been quite as visceral if she wasn‘t pregnant. I cannot imagine. My ankles were swelling so bad in heat at the end and it pained me reading about her walking such distances! 2w

BkClubCare Fifty comments!! 2w

BkClubCare Okay, I thought it insane that she was in Ikea and attempting to move/lift boxes; that she wasn‘t getting any help and that was before the earthquake. I was super happy that she connected to the girl again to assist getting out of the store. 2w

BkClubCare @cariashley - it pained me for her! All that walking! Bad shoes!! No water!!! Wow. 2w

BarbaraBB @cariashley You could relate to Annie very well much I think, and you describe her feelings perfectly. 2w

Suet624 @BkClubCare Her attempt to lift boxes! Insane. :) 2w

Suet624 I loved reading all these comments. I don't think she would have acted any differently if she weren't pregnant - she'd still want to get to her husband. That's anyone's first thought, isn't it? :) 2w

Maggie4483 Only a day late this time instead of a week! Woo hoo! I kinda don‘t agree with everyone about Annie‘s actions. I think she‘s definitely looking out for Bean (she‘s always very aware and protective of her belly), but it seems instinctive, not intentional. And her guilt at leaving the little boy in IKEA, and her hesitation to leave Becky‘s body, makes me think that, were she NOT pregnant, she might have become a helper. (edited) 2w

Maggie4483 @willaful - I think that‘s only natural. I imagine after a disaster all you want is to be with your loved ones, if anything just as reassurance that they‘re okay. I was a freshman in college on 9/11, away from home for the first time. Even though no one I knew was anywhere near NY or DC, but I called all my loved ones. I‘ll never forget my grandfather laughing at me and telling me that Nacogdoches, Texas was one of the safest places I could be. 2w

Well-ReadNeck I def think her pregnancy makes a huge difference. For the reasons everyone mentioned, but also because this baby will be coming at some point in the near future and she doesn‘t have the option to hunker down and wait and take things slowly. She needs to get to civilization and medical care. 2w

sarahbarnes I‘m sorry to have missed this discussion @BarbaraBB - I‘ve been so distracted lately and haven‘t even read this book yet. I hope you‘re doing well. 💕 2w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes No problem of course, I just hope you‘re doing well. Been missing you on Litsy 🤍 2w

ImperfectCJ Annie seems incredibly aware of her baby (I mean, she's talking to it the whole time), but it seems like she's thinking of the baby as a part of her, which it basically is. And really, the baby is in the safest place it can be, so she doesn't really need to think of it separately. She's just got a need to bring her little family together and feel safe, and it's not clear to her how to make that happen. 2w

ImperfectCJ I've no idea if she'd act differently not pregnant, but I suspect she would have less focus on one goal. And without Bean to talk to, she might be a lot more panicked. 2w

BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ wow you‘re late to the party but you add a lot to think about! Very insightful 🤍 2w

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 💕💕 thank you. My work is very connected to all the terrible things happening here and it feels very overwhelming these days. I still love Litsy and miss seeing you on here; I hope to have more time to be back on here soon. 1w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I am very sorry for you. I can‘t imagine how that must be but I guess it is frightening and frustrating. I hope books and Litsy can continue to be a much needed way out 💝 1w

45 likes66 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25

Let‘s discuss the two most important people in Annie‘s life: her mother and her husband!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Bookwormjillk I think Annie is starting to lose patience with her husband. Dating an underemployed actor is probably not as romantic when you have a baby on the way. Her mother is not as easy to sus out. Annie seems to view her positively but I'm not sure if that's because she recently died. Overall Annie seems pretty alone. 2w

Lesliereadsalot My daughter, who still performs sometimes, dated many, many unemployed actors over many years and I know a lot about this genre of guys. Annie was amazing to have as good an attitude as she had for so long a time, so accepting of who her husband was. I felt for Annie, just her and the baby. 2w

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot - she seemed to have become frustrated with her husband. And that probably wasn‘t a one-sided view - the things she spoke about that he did / didn‘t do were factual and most people would be annoyed by them, not just her. Her feelings probably were heightened by the quake - a rather extreme example of another way she‘d been left to fend for herself. 2w

See All 57 Comments

Ruthiella I think Annie is someone who probably could have used more friends in her life. Her entire emotional support is invested in two people, who are only human and mortal and so are not enough. I also think the husband should have found a way to perform (teaching, community theater, etc) rather than hanging on to a probably unrealistic dream of making it in LA. Also, they should have moved to LA. 2w

Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot I agree she hung in there for a long time 2w

Megabooks @Ruthiella Speaking from personal experience, having a small social circle is especially noticeable when you're facing heavy things like death, pregnancy, and marriage problems. I felt for her a lot. Could she have made better choices? Yes. It's easy to feel stuck, though. She definitely seems to feel incredibly lonely. 2w

BarbaraBB Regarding Annie‘s mother I think her absence inflates Annie‘s fears and heightens her introspection—a missing anchor as she wrestles with becoming a mother herself. And that husband. While he is sympathetic and committed, Dom chases approval and recognition far beyond their financial means. Annie is very much alone indeed @Megabooks @Ruthiella in facing all that‘s coming her way. (edited) 2w

JamieArc I was wondering if she was romanticizing the past when she was talking about first meeting, dating, early years with her husband. But then, we probably all do that, especially when facing mortality. 2w

TrishB I think it‘s making her think a lot. But I don‘t think they‘re new thoughts. Impending motherhood is scary enough without a support mechanism and many financial woes. 2w

Susanita As @Ruthiella says, she needed a bigger support network. She‘s dealing with unresolved grief from losing her mother so abruptly, and her husband has proven himself to be untrustworthy. Even before being trapped by herself in the rubble, she felt alone. 2w

Lesliereadsalot @JamieArc Agree with you here! I‘m sure she thought he would “grow out” of that early stage of auditions, evolve into someone else. Especially with a baby coming. Unfortunately, this kind of guy, never does let it go. @squirrelbrain She‘s sick and tired of being left to fend for herself, good point! 2w

mcctrish I feel like Annie‘s mother was the last person to do something for Annie and Annie is exhausted doing everything, her husband seems nice but clueless to the amount of care he requires. The stress of looking for the next gig does get offset by the high of hoping, whereas Annie just has the grind 2w

vonnie862 The earthquake may have triggered to how she's feeling about her mom and husband but if anything, she's coming to the realization of how she really feels. She's irritated with her husband and feeling guilt on how things ended with her mom. 2w

Chelsea.Poole Her mom didn‘t come across as saintly to me, but just as a down to earth, supportive and caring mother. I liked that she created the boundary of “no more money”. Her husband is also not perfect but genuine and seems like he‘ll be a good dad. Or at least that‘s how Annie is operating at this point. She‘s still exasperated by him at times, seems realistic. 2w

DGRachel It hadn‘t really clicked before, but yes. Annie is alone in her pregnancy. Her husband, no matter his feelings for her or the baby, is a child. She refers to him as Peter Pan, refusing to grow up. The earthquake is a chance for her to voice her anger and her grief. My issue with her mother was the encouragement to get married so Annie‘s husband could have dental insurance. 🤦🏻‍♀️ That doesn‘t seem like a great reason. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Bookwormjillk so very alone!! Her mother dies, her husband is useless, where are her friends? It is always bizarre to me when our characters have no friends. 2w

AmyG I agree that her Mom was her rock, her anchor. With the earthquake she most likely felt the loss even more. As for the husband…can anyone blame her? She was the breadwinner while he was pursuing a dream with, at that point, low odds. I felt she gave up her dream for him and it was going nowhere. I also felt great disappointment on her part with him as things just didn‘t pan out as she thought. 2w

Zuhkeeyah I agree with @mcctrish about her mom being the last person to focus on Annie. Her mom sounded like a practical person with limited means who passed that resiliency onto her daughter. Dom loves Annie but he‘s very committed to his personal goals which causes her needs to take a backseat. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Lesliereadsalot there were a couple of times she has mentioned that he wanted to move to more of an “acting scene“ and she has stopped it, I wonder how much of this is reflected in her having a good attitude with him for so long? 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Ruthiella at one point, I think before they are married, she mentions he was acting and teaching acting on the side, but it was just a passing mentions so I did wonder what happened to that line of creativity and income. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks in my experience with disasters, pregnant or not, it is very hard to make the best choices. I kept yelling at her in my mind, go HOME. what are you doing. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @JamieArc agreed, I think we all romanticize the past. Especially in hard times. Not only is she nostalgic for life and love (being so lonely on her solo walk) but she needs to believe that she is walking towards something great. If she wasn't what would be the point of it all? 2w

GatheringBooks @Chelsea.Poole i had the same impression of her mother: no-nonsense, caring, & as supportive as she can get given their limited means. I don‘t know if it is just me but Annie does not really strike me as the friendliest, most likeable person which may explain the absence of friends? Her ruminations & the way she describes people/circumstances suggest a dash of bitterness, sarcasm, a touch of standoffishness, like she is better than everyone else. 2w

Jas16 I agree that she is scared and feeling the lack of support in the life. I do think she loves her husband but being pregnant changes her priorities quickly and being the supportive spouse is no longer as important as providing for their child. 2w

GatheringBooks That being said, there is something very genuine and real and also broken about her - with all her missed opportunities and untapped potential that make her so complex. She has an open-eyed pragmatism that I also admire, and a predisposition towards mockery - even self-mockery, too, suggesting she can laugh at herself. But all these qualities do not necessarily scream Miss Congeniality. Lols. 2w

Deblovestoread @DGRachel Same! Up to that point I thought mom was sensible but marrying to give him insurance ugh! And also shows him “I‘ll always bail you out” so he doesn‘t have to fix the problems, she will. 2w

Susanita @ChaoticMissAdventures ITA that she should not have had a child with him. 2w

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks Well put, she appears very genuine. Life has been tough for her and she doesn‘t know what to expect of it with a baby and she can‘t ask her mom. 2w

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Haha I too wanted her to just go HOME and kept yelling at her in my mind! 2w

BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread @DGRachel That was not the best of advice I agree. So annoying too that he himself didn‘t take responsibility for his problems. He was always a victim, which is why she had to be strong all the time. 2w

Butterfinger My views are most similar to @DGRachel and @Deblovestoread Of the two, she is the most mature and responsible. She is probably thinking, the dummy won't think of me so I had better go find him. Annie clearly misses her mother. That is one of the main reasons she wants to stay. The memories of childhood with her mom. 2w

DGRachel @ChaoticMissAdventures As someone who doesn‘t have a social network, I can say it hits harder when the main characters don‘t have friends. I find I understand and empathize more. But also, yes. I keep thinking why didn‘t she go home. Wouldn‘t home be the best meeting place? (edited) 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel yes, sorry, that sounded very judgemental on my part. I don't have a huge circle either and 2 of them would be on the other side of the big river, probably impossible to get to and the other 2 would be on the other side of the river she is going to cross, and with all the phones down. Even with a support group you can end up very alone. 2w

Megabooks @ChaoticMissAdventures me too. Home would make much more logical sense, which is one of the aspects where I really felt the brain fog whether it was because of or heightened by pregnancy or just the general fog of disaster everyone was dealing with. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks originally it made sense for her to go to the cafe. The cafe is between IKEA and home, but pivoting to cross the river is a wild choice. If she walks straight south down 60th she would be home! And we have zero clue where Dom is at this moment! I would assume he is trying to get across the river to her. Maybe (IDK, I don't trust the guy) 2w

Meshell1313 @ChaoticMissAdventures yes! I am skeptical of him also! 2w

Lesliereadsalot @ChaoticMissAdventures You think he‘s trying to get home to her? I think he‘s worried about his audition, haha! 2w

Hooked_on_books I think the author made these choices to isolate Annie in her life from a writing craft perspective to heighten her isolation, and it really works. I feel like many people in that situation would be desperately trying to get to someone they care about, and for her to be focusing on just one person, because that‘s all she has, focuses the book. 2w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I think you‘re right. She only has one person to turn to, one who probably isn‘t worth her. It makes the book so good. 2w

CBee Dom drives me crazy. I understand having a dream but you have to contribute in order to get there. You have to do more and you have to figure out priorities, which he hasn‘t done. I really feel like Annie was forced to give up her writing and success because he‘s so delusional about the next “big break.” (edited) 2w

CBee @DGRachel I feel this. Not much of a social network for me either. Virtual, yes! But not a lot of people to turn to for help in my life 🤦‍♀️ 2w

CBee I think Annie‘s just been generally disappointed by life, and losing her mother/best friend so suddenly was the last straw in a way. I liked her as a character. (edited) 2w

TrishB @CBee I liked her too! 2w

willaful @Hooked_on_books Can confirm! And being pregnant would make her even more focused on the one person she's been relying on for support. 2w

CBee @TrishB 😊😊 2w

cariashley @BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures ah same! I wanted her to just go home too. It was so frustrating! 2w

cariashley I actually think the takes on Dom here are a little bit harsh, and I have pretty bad economic anxiety/financial stability issues. Annie herself started out wanting an artistic life and while she gave up and got a practical desk job, she‘s clearly not making a career out of it. I think they‘re actually a well matched couple in a lot of ways. (edited) 2w

BkClubCare @Susanita - um, I had to look up “ITA” 🤣 (should I be embarrassed?! 😞) 2w

BkClubCare @cariashley - ah, and that it is too easy to say, “they should‘ve written plays for Dom and worked together with a shared dramatic vision!!” But we all aren‘t the 1%. I know nothing. But she did seem to lack friends for someone who grew up in the same area. I have moved SO much; always jealous of those “in town + grew up together” friendships that I just never had. 2w

BkClubCare And, if the big one (earthquake) is a known possibility, don‘t you think about “where are we going to meet?” - we always do this! We still joke about meeting at the doggie daycare where we LOVE the proprietors, BUT. They are in Massachusetts and we now live in Kansas 🫤 2w

Suet624 I'm surprised by how people view Dom (although he was a shit for lying about where he would be). He is attempting to pursue his passion. Annie seems to have just stopped pursuing hers. I don't remember him telling her to do so. It just seemed to me that she just lost her ambition to write. Oh, I just saw that @cariashley had the same thought. 2w

Maggie4483 I agree with @cariashley and @Suet624 - Dom is definitely not perfect, but he does seem to really love Annie. I think for both of them, the baby is still an abstract idea (although more so for Dom). I‘ve known a couple of “deadbeat dads” in my life, and one thing they had in common was a lack of ambition. I see in Dom the potential to step up once that baby is a real living, breathing, eating, pooping, crying person in the world. (1/2) 2w

Maggie4483 (2/2) Annie also seems very rigid. I get her attachment to her home & mother‘s memory, but that‘s really all there is for her in Portland. There‘s an opportunity for compromise here. Dom probably isn‘t to become a movie star in LA, but he‘s definitely not going to in Portland. Give him the chance to pursue it, with the caveat that at the same time he has to contribute more to the household. 2w

Leniverse Annie grew up with just her mother, no siblings and no father. There's been no mention of grandparents or other relatives either, so of course they were close. Her mother died suddenly and with Annie not even 30. And now she's pregnant with her first child, that her mother will never meet. My mother and I are kinda like oil and water but I still went to her for advice and support when I was expecting, and it was invaluable. 2w

Leniverse Her life seems to be all work and supporting her husband's dream. All her friends have moved away or are living very different lives. I think Annie gave up on her dream too soon, and Dom has held on to his for too long (but this might change when the baby is born). I didn't like the lie, he should have stood his ground if it was that important to him. 2w

ImperfectCJ I see Annie as never having been given space to feel all she needs to about her career disappointments, her mother's death, her pregnancy with a guy who's oblivious. She seems very...protective. Like when you have a bad stomachache or some other pain and are afraid to move and make it worse. I guess this can appear as rigid, but I think it's just self-protective. And just like the pressure between tectonic plates, it's got to give eventually. 2w

ImperfectCJ It's Annie's being responsible and holding down a "real" job with benefits that allows Dom to follow his star, and he seems to have little appreciation for that reality and little patience for Annie's ambivalence about starting a family in this situation. There's so much riding on her and not much open conversation. But then, I roll my eyes at "pursuing one's passion," so that's my bias. 2w

44 likes57 comments

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

#CampLitsy25

The earthquake, the aftermath: it‘s frightening to read about, especially in times when natural disasters are happening more often. Let‘s talk about it a bit if you want to.

Lots of cliffhangers halfway through the book. We hope you‘ll join us next week for the remainder!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Meshell1313 Yes it def makes you think about what to do in that situation and if you can trust strangers to help you. In her situation why not make way to a hospital or police station? That‘s probably what I would have done. 2w

Bookwormjillk What a stressful story! Overall I still think it's good to prepare, but so much of it seems to come down to luck. 2w

jenniferw88 I've experienced quite a strong earthquake in Kefalonia - luckily, no damage was done, but it was scary. The water and Internet did actually come back quite quickly (I remember marking myself as safe on Facebook 🤣), so I think it is a very worst-case scenario in the book. We had no preparation as we hadn't experienced an earthquake before - nowadays we probably would have something ready. 2w

See All 75 Comments

Kitta I was in a cat 5 hurricane once when I was living in Honduras for the summer during Uni. We went into the only concrete building (the scuba diving shop) and boarded the windows. We dragged all the mattresses in and food and prepared for the storm. That night we played cards and drank all the rum 😆 It was scary but also kind of fun? I was 19 and didn‘t have a sense of the devastation it could have caused. It seemed more like an adventure. 2w

Lesliereadsalot You have to be in the right place at the right time when a catastrophe happens. There will always be good samaritans and there will always be bad guys! 2w

squirrelbrain @Meshell1313 - that would be the rational thing to do, wouldn‘t it?! But who knows how we‘d behave! 2w

Ruthiella @Meshell1313 Absolutely! There‘d be no book if she had behaved rationally, however. 😅 I agree with @Lesliereadsalot luck plays into it. Preparedness can only go so far. I think Katrina is a good example of a horrible situation where the disaster was overwhelming in a similar way. 2w

Megabooks When I was a kid, they made a big deal about the possibility of an earthquake on the New Madrid Fault in Missouri near the Mississippi River. If it is strong enough, it would definitely impact my hometown (where I live now), but I don't know how much you could or should prepare for a fairly unlikely event. I guess at this point I'm more worried about civil war or more repression in the US than an earthquake! 😳 😳 2w

Megabooks I'd like to think I'd be fairly calm because I was always pretty calm when facing emergencies in vet med when I was in practice, but I don't think you can really ever know. 2w

JamieArc @Megabooks Yes, we definitely have more man-made catastrophes to worry about than natural ones! 2w

JamieArc As I get older, I tend to let go of the desire to move out of Michigan because apart from a damaging tornado here or there (very infrequent), we are very safe from natural disasters. I feel like I would be like the narrator. Probably should do something, but I‘ll think about that later. 2w

TrishB Only so much planning you can do. If your house collapses, your planning will change! 2w

Bookwormjillk @TrishB it‘s like the MikeTyson quote “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” 2w

TrishB @Bookwormjillk a very realistic approach! 😁 2w

BarbaraBB @JamieArc Me too, I would think about it but not act upon it 🤦🏻‍♀️ Like @Megabooks I am most scared of the state of the world right now but @TrishB is right, only so much planning you can do. (edited) 2w

TrishB @BarbaraBB I think I‘d drive myself crazy if I tried to plan for all eventualities!! 2w

mcctrish I think I‘d want to get home but I wouldn‘t have left buying a crib until week 36. I also think once you start moving it would be hard to stop. I was so concerned when Annie was walking though, I could not stop reading cuz I had to know she was safe. 2w

Susanita This was so stressful! If nothing else, I‘d make sure to hang onto my phone and purse 2w

vonnie862 This is so scary but it is something I really need to plan for, especially living in Southern California. I think I would be better prepared if a natural disaster happened while I was at work because of all the drills, but when it comes to my family, I am not prepared. Do I go to them? Do we have a meeting point? Do we have enough supplies? 2w

Chelsea.Poole Annie is relatable—I‘ve often done a few things to prepare for incidents (car kit in case of a wreck/extra batteries, etc) but it always just seems like one of those things I‘ll deal with later. Also, the people who do get super prepared are known as “prepers” and can take it too far?! But I don‘t live in fear of a natural disaster —more afraid of nuclear war 😱 and again that normally comes down to luck. 2w

DGRachel I‘m fully aware that I‘m not prepared for any kind of disaster and it terrifies me. I mean, I have drinking was to last for a couple of weeks, and travel crates for the dogs, but that‘s about it. I‘d be just as lost as Annie, if not more so. 2w

AmyG I felt the fear and stress of this. While I can be a nervous nellie, I am also calm in an emergency (I freak out later!). Where I live there is always the fear of fire. I have a go bag packed with important papers. I try not to think about it as I don‘t want to live in fear. 2w

DGRachel @AmyG I was just about to edit my response because I realized how I react will depend on people around me. If people near me panic, I become really calm and sharp. If everyone around me calm and reasonable, I feel like someone needs to be panicked and therefore I will. 😂 2w

AmyG @DGRachel Ha, yes. If everyone freaks it‘s hard to stay calm! 2w

Zuhkeeyah As someone who moved from a low natural disaster state to one with a tornado season, I now have simple plans in place. During the peak of the season, I make sure to keep battery packs charged and to always have my phone on me. I think it will come down to luck if disaster does strike. The book did a great job portraying the need to stay moving. Home is a powerful draw when the world is unsteady. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Meshell1313 so living here, I will say, the route she is going, there are no hospitals, it is a weird industrial and poor area. She would have to go miles further south to get to the nearest hospital. There isn't even a fire house so far on the route she is taking. But yes, I have been mapping out so many other routes she could have taken, I do think mileage wise until she gets to the cafe she is going pretty good 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Bookwormjillk 100% down to luck. I don't know what she could have done to prepare for this. She lost her purse so has no money or car keys. The roads are toast, so even with a car IDK how far she would get, you prepare your house, maybe your car, but what if disaster strikes when you are not home? 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Kitta It is kind of fun? (Well until people get seriously hurt or worst) but I have been through many hurricanes, and fires, and earthquakes, and it is usually community that make it fun (I remember vividly a huge block party in South Carolina during a hurricane) she is so alone and never staying somewhere long enough to get that community fun which is stressful. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Megabooks it is so hard to know! When I went through my first earthquake (moved from the place in this book to southern California) I literally stood up from my computer and started running through the things I had been taught - get in a door, no they say not to do that anymore because it will split you in two! Bathtub? No that is for tornadoes? By the time I settled on lying by the couch it was over and time to start cleaning up. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures Not sure if anyone else in #CampLitsy lives here, but in this area we are raised with the earthquake warning “The Big One“, it is sort of like our volcanos. The idea is so fantastical it is hard to imagine. Like that instructor said, it could happen tomorrow or 100 yrs from now. I am much more concerned with our wildfires, and have a go bag, and get prepped every May for those. The big concern is you are cut off from the other side of town 1/2 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures Portland is completely cut in half by a river (a river that is honestly disgusting, my ex who works environmental restoration warned me enough times to never get in it that I would never touch it) we all know our infrastructure is trashed. Everyone who lives here is fully aware that if it hits and you are on the wrong side you are screwed, so I am curious to see what she does. I really hope she doesn't touch the water... lol 2w

Jas16 As someone who lives in San Francisco I probably should be more prepared than I am. 2w

GatheringBooks I was born in a tropical country (Philippines) where monsoon typhoons are common, not to mention flooding - when we moved to Singapore, there were hardly any natural disasters to speak of - same here in the Emirates, although the threat of impending war looms in this region, and we were advised to have a to-go bag just in case things get awry, especially with recent events, which reminds me that i have not prepared any of that yet. Sigh. 2w

Deblovestoread I live in Oregon and it adds to the story that I know the places she writes about. Fear of the big one has been ingrained in me and my biggest fear was going over the bridges on my commute. (I‘m about an hour south of Portland) I do not want to end up in the river in my car. I use to think we lived in a fairly benign area for natural disasters but now wildfires are very real threat. 2w

BarbaraBB @mcctrish I‘d have bought that crib much earlier too. You can‘t really prepare for a quake but for an birth you can. 36 weeks 😱 2w

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures It is very interesting you are able to follow where she walks and if or makes sense. @Deblovestoread @Hooked_on_books same goes for you probably. It‘ll add to the reading experience I think but it might also be a bit scary to read about that Big One. 2w

BarbaraBB @vonnie862 we don‘t have many natural disasters where I live but with current world politics I have been thinking of that meeting an discussed it with my man and kids. Now I always make sure my car has a full tank too 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w

Butterfinger Ugh. It will be a year September 30th/October 1st when Helene came through our community. I knew how she felt when she was thirsty and seeing the destruction. Not knowing how the rest of your area fared. The roads had been blocked by fallen trees, at least 30 had to be chopped and moved before we could leave. I just sat in my car and cried when I was able to get a local radio station. CA fires and TX flood. It hits differently now. 2w

BarbaraBB @Zuhkeeyah Well put. Do you think she‘s right to keep on moving instead of going home? 2w

BarbaraBB @Butterfinger That must have been so stressful. This must be a hard read and you probably can relate to Annie 🤍 2w

Butterfinger The rumors that fly around, not being able to discern fact from fiction. Is the National Guard really shooting people who are trying to swim? People helping each other. She knows now not to put off the necessary chores like planning and listening to the earthquake expert her husband was trying to emulate. 2w

TEArificbooks I grew up in tornado alley. We were prepared. Our tornado shelter was fully stocked with radios food water meds pillows first aid kit batteries flashlights candles etc. Now I live elsewhere and have go bags and water and survival kits kept in the car. I can grab it and walk out if need be. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @Butterfinger I am glad you were safe even if it was scary. I think it is hard for people to plan for possibilities of disasters. Have you done any prep since Helene that you think will help if it happens again? I am with @Deblovestoread I am much more worried about wildfires and have prep for that, but I lived in Southern California and learned how there now I teach others because it is a new threat here 2w

Butterfinger @ChaoticMissAdventures very minimal prep. I have water that can be stored for 10 years. I know exactly what to do with my pets. Western NC was not prepared. We had a week of downpours before Helene landed in the FL Panhandle The mudslides, the floods. It's considered a geological event. Rivers actually changed course. 2w

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB this book has been Very Portland coded. I have wondered how people are reacting to the her writing. It cannot make a lot of sense when she talks about going to Big Pink (a large building downtown covered in pink glass) or when she mentions names of streets without saying they are streets. 2w

Kitta @ChaoticMissAdventures I was on the subway during the big blackouts on the east coast in 2003 bringing my little sister home from summer camp. We were on the platform not the train when the lights went out, thankfully 😅 What I remember most is the community! We were without power for days cooking on the bbq and eating by candlelight, all the stores gave away free ice-cream! We had to walk really far to get home but it was kind of fun except that. 2w

Kitta @ChaoticMissAdventures so I agree. Minus people getting hurt and the destruction, there is good moments and bonding to be had in things like this. The book is devastating though, I can‘t imagine seeing all that, traumatic to say the least. (I‘m almost finished so I‘m trying not to give spoilers, but wow). (edited) 2w

Meshell1313 @ChaoticMissAdventures oh that makes sense then! The author clearly did her research in choosing that route! 2w

Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB So right! Who doesn‘t have a crib, assembled, waiting for a baby? 2w

Hooked_on_books I don‘t think this book shaped my perspective because the event it depicts, Cascadia, is one I‘ve been well aware of since I first moved to the Oregon coast in 2013. When it happens, in the spot I‘m in, the first tsunami wave will hit in 30 minutes. So I‘ve thought about where I would go if I were in various spots and it hit. And, like in the book, it would likely be on foot. 2w

Hooked_on_books I think what many of us don‘t think about is the long aftermath. The go bag and some water are great ideas for the short term, but there are circumstances after disaster in which you can be cut off or dealing with issues for a long time. What then? We had a bad storm when I was in Hawaii and I had no power or water for 5 days. That‘s not long term, but it kinda sucked! I figured it out and have an interesting outdoor bathing story now. 2w

CBee @Megabooks same 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ 2w

CBee I think Annie put off buying a crib for a myriad of reasons - money being a huge factor, but also her ambivalence about being a mother, the loss of her own mother, etc. I have often put off important things like that as well. As far as how I‘d react in a disaster like this, I have no idea. The worst thing that happens here is a tornado, and none have come close enough to us to cause any damage. I‘ve never even felt a tremor. 2w

BarbaraBB @CBee That‘s quite plausible, that she‘s putting off buying a crib on purpose. Thanks for bringing that up. @Lesliereadsalot @mcctrish 2w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books You‘ve really dealt with such a situation, 5 days without power or water. I guess you‘re better prepared now than most of us 2w

CBee @BarbaraBB of course! I could relate to Annie in many ways and I understand being almost frozen and stuck when it comes to getting important things done. It can be hard. Plus, there is the fact that so many newborns don‘t sleep in a crib right away. 2w

willaful @CBee It demonstrates how alone she is that she doesn't know things like that, and that she doesn't have a friend or family member to give her hand me downs. All she has is this Instragram version of consumption motherhood to try to aspire to, when its exactly what she doesn't need. 2w

squirrelbrain I do just the same! @DGRachel 2w

Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB Not sure if I‘m better prepared, but I‘m definitely more aware of what could happen then those who haven‘t thought about or been through something like that. You just make it work! 2w

squirrelbrain That sounds really tough @butterfinger 2w

DGRachel @Hooked_on_books That‘s so true. Even with the minimal “preparedness” I have, I would be fine short term. I‘ve lived through 1-2 weeks in Central Florida without power after a hurricane. It was unpleasant, but I could do it again here in Charlotte, NC. Long term, though, especially with all of the federal aid agencies being gutted, I don‘t think I can even fathom what survival looks like. 2w

CBee @willaful agree 💯 2w

Hooked_on_books @DGRachel I‘m not sure anyone can fathom the longer term, other than those who‘ve been through it. I think of people in Asheville whose power was out for months and none of us who have had power all our lives is ready for that. (edited) 2w

Suet624 Golly, I love these comments. I am completely unprepared for a disaster and I hope I never encounter one. :) 2w

Suet624 Did you all see that the NYT Times Wirecutter section just published articles on emergency preparedness? I can't seem to figure out how to attach a gift article unfortunately. 2w

Maggie4483 There‘s such a big difference in predictability between weather events and geological ones. I‘ve lived in tornado alley my entire life, and meteorologists have gotten so much better at knowing when we need to be weather aware, sometimes days in advance. When I was 12, I rode out one of the worst hailstorms in history (https://youtu.be/daKilcH-lgI) in the front seat of a Kia, my dad, stepmom, and I all huddled under a denim jacket (continued) 2w

Maggie4483 …We were stuck in bottleneck traffic as thousands of people tried to leave the park to get away from a storm that surprised us all. Today, the technology is so advanced, they would likely have known the potential damage, and canceled all outdoor events. Of course it‘s not perfect, as we saw with the terrible Texas floods last month, but I‘ve seen the improvement in my lifetime. That said, I don‘t know how prepared I‘d be. (Continued again) 2w

Leniverse I think it's impossible to say how I would react without it having been put to the test. But I would hope that, pregnant or not, I wouldn't have been running all around town. Going to the café made sense. After that I would head home, assuming that my husband would be doing the same. The odds of missing each other in the chaos is just too great, even with only one working bridge. 2w

Maggie4483 …I was one of the lucky minority during the Texas Icepocalypse in 2021 that never lost power (I‘m on the same grid as a fire station). Even so, by the end of it, all I had to eat was plain rice and pasta because I didn‘t go to the store. I can‘t imagine what I would have done if I hadn‘t had a way to prepare food like so many others. And again, that was a storm we knew was coming. You can‘t forecast volcanos or earthquakes the same way (one more) 2w

Maggie4483 I think that‘s what makes earthquakes so scary. That, and the fact that the damage is so widespread. With thunderstorms, you can have flash flooding and damaging winds in one part of town, and not a drop of rain just a few miles away. (Sorry for so many posts - I‘m kind of a weather nerd ⛈️ 🌪️ 🌩️) 2w

Christine I‘m with you, @Suet624 - other than we do always have plenty of stored food and water because I always have too much of that (low-income childhood scarcity mindset)! And now I better go find that Wirecutter article. 😆 2w

BarbaraBB @Maggie4483 Thank you for sharing your experience. Very much appreciated and I personally learned a lot! 2w

ImperfectCJ I totally missed the discussion this weekend, so I'm playing catch-up. I've been in several earthquakes, two pretty strong when I was a kid, the others just strong enough to put us on edge wondering if it was going to build to something bigger. Two things struck me about the quake in the novel. First, how difficult it would be to put any of the earthquake drill stuff into practice since it would be very hard to walk with that level of shaking. 2w

ImperfectCJ Second, it reminded me how terrifying it is to think about going inside. It's opposite to how I've felt in other situations (ice storms, hurricanes, blizzards, tornado near-misses, wildfire watches), where huddling inside is the safest option (until it's not). We have some prep for earthquakes/wildfires, but not what's recommended, which is kind of a matter of privilege to be able to assemble (enough money to buy extra, space to store it, etc). 2w

ImperfectCJ My biggest fear is being separated from my family (spouse and kids) in a disaster, and no amount of stockpiled water will help alleviate that fear. 2w

38 likes75 comments

BarbaraBB

The Return of Faraz Ali: A Novel | Aamina Ahmad

pick

Faraz returns to the Mohalla, Lahore‘s walled inner-city, where mothers and daughters have worked as courtesans for generations. Faraz is a police officer and has been summoned to investigate the murder of one of the girls (or actually don‘t investigate it, just call it an accident) but he knows it‘s the place he was abducted from as a kid. Within these walls are his roots and he can‘t and won‘t deny them.

#ReadingTheWorld2025 book 23 #Pakistan

GatheringBooks

GatheringBooks Oooh! Sounds super interesting! 2w

Cathythoughts Oh yes. Stacking x 2w

71 likes1 stack add2 comments

BarbaraBB

July: Calendar Girl Book 7 | Audrey Carlan

#Julystats

4.75⭐️
Deep cuts
4.5⭐️
The axeman‘s carnival
4⭐️
Shark heart
Small pleasures
3.75 ⭐️
On the calculation of volume III
Woodworking
A midsummer‘s equation
The vintage book of Latin American stories
3.5⭐️
No hiding in Boise
Saltwater
Strange pictures
Tilt
3.25⭐️
The hangman‘s hold
2.75⭐️
Sun city
2.25⭐️
Cleopatra and Frankenstein
DNF
Kastanje a/d zee

58 likes

BarbaraBB

Deep Cuts | Holly Brickley

#WeeklyFavorites

It‘s been a great reading month. All of these were good but the tagged one took me in completely and I am still thinking about it. No high class literature but I loved it. The right book at the right time!

Read4life

Read4life Excellent month! Thanks for playing along!! 💙🍍💙 2w

66 likes1 stack add1 comment

BarbaraBB

The Vintage Book of Latin American Stories | Carlos Fuentes, Julio Ortega

pick

A great collection of Latin American short stories. Very good ones among them, and little magical realism ?

Julio Ramón Ribeyro, Luis Loayza, Alfredo Bryce Echenique, Rodolfo Hinostroza, and Fernando Ampuero are Peruvian writers so I count them for
#FoodAndLit!

#ReadTheWorld2025 Book 22 #Peru

GatheringBooks, Texreader, Catsandbooks

squirrelbrain Great -I might try this some time! 2w

Hooked_on_books Another great picture! I‘m not surprised—yours are always great. 2w

GatheringBooks I don‘t think i have any books or authors yet from peru! Thank you so much for sharing! 2w

See All 9 Comments

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books Thank you Holly 😘 2w

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks All those authors pleasantly surprised me! 2w

Cathythoughts I‘m stacking 👍🏻❤️ 2w

Catsandbooks Wonderful! 👏🏼 2w

Gissy @GatheringBooks Mario Vargas Llosa 2w

GatheringBooks @Gissy oh yes! I do have him on my shelves - thank you for the reminder! 2w

81 likes3 stack adds9 comments

BarbaraBB

Small Pleasures | Clare Chambers

pick

Set in the dreary 1950s Jean is a woman in her 40s, and a journalist who writes about gardening and housekeeping for the local newspaper. After work she takes care of her demanding mother. Then she‘s assigned to write an article about a woman who claims to have conceived a child by parthenogenesis—without a man. Jean starts researching and it will change her life. I was totally engrossed by Jean and her story. Can‘t say too much. Just read it!

ChaoticMissAdventures I read this a couple of years ago when it was on the women's price list, I know a lot of people were angry about the ending but I really enjoyed it! 3w

Cathythoughts It‘s a great read ❤️ 3w

Lesliereadsalot I‘m sold! 3w

See All 12 Comments

LeahBergen Wonderful review! 👏 3w

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Thank you Leah ❤️ 3w

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures It was unexpected while it shouldn‘t have been. My heart goes out to Jean ❤️‍🩹 3w

squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 3w

youneverarrived Fab review, it‘s been on my tbr for a while. Lovely photo too 🤍 2w

Tamra 😄 Terrific review for a terrific novel! 2w

LeeRHarry Glad this was a solid pick for you. 😊 2w

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot @youneverarrived It‘s a sad but lovely read 2w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts @Tamra @LeeRHarry I knew I couldn‘t go wrong with you all loving it so much! 2w

80 likes5 stack adds12 comments

BarbaraBB

Man Booker Prize | Frederic P Miller, Agnes F Vandome, John McBrewster

The #Booker #longlist has just been announced. I‘ve only read Audition and don‘t even know any of the others. I do know some authors that I‘m interested in though. Lots of research to do I guess. And making a selection which ones to read.

I am not aiming to read them all this year. I‘ve purchased so many books over the past few months and they are all calling my name from the shelves.

Recommendations are welcome!

Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to have a good look at the list. See what I might read 👍🏻😁 3w

Tamra Love a good list! Thanks for posting! 3w

Ruthiella I‘m interested in the Susan Choi. I really liked this one even though it was odd and confusing

Trust Exercise: A Novel

See All 22 Comments

Tamra I‘ve had The Land in Winter stacked since last winter. Not sure I want to read it out of season. 😂 3w

Amor4Libros I‘m almost done reading The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny and I can already tell you it‘s going to be a Top 5 read for me this year. I have Flashlight and Love Forms on my TBR to read soon! 🤗 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures I didn't like Natasha Brown's book but it keeps getting a ton of praise so I must be missing something. I am most interested in Seascraper and The South! 3w

Jas16 I just placed an order with Blackwells for a few of the titles not available in the US. Like you I have only read Audition but plan to try to read as many as k can get to although there are a couple j am pretty sure I will bail on part way through. 3w

Lesliereadsalot Hmm…I had Flashlight but it didn‘t grab me and I bailed, maybe too soon. 3w

Hooked_on_books I read Misinterpretation several months back, but it didn‘t stick at all. Endling and Flashlight got solid marketing pushes in the US, if that means anything. I personally hated Choi‘s last book, so I won‘t be running to pick her up. I‘ve read Szalay before and liked him. 3w

BarbaraBB @Ruthiella That was such an odd book, but I am curious to see what she wrote next 3w

BarbaraBB @Tamra Thanks, I‘ll check it out 3w

BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros You‘re favorites are an auto read for me so I‘ll make that book a priority! 3w

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures Thanks for those recommendations, I‘ll make sure to check them out. 3w

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I‘m most interested in in the Szalay at this moment. I enjoyed most of his other books. 3w

TEArificbooks I think I will wait for the short list to narrow it down. Read Audition but I don‘t think it will win. Seascraper and The Land of Winter look good. And I heard good thing about Endling and the Sonia Sunny book. 3w

squirrelbrain That‘s good to know! @Amor4Libros - I have an ARC of that one. 3w

squirrelbrain I‘ve read those two (Seascraper and Winter) @TEArificbooks - they‘re both great! 😊 3w

BarbaraBB @TEArificbooks I‘m interested in those books too, also because of your recommendation of course @squirrelbrain 3w

Amor4Libros @squirrelbrain Can‘t wait to see what you think! 🤗 2w

Amor4Libros @BarbaraBB I‘m sure you‘ll love it! 2w

Suet624 I'm with you about not reading all of the picks this year. I've spent too much money on books recently and I need to read them. 2w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 Exactly that. For distraction I bought a lot of books already, I need to read them! 2w

71 likes22 comments

BarbaraBB

Deep Cuts | Holly Brickley

pick

I understand that this book is not for everyone but I LOVED it: music and lyrics and a lovestory to die for 😉!
The storyline comes close to the daydreams of a younger me: he a lead singer and she criticizing and improving his songs.
I loved the smart dialogues, the deep dive into real songs, the setting in time and the choices Percy and Joey make. I had the best of times being in their company. #14books14weeks book 7

📸 Pride Amsterdam

Liz_M

Reggie Stacked. Sounds great. 3w

BarbaraBB @Reggie It is. You‘re a sucker for love stories to, right?! 💕 3w

Reggie Yes! When horror is on hiatus it‘s romance for me. lol 3w

See All 10 Comments

BarbaraBB @Reggie Horror is surrounding us so we better escape in romance and music 😉 (edited) 3w

Suet624 Sounds delightful. 3w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 Oh it is! I think you would appreciate it too because of the musical references 🎶 3w

Cathythoughts Great review! You loved it 👍🏻❤️ 3w

Amor4Libros Great review and I love your pic!!! 3w

Jas16 Could not agree more. 2w

Suet624 Stacked! 2w

79 likes3 stack adds10 comments

BarbaraBB

The Vintage Book of Latin American Stories | Carlos Fuentes, Julio Ortega

#WeeklyForecast 31/25

I am reading both Deep Cuts and Small Pleasures and both are very entertaining. The tagged book I want to read for #FoodAndLit #Peru so I should read fast! We‘ll see, this will be another busy week working.

LeahBergen I enjoyed Small Pleasures! 3w

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen It could have been a Persephone! 3w

LeeRHarry Small Pleasures is one of my very favourite books. 😊 3w

Cathythoughts Small Pleasures is lovely. 3w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts @LeeRHarry I am almost finished and enjoying it a lot. 3w

58 likes5 comments

BarbaraBB

The Axeman's Carnival | Catherine Chidgey

pick

Tama is a magpie, adopted by a couple who turn him into a social media hype. Because Tama can talk, which means repeating things he‘s heard and remembers. The things he says are so funny (you recognize them from earlier conversations and they come up at the most awkward moments) and in combination with the sadness of the couple‘s daily life, it makes a book unlike any other. Brilliant.

#ReadTheWorld2025 book 21 #NewZealand

GatheringBooks, CarolynM

CarolynM Meow😆 3w

BarbaraBB @CarolynM 😂😂😂 3w

Soubhiville This sounds fun! 3w

See All 11 Comments

Tamra Sounds like I should get to this sooner rather than later! 3w

squirrelbrain I think I might get this on audio…. I‘m struggling to find something to hold my attention and this should work! 3w

GatheringBooks Oooh! Awesome. I love Europa editions. Will be on the lookout for this one. 🥰 3w

BarbaraBB @Soubhiville @Tamra @squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks I honestly think you will all like it just as much as I did! 3w

Centique Did i tell you that when my brother goes camping each summer with his kids, the man who camps in the next spot is Catherine Chidgey‘s husband! And he said to my brother - I bring the kids here so my wife can get some writing done! 3w

BarbaraBB @Centique No way! That is so cool. I am very grateful now to her husband and maybe your brother to entertain him during those summers 😀 3w

Suet624 I ordered this book when it came out and it sits on my shelf ready to read. I wonder why I haven't picked it up yet? Glad to hear you enjoyed it. 2w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 Do read it! It‘s really great! 2w

81 likes7 stack adds11 comments

BarbaraBB

Sun City | Tove Jansson

so-so

Berkeley‘s Arms is a home for wealthy elderly in Florida. We meet its residents (mostly female) who spend their days in their rocking chairs on the porch, gossiping about each other and making up stories of their own lives. It‘s probably true to life, which makes it sad, but it reads like a fun story. Not Tove Jansson‘s best one though.

#ReadTheWorld2025 book 20 #Finland

GatheringBooks

GatheringBooks Oooh interesting premise. 🥰 3w

80 likes2 stack adds1 comment

BarbaraBB

Tilt | Emma Pattee

pick

Annie makes her way through Portland after a massive earthquake has hit. She is nine month pregnant and in shock, looking for her husband and talking to her baby all the time. It kept me wondering how I would react in a situation like that - which seems somehow quite realistic in these times.
Can‘t wait to discuss at #CampLitsy25.

#14books14weeks book 6

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, Liz_M

PaperbackPirate 😍 3w

squirrelbrain Great review! And I love your flowers! 🌷 3w

Cathythoughts Great review and pic. Your flower is tilting 😍 3w

See All 12 Comments

Bookwormjillk This is the one I was most looking forward to when we voted. Glad to hear you liked it. 3w

kspenmoll Nice review! 3w

Librarybelle Love the flowers! 3w

Suet624 Is the Cosby book next to read or is it this one? 3w

BarbaraBB @Suet624 We start with this one! 3w

Reggie Oof do you think the husband had a chance of surviving? Do you think the lady from IKEA found her daughter alive? I wanted to know the final answers lol. 3w

Chelsea.Poole Pretty backdrop! Looking forward to this one :) 3w

BarbaraBB @Reggie So many questions left unanswered for! 2w

BarbaraBB @Bookwormjillk I hope you will too! 2w

79 likes12 comments

BarbaraBB

Slanting Towards the Sea | Lidija Hilje

I bought this because I couldn‘t resist after reading @Amor4Libros and @Jas16 review but now I am even more convinced I‘ll like it 🤣🌶️

Amor4Libros YAY!!! I can‘t wait to see what you think!! 😊 4w

Lesliereadsalot I‘m next for this one, can‘t wait! 4w

60 likes1 stack add2 comments

BarbaraBB

A Midsummer's Equation: A Mystery | Keigo Higashino

pick

These Japanese detective series are real comfort reads to me. So different from American or English ones; lots of dialogue and scenery and culture, little violence etc. This book too was very clever and I really enjoyed it.

📸 Winery in the Rheingau, Germany

Cathythoughts Sounds good. Stacking. 4w

CarysTec Thanks for the recommendation- sounds interesting. 4w

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts Your kind of book too of course! 4w

See All 12 Comments

sarahbarnes Sounds like my jam too - I‘ll add it to my list. Hope that was a good white! 😁 4w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes It‘s the Detective Galileo series, do you know it? It‘s the one that starts with

The Devotion of Suspect X: A Detective Galileo Novel

(edited) 4w

BarbaraBB @CarysTec If you enjoy crime (which @squirrelbrain says you do), it‘s certainly worth trying. I‘d start with the first book in the series:

The Devotion of Suspect X: A Detective Galileo Novel

sarahbarnes Ah I‘ve had that one on my list for awhile! I‘ll start there. (edited) 4w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes If you enjoy that one (which I think is quite possible) you know where to turn to if you‘re in Hyde mood for some comfort Japanese reading! 4w

sarahbarnes 🥰🥰🥰 4w

Centique Oooh that wine looks good! 4w

CarysTec @BarbaraBB thanks 🙏always good to know which is the first one in the series! Still v new here - but can see I‘m going to be building up quite a stack of book recommendations 3w

BarbaraBB @CarysTec It‘s rather addictive, your TBR will keep growing 😉. You can create a TBR on Litsy by ‘stacking‘ books. Click on the book icon below a post and add to ‘to read‘! (edited) 3w

71 likes5 stack adds12 comments

BarbaraBB

Sun City | Tove Jansson

#WeeklyForecast 30/25

I am reading and enjoying A Midsummer‘s Equation, a Japanese mystery. I can‘t wait to start Tilt afterwards for #CampLitsy25. I also want to read this beautiful edition of Sun City by Tove Jansson.

TrishB Just reading Tilt now. 4w

BarbaraBB @TrishB Is it good?? (edited) 4w

TrishB Just finished. It plays like a disaster film in your head! I did enjoy it 👍🏻 4w

BarbaraBB @TrishB Good to know. Love your quote from it 4w

Gleefulreader I have that edition of Sun City waiting for me, and I have Tilt on my TBR list! 4w

67 likes5 comments

BarbaraBB

Kastanje a/d Zee | A.F.Th. van der Heijden

bailed

I loved this Dutch author and these series in my twenties. That was a long time ago and now he published another installment. He shouldn‘t have and I shouldn‘t have read it 🤷🏻‍♀️

📸 Kronberg im Taunus, Germany

TrishB Ouch! Great review! 4w

Lesliereadsalot You tried! Interesting cover. 4w

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot @TrishB Thanks! 4w

66 likes3 comments

BarbaraBB

Cleopatra And Frankenstein | Coco Mellors

pan

#Unpopularopinion. It took me a long time to read this book and that‘s probably because it‘s so boring and annoying. Frank and Cleo are married on a whim and this book is about their based-on-nothing marriage and the friends surrounding the couple. Everyone is beautiful and doing drugs and alcohol and anti depressants. I didn‘t see the point. At all. #Roll100

PuddleJumper

monalyisha Ha! Vicious. 😅🙈 Have you read anything else by her? Wondering if it‘s her writing style you don‘t like or this book, in particular. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I bailed on the Blue Sisters, such boring characters! 1mo

AmyG Yikes 1mo

See All 12 Comments

Deblovestoread Great review! I bought this after reading Blue Sisters which I loved. Won‘t be hurrying to read this one. 1mo

Cathythoughts Great review. I don‘t think this is author is for me , there‘s just something that doesn‘t work for me 😬 1mo

BarbaraBB @monalyisha I preferred Blue Sisters but didn‘t like that one much either. I guess she‘s just not for me. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I didn‘t bail on Blue Sisters but didn‘t like it much. I agree on the characters, which is a problem again in this book. Don‘t read it 1mo

BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread You might like it if you loved Blue Sisters - which I didn‘t either. I often don‘t like books about people doing lots of drugs and partying. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts Don‘t bother! 1mo

sarahbarnes This review makes me chuckle and I will be not reading this. 😂 1mo

Amor4Libros What bothered me about this one is that I felt like I was reading a story with no purpose 😅. I did like Blue Sisters, though. 2w

BarbaraBB @Amor4Libros Exactly. I missed the point too - if there were any. I liked Blue Sisters better but wasn‘t a fan either. 2w

77 likes12 comments

BarbaraBB

Woodworking | Emily St James

pick

Such an American book again. The conservatism, the role religion plays, it always surprises me. The way trans women are being treated doesn‘t however, and that‘s what this book is about. So vulnerable, these women, in all their stages of transition. A wonderful group of characters and how they deal with life and the obstacles they‘re facing. I learned a lot and I enjoyed it a lot. Looking forward to the #CampLitsy25 discussion on Saturday!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Megabooks I vote that you get to pick a Dutch book with an English translation for next year‘s CL! Our stories have generally been pretty US-centered (with a bit of UK/commonwealth), so I‘d like that! Edit: I looked back and Butter is the only one we did in translation. (edited) 1mo

BarbaraBB @Megabooks Butter! And look how that worked out 😉. I hardly read any Dutch books, I much prefer English/American ones and world literature. And I really enjoyed Woodworking. st James is such a fantastic writer of characters! So no worries 💛💛 1mo

Megabooks Butter was definitely a polarizing book! I would like to see another one in translation. I guess we'll see what the votes bring next year! 1mo

See All 10 Comments

BarbaraBB @Megabooks I do hope we‘ll have another one (at least!) in translation next year! They are often nominated but many people prefer the American titles! 1mo

Suet624 @barbarabb @megabooks Butter! 😂😂 but the thing is I still remember so much of that book. I know people had issues with it, but I‘m glad I read it. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Suet624 @Megabooks I really liked it! But I am a sucker for anything Japanese of course 🤣 1mo

sarahbarnes Agree with @megabooks here! It must be interesting to read a book like this with such an American lens on an issue. We do love to discriminate here. 🙄 I grew up in the part of the country where the story was set and it felt too familiar. 1mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Do you think growing up there made the reading experience better for you or not? 1mo

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB good question - I think it made it feel like reading about people and behavior that are very familiar to me, realistic. It wasn‘t at all a stretch for me to imagine how things were going down in the story. 4w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Thanks. That is interesting! 4w

88 likes4 stack adds10 comments

BarbaraBB

Untitled | Anonymous

#14Books14Weeks

Halfway through Summer I only read five so far and I‘ve bought so many new books in the mean time that I guess I need to prioritize and I won‘t read all of these. I‘m so predictable!

Liz_M

Liz_M It's very good progress, especially considering you didn't include any camplitsy books in your stack! 1mo

marleed I forgot to pick books and play this summer. it‘s such a great challenge to get through TBR books. 1mo

71 likes2 comments

BarbaraBB

Kastanje a/d Zee | A.F.Th. van der Heijden

#WeeklyForecast 29/25

I started Woodworking for #CampLitsy2025. I am 100 pages in and enjoying it. No more reading time today however, as I am going to a Kendrick Lamar show in a few minutes 💃

Next will be the tagged one, a Dutch author.

I haven‘t made much progress with Cleo and Frankenstein. I‘ve been reading it next to Shark Heart and compared to that one, it really falls short.

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

sarahbarnes Have fun at the show! I was disappointed in her other book unfortunately.

Blue Sisters

1mo

Suet624 Have a great time!!! 1mo

AmyG Oh wow. Have the best time. I am so jealous. He is amazing. 1mo

See All 9 Comments

squirrelbrain Have a great time! @sarahbarnes - I really liked Blue Sisters. I read Cleo before that and liked it, but not as much. 1mo

Billypar Hope the show is amazing! 1mo

Megabooks ENJOY!!!!! I liked Blue Sisters more than Cleo and Frank. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Ooh…a concert! Have so much fun! 1mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @squirrelbrain @Megabooks I was disappointed in Blue Sisters but Cindy said this one would be better. Not sure though. But who knows, I am not halfway yet! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Suet624 @AmyG @Billypar @Lesliereadsalot thanks! He is so cool, a great show. Crowd went crazy. And Sza was very good too! 1mo

79 likes9 comments

BarbaraBB

Shark Heart: A Love Story | Emily Habeck

pick

The premise is wild—a man turning into a shark—but this story is tender, emotional, and beautifully written. The dialogues between Wren and Lewis really stayed with me: funny, raw, and full of love. Emily Habeck blends the surreal with the human in a way that broke my heart and healed it, all at once!

Thank you so much for sending me this wonderful book @Yuki_Onna 💝

TEArificbooks This works for #sharkweekreadathon 1mo

Jas16 Great review. I loved this book so much 1mo

AmyG I, too, loved this book. The author took a ridiculous idea and wrote it so that it became real in my mind, totally believable. (edited) 1mo

See All 9 Comments

Yuki_Onna You're welcome! 🥰 I'm happy you liked it! 1mo

BarbaraBB @AmyG Exactly that! 1mo

sarahbarnes Yes! I went into this one so skeptical and I loved it too! 1mo

Lesliereadsalot So good right? So imaginative. I totally bought into the story. 1mo

BarbaraBB @Jas16 @sarahbarnes @Lesliereadsalot I loved how they both dealt with what was happening to Lewis. 1mo

Rissreadswithcats This book is so unique and everyone in my bookclub loved it! Which is unusual for us all to agree! 1mo

82 likes9 comments

BarbaraBB

On the Calculation of Volume (Book III) | Solvej Balle

pick

Tara Selter is still stuck on November 18 in Part III, reliving the same day over and over again.
She has tried unsuccessfully to return to a normal, forward-moving timeline. On the final page of Part II, she meets Henry Dale, who is also trapped in November 18. Part III focuses on her interactions and conversations with him. I can‘t say much more without spoiling things but I will say I already ordered part IV!

sarahbarnes Oh wow, I can‘t wait to read this! I don‘t think it comes out here until fall. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot So jealous as you know! 1mo

Tamra @sarahbarnes I‘m preordering! 1mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @Lesliereadsalot @Tamra And again this one‘s better than the one before. So promising for the rest of the series! 1mo

sarahbarnes @Tamra @BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot I‘m waiting impatiently!! 1mo

66 likes1 stack add5 comments

BarbaraBB

Shark Heart: A Love Story | Emily Habeck

#WeeklyForecast 28/25

I am back home and have lots of work ahead of me so I have to temper my reading mojo! I am about to start the third book in the On the Calculation of Volume series, which has fortunately been translated in Dutch.
I also hope to read Shark Heart. Coco & Frankenstein I will combine audio and print. Audio was free and I‘ll probably spend some time driving this week.

AmyG Shark Heart was lovely. 1mo

RobES I loved Cleopatra & Frankenstein - enjoy 💕 1mo

CBee @AmyG @BarbaraBB I loved Shark Heart 💚 1mo

See All 8 Comments

Tamra Lucky you! I think the 3rd & 4th in the Volume series won‘t be released in English until November. 😬 1mo

squirrelbrain Have a good (if rather busy!) week! 1mo

Suet624 Sorry to hear your vacation has come to an end but glad you have some good reading to look forward to. 1mo

Lesliereadsalot Work already! ☹️ Really liked Shark Heart. So jealous you have that third volume. Hope you had the best time on vacation. Tanned and relaxed is the way to go! 1mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Suet624 @Lesliereadsalot it‘s back to work and books but that‘s okay for now! I am totally chill after three weeks of wind and sun and waves 🩵 1mo

79 likes8 comments

BarbaraBB

The Hangman�s Hold (DCI Matilda Darke Thriller, Book 4) | Michael Wood

pick

The next installment in a series I‘ve been enjoying about DCI Matilda Darke, a detective with a past that keeps catching up with her. In the mean time she has to catch a serial killer who‘s hanging ex convicts.
I guessed early on who‘s be the killer, which makes the book less gripping than its predecessors but the cliffhanger at the end makes me want to continue soon!

📸 Temple of Poseidon, Sounios, Greece

DrSabrinaMoldenReads This is what I don‘t like about such books. What are some Mystery writers who keep you guessing all the way until the end? (edited) 1mo

76 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

Strange Pictures | Uketsu

pick

Sold as a horror novel, be warned that this book is not. It is very much worth reading though, I loved the concept and the illustrations, that made me think and reconsider everything I read. It‘s very Japanese and written in a style that might not appeal to everyone but I am glad I‘ve read this very original read by a masked author - which I find scary! Thanks for hosting the buddyread Julia!
#14Books14Weeks Book 5

📸 Poros, Greece

thegirlwiththelibrarybag, julesG, Liz_M, sarahbarnes, ImperfectCJ

julesG Thanks for being part of the buddyread and for sending me to Waterstones 😉 1mo

squirrelbrain Sounds interesting - I was very intrigued by your comments during the buddy read. 🤔 1mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain It‘s quite unique. If you find the time, do read it! 1mo

See All 9 Comments

RaeLovesToRead For some reason I thought this was a mystery! 😄 1mo

sarahbarnes Agreed that the author DOES kind of creep me out - more than the story! 1mo

thegirlwiththelibrarybag @RaeLovesToRead, it is 1mo

RaeLovesToRead @thegirlwiththelibrarybag I've just noticed on the cover it says horror-mystery.... that could be a cool hybrid combo! 1mo

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Yes, exactly 🎭 1mo

BarbaraBB @RaeLovesToRead Yes it is a mystery but because of the cover I thought it‘d be more horror. I wasn‘t disappointed there wasn‘t 😀 1mo

77 likes9 comments

BarbaraBB

Saltwater: A Novel | Katy Hays

pick

This is a perfect summer read. A wealthy family comes each year to Capri where one of them died thirty years ago. It was an accident they keep saying. And there‘s nothing to prove it wasn‘t because there‘s little money can‘t buy. Extremely unlikable characters, lots of twists and an over the top ending. Fun read!
#FictionalTraveler #water

📸 My cabin on the sailing boat, Greece

julieclair

julesG It's a good summer read. I had the UK edition, which is called The Vipers (gorgeous cover). You've tanned nicely 😉

The Vipers: The electrifying new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Cloisters

1mo

BarbaraBB @julesG love that cover indeed! Last few days here so I‘ve been working on my tan 😉 1mo

Lesliereadsalot I knew you‘d love it. How about the ending, one twist after another? Crazy group of characters! 1mo

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot they kept coming, the twists! Very enjoyable! Thanks for the recommendation! 1mo

julieclair Ooohhh… this sounds great! 1mo

81 likes2 stack adds5 comments

BarbaraBB

Strange Pictures | Uketsu

I just started this very weird Japanese mystery. So many layers and clues and I feel like everything is important while I have no idea why! Fun!
You can still join our #buddyread. @julesG has been posting about each of the four chapters.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag, sarahbarnes, ImperfectCJ

julesG Everything seems to be a clue, but you need to continue for it to make sense. When you read the next chapter, you see the puzzle pieces slotting together, but still there's no final picture to admire. 1mo

sarahbarnes Starting here this morning! 1mo

63 likes2 comments

BarbaraBB

No Hiding in Boise | Kim Hooper

pick

Another good one by Kim Hooper. This one is about a shooting in a bar and its aftermath. The victims, the survivors, the mother of the shooter. Very interesting characters and dialogues, and a perfect vacation read.

📸 Methana, Greece

Texreader Gorgeous place and perfect photo!! 1mo

5feet.of.fury Amazing photo! 1mo

BarbaraBB @5feet.of.fury @Texreader Thanks 😊 1mo

See All 9 Comments

Cathythoughts Sounds good. I‘ll give it a go. Greece 🥰 Enjoy. We hope to go in September, Heaven on Earth x 1mo

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts That‘s certainly something to look forward to. Where will you be going? 1mo

Gissy Beautiful pho😱😍🤩👌 1mo

Cathythoughts We would go to Crete. Although it‘s all the land of the gods ❤️ 1mo

BarbaraBB Must be so beautiful. I haven‘t been there. 1mo

sarahbarnes Looks like you‘re having an amazing trip! ♥️ 1mo

74 likes9 comments

BarbaraBB

June | Lori Copeland

#JuneStats

5⭐️
The correspondent
4.25⭐️
Disappoint me
4⭐️
Bat eater
Fortune smiles
Tell no one
3.75⭐️
Show me where it hurts
3.5⭐️
One day in October
Heartwood
3.25⭐️
Vanishing world
Gabriele
The break
Make me famous
Baltimore blues
2.75⭐️
Bright young women
Evidence of the affair
Havoc
2.25⭐️
Run for the hills

59 likes

BarbaraBB

Heartwood: 'nearly impossible to put down' Jennifer Egan | Amity Gaige

pick

Valerie walks the Appalachian Trail and gets lost in Maine. To keep sane she writes letters to her mother. In the mean time a search project is led by Lt Beverley, a woman with a past too. And there‘s a retired armchair sleuth also looking for Valerie.
It‘s a light pick for me, not as good as Sea Wife

📸 Egina, Greece

Sapphire I just finished Sea Wife. Loved both. Maybe Heartwood. Little better. I 2mo

Lesliereadsalot Those colorful umbrellas are so cool! 2mo

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot Love them! 2mo

See All 6 Comments

BarbaraBB @Sapphire Interesting! I also read this one, which I liked the least

Schroder: A Novel

2mo

squirrelbrain I brought this one on my camping trip! 2mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain enjoy your trip, the book and some cooler temperatures 😘 2mo

89 likes3 stack adds6 comments

BarbaraBB

Read the World | Pushpinder Khaneka

#ReadTheWorld2025

In May and June I added 5 books to @GatheringBooks challenge. I covered the following countries: #Palestine #Suriname #Brazil #Nigeria #Israel

GatheringBooks Wow! Great job! I wish i could read as fast as you! 😘😘😘 2mo

61 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

Fortune Smiles: Stories | Adam Johnson

#WeeklyFavorites

Fortune Smiles (and Tell No One) were both 4 stars for me this week. Yet The Correspondent is this month‘s favorite!

Read4life

Read4life Good looking reading month! 💙☀️💙 2mo

57 likes1 comment

BarbaraBB

Tell No One | Harlan Coben

pick

I had not read Harlan Coben before and ChatGPT recommended this one to start with. Still sailing the Greek Mediterranean I had the perfect day starting and finishing this 400 pages fast paced thriller in one go. A perfect day and a pageturning read. Lots of twists and suspense from the moment David Bech receives a message from his wife who was murdered eight years before.

📸 Kythnos, Greece

JenReadsAlot Gorgeous! 2mo

squirrelbrain I‘m not jealous or anything! 😜 2mo

AmyG So lovely! 2mo

See All 17 Comments

RaeLovesToRead Harlan Coben!!!! 💕💕 2mo

kspenmoll What a lovely spread! 2mo

Lesliereadsalot Hope you‘re having so much fun. I love seeing all the pictures, keep them coming! Harlan Coben books are so entertaining, have read them all. (edited) 2mo

BarbaraBB @RaeLovesToRead @Lesliereadsalot Any suggestions what to read next? A series or a stand alone? 2mo

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain One more week 💕 2mo

BarbaraBB @AmyG @kspenmoll Traditional Greek salad and zaziki - I‘ve been eating it every day for the past two weeks and am still enjoying it 😀 2mo

CarolynM Heaven😎 2mo

LeahBergen Your food!! 😍 2mo

RaeLovesToRead The Woods is a good standalone. Obviously the Myron Bolitar series is his main thing, and I do love them too. Fade Away and Promise Me are my faves, but honestly I'd just read them in order if you're going for it 😄 2mo

Lesliereadsalot I‘ve always read them as soon as they came out, but they‘re stand alone. The Myron Bolitar series you might want to read in order just to get a sense of who he is. 2mo

BarbaraBB @RaeLovesToRead @Lesliereadsalot Thanks! I‘ll read the first of the Bolitar series and also The Woods! 2mo

Amiable I also have not read Coben so good to know which one to start with! 2mo

youneverarrived Sounds amazing 🩷 1mo

Suet624 I haven't read anything by Coben either.
1mo

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Joined June 2017