I was a bit starstruck when I met AS Byatt and Brian Stephenson. I‘ve met a few others at signings, but the coolest experience was attending a writing retreat AT the home of Elizabeth Berg. She hosted 10 women in her home and cooked for us, led writing exercises, talked about our writing and gave us feedback. A top experience. I‘d love to chat with Ann Patchett, Sue Monk Kidd, and Louise Penny.
#SundayFunday

You know it‘s serious work when I pull out my computer for Litsy. Worked on my shortlist for #CampLitsy24 and my votes are in! It was hard to narrow down. I‘m curious what the shortlist will be!
Mad props to whoever prepared the spreadsheet - that made it much easier!

It‘s well time I began my BC education since we got bucket list tickets to her concert at Red Rocks. I really enjoyed getting to know her and some of the stories behind her music. I‘m also a bit jealous of her. She worked hard for it, but she‘s totally living the dream. Bonus for the audiobook is the addition of her singing between chapters, and the entire last hour and a half. 🎶🎵

The book and goodies have arrived, @JackOBotts ! Thanks for sending the bookmark and sugar pick-me-ups 😊 Looking forward to reading this one!

I‘m currently making my way through The Haunting of Whitehall Manor, @KateReadsYA 👻
#LMPBC

One of the things I really love about Camp Litsy is all the great new books I hadn‘t yet seen. Here are my nominees. Say Hello looks bizarre and interesting and I haven‘t seen it nominated yet. Avalon is written by the author of one of my favorite books a couple of years ago. Lastly, the tagged is published in July, so it doesn‘t make the cut, but looks really fun so I thought it deserved a shout out. #CampLitsy24

April‘s #Bookspin list. May the book gods pick a good number!

Thank you for the #FoundFamilySwap package, @forestandcrow ❤️. Both these books have been on my TBR forever so hopefully I‘ll actually get to them now! I‘m also a big fan of those chips so good choice! Thanks again!

I won‘t say much since this is being passed along for #LMPBC Our group chose gothic literature and this story is brimming with gothic atmosphere. The descriptions were rich, Janet was an interesting and complex character, and I loved the juxtapositions in the story: kindness and cruelty, beauty and horror, etc. Also, how fabulous is this cover with the placement of the crow‘s eye???

The book arrived, @JackOBotts ! I actually chew this gum all the time - it‘s my favorite flavor! And I love how it matches the book cover 🧡 Looking forward to starting it once I finish my current read. #LMPBC

My #foundfamilyswap package has arrived! I‘ll be sneaking out on my lunch break to send mine out! Thanks, @forestandcrow !

1. Turn in our tax documents (boo) and book a place for our April long weekend vacation (yay).
2. English teacher because I loved reading (surprise surprise)
3. A trip to Northwest Europe at the end of the year for my friend‘s birthday 🎉
4. Really enjoying the tagged book. It‘s helping me take my job in academia less seriously 😂
#MotivationalMonday

I just noticed how well my two current reads complement each other! 🐷🐮

I‘ve finally decided on my March #Bookspin list. Really looking forward to read whatever the BookSpin gods choose!

My #hyggehour will be spent finishing this one. Even without a fire going, my fireplace is a very cozy space 🥰

I went into this #LitsyToB read with low expectations after so many meh reviews, but I really liked this one. While friend Emily was grating, she reminded me of the complicated friendships that can come along at that age. I am a sucker for intergenerational friendships, so I loved Lucy. Overall, I appreciated this quiet story that sunk into my heart.

I think I may have liked this a little more than others for this #nunlit read, but I did enjoy reading the story of contemporary renegade nuns and their badassery. It was a little hard to keep going in the beginning because of all of the abuse and cruelty, but once the plot got going, it was easy to root for these women. Moments of heart and goodness helped me stick with it, as well as a few snortable lines from unexpected characters.

February‘s #Bookspin list, with some more from my match‘s #ALSpine list, some #LitsyToB choices, and some others I just really want to read. The tagged is one I‘ve been picking up and putting down too many times over the past few months so it‘s time to finally finish!

1. Most notable plan is Silent Book Club on Thursday. Always look forward to it!
2. Finishing up the tagged for #nunlit
3. Reserved, surprisingly funny, and thoughtful
#MotivationalMonday

Tonight‘s #hyggehour involved listening to my husband read from the tagged book. We meant to make a fire in the fireplace, but that didn‘t happen so a YouTube fire it was 😂. I just started a new job last week, so an hour of calm on Sunday nights is perfect before starting another busy week.

Just stopping by Litsy today to wish my original Litsy penpal and sender of the best gift packages, Catie, a very happy birthday! I hope you have some delicious cake and great time with loved ones (including Theo). Best wishes for a great year ahead!

Thank you for the mushroom 🍄 themed birthday package, Catie! I loved everything. I got your package out before the snow started and I can‘t wait for you to open it 😁. Happy early birthday to you!

Thank you to all those who sent cards and wished me Happy Birthday here on Litsy. It wasn‘t the best birthday, but there were still shining moments, and Litsy was one of them!

This book 😍 I have been wanting to read it since it was published and I‘m so glad #ALSpine finally got me to. This is my favorite form of writing: one novel made up of short stories that connect. It worked so well. I was equally intrigued by all characters and wondering how the story would weave kept me from putting it down. Another #ALS book to probably make my top of the year. I‘m just going to stick to #ALS books to ensure great reads!

Tonight‘s #hyggehour features a cozy night candle, my favorite wine from upstate New York, and the tagged book. What better book to start on your birthday than one of that title? It was absolutely lovely. Except now, the jets keep coming on every 10 minutes and I can‘t figure out how to turn them off 🤦🏻‍♀️

January‘s #Bookspin list, featuring #LitsyToB #ALSpine and others I‘ve been really wanting to read.

For the second year in a row, #AuldLangSpine has given me my first 5⭐️ read. This is the story of Ozge, a girl growing up in Turkey, and the struggle to live up to expectations while figuring out who you are and what you want for your own life. I do love a good graphic novel memoir, and this is just that. I learned a lot about Turkey, and the art was great as well. Well -timed too as I‘m about to start a new job that makes me feel like ⬇️⬇️

New Year‘s Day vibes. Mango mimosa, French toast, and a good book I don‘t want to stop reading 😊

When I stalked @yourfavouritemixtape for reviews to see which books might make her #AuldLangSpine list, I really hoped this book would be on it, and it was! This is the one I‘m having a hard time waiting to start. I think Birdie approves 😁

I took advantage of Barnes and Noble‘s hardcover sale to acquire these two from @yourfavouritemixtape ‘s #ALSpine list. I had not heard of the tagged, and I have been really wanting to read No Two Persons. Really looking forward to both!

@yourfavouritemixtape #AuldLangSpine list. Despite being short, it is great! I‘ve only read To Kill a Mockingbird, but that was many years ago so I may revisit it. Tomorrow has been on so many of my BookSpin lists, but for some reason never got to reading it, so I was really excited to see it. I will be reading that first since I own it. No Two Person is also one I have been wanting to read. More below ⬇️

Hi, Anna! So nice to meet you! A little about me in the spirit of #AuldLangSpine. I turn 41 on January 7 😱. I‘m married with a fur baby - an English Pointer named Birdie that we got from a rescue at the start of the pandemic. I work for the College of Education at our local university but am about to start a new job at a different university as the Associate Director of Accreditation - a move I‘m very excited about! More ⬇️

A very happy Jolabokaflod to you all! I hope you‘re all having a peaceful evening!

Thank you for the package, Ashley! I‘ve been craving a fast-paced thriller. The wrapping paper was fun! And the bookmarks are great! Happy Jolabokaflod!

Thanks again for hosting this great swap, Chelle!
#jolabokaflodswap

To welcome in the longest night, I took a walk by the river at sunset. It was a grey day with lots of bare trees, but I found it quite beautiful. I took the poem with me that @Deblovestoread sent in her card, To Know the Dark by Wendell Berry. It was all quite lovely, and I look forward to more of this gentler way of celebrating the season in years to come. #MidWinterSolace

Thank you to all who sent cards for the #NaturaLitsy #MidwinterSolace card swap. It‘s been a particularly stressful month, so I really appreciated them. So much heart was put into them - beautiful sentiments, ephemera, stickers, bookmarks, and poems. I was quite impressed with you all! Mine got sent out a little late, but they seem to be trickling in to you now. Happy Solstice!

1. As an 80s child, my favorites are A Smoky Mountain Christmas with Dolly Parton and Santa Claus the Movie (not the Tim Allen one)
2. All I want for Christmas is that we have to get a better idea of the future. Sounds about right 😂
3. I don‘t have a favorite, but I really enjoyed the tagged a few years ago. Runner up: The Stupidest Angel 😄
#wondrouswednesday

I feel like I *have* gotten very offended when someone has said this to me 😂😂

Super excited that my #jolabokaflod cozy sweatshirt came in time!!! My local bookstore was selling these. We‘ve made this a family ritual for the past 4-5 years, and my spouse was pretty excited about his 😊

#Shareyourstack I am currently reading Wellness, will read Rouge and Rachel next since I own them, and the bottom 3 have been piquing my interest for awhile, so they will probably follow, unless one of you writes a review for another that turns my head 😊
#LitsyToB24

My #jolabokaflodswap package has been sent, to arrive in 2-3 days!

Hmmmm. I‘ll go with:
1. Finland (Lapland)
2. France
3. Maldives
Two classic holiday feeling places, and one for pure escape.
#tbt

Thank you for the package, Catie! Birdie was especially curious about the smells 🐶. The seed paper tag is really cool! I hope you are having a peaceful holiday, friend.

My #jolabokaflodswap package has arrived! Thank you Ashley!

Tonight‘s #hyggehour listening to the tagged audiobook. We finally put lights on the tree and it feels so very hygge and it‘s wonderful. #naturalitsy #midwintersolace

Excited to have registered for #AuldLangSpine2024. Such a great way to start out the year. My list this year seems all over the place, which just means there‘s going to be something to choose from no matter what my match likes 😂

My #hyggehour will be spent reading this cozy fantasy and doing day 3 of my advent puzzle. The tree isn‘t decorated, but it‘s up, and I love the citrus scent that the concolor tree emits. I Hope everyone has a lovely, cozy hour. #naturalitsy #midwintersolace

Now that #BOTM and #Aardvark books have dropped, I‘ve settled on my December #Bookspin list. Hopefully mostly fun, quick, fluffy holiday reads.

Book of the Month surprised me by dropping books early! Looking forward to the tagged for a darker holiday read. #BOTM

Just leaving this here for a little Monday delight 😂
Taken from Belletrist.

Putting together my December #bookspin list full of holiday books and realized that instead of green and read, it‘s I retesting that they tend to have a blue color palette. Also just noticed the type of “read” instead of red but it feels totally appropriate so I‘m keeping it 😂