Welcome to Litsy!

My #bookspin for September was this beautifully written memoir by poet Tracy K. Smith. It‘s heartwarming and heartbreaking, and funny and sad, and very, very, real. Highly recommended.
(My copy is missing its dust jacket and thus very plain, so I found a picture of the author online.)
@TheAromaofBooks

"...the narrator was...claiming the power to name and state and face the events, even the most awful events, making up a life. This has happened to me, and because I can see it, can call it up and face it again for you, can stand my ground while I sift through it for nuance and meaning, I am stronger. Telling my story, standing here and telling it to you now, is both a prayer for power and the answer to that prayer."

The writing is smooth and the imagery clear in this memoir of the author's loss of her mother just as the author was coming into adulthood herself. It's interesting to read about a military family in California, as mine was for many years, and about parents who were still energetic and engaged in raising their fifth child when my own parents were pretty checked out by number three. #bookspin for January

#NewYearNewYou Day 12: This poem with #Regrets was featured by Fats for Poetry Friday here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-fsG

#coffeeandbooks #booksandcoffee #BrewsterBookShop #TheSnowyOwlCoffeeHouse #LitsyWalkers
Yesterday when we walked to the local coffee shop, it was closed. Did about a mile 1/2 walk. We drove to a local bookshop & for a covered a wonderful coffee shop off the street right next to the book store. Coffee first,then books. Discovered The most delicious, melt in your moth, cinnamon pecan roll. Bought tagged book.

#indiebookstore #BrewsterBookStore
I treated myself today to 2 books at the Brewster Book Shop.Plenty of Indie bookstores all over the Cape.Did not know this U.S. Poet Laureate (2017)had a memoir out,so it was an exciting surprise.Love this initial quote:

But something deep and watchful in the child knows that
this is bound to end, is already ending. In a moment some-
one will get up and turn on the light.
——James Baldwin, “Sonny‘s Blues”

Hey poetry readers! Anyone else listening to The Slowdown? I just started, and mentioned it yesterday to @trishb. It's a podcast by US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith. Everyday she gives a little set-up and then reads a poem. It lasts about five minutes. It's really good, and a great way to add more poetry to your day. (I just listened to a few while loading the dishwasher. One even made me cry. 😭)
It's available at www.apmpodcasts.org/slowdown

Glory: "Tracy K. is the new US poet laureate. This is her memoir and a coming-of-age story. You really feel like you're getting a glimpse of her life and her relationship with her mom. As you grow up, you learn that your mother is a human who tries and hurts just as much as you do. My mom is a rambunctious Nigerian woman who can read you with one look. When I can capture that essence of my mother, I will be a true adult."

I've been looking forward to Tracy K. Smith's reading in my area for a long time. One week to the day before the event, she's named Poet Laureate. So that's the "cherry on top!"

We have a new #PoetLaureate! https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/books/tracy-k-smith-is-the-new-poet-laurea...

Here's my current library #bookstack for today's #augustphotochallenge. Not pictured: Hamilton and Lafayette. #augustofpages

Here's my overly ambitious #AugustTBR, minus the two books I selected from BOTM, whatever I choose to spend my Audible credit on, and Megan Abbott's Dare Me (which will likely jump to the top of my pile when it arrives on Wednesday). 📚 #augustofpages #augustphotochallenge

Book mail! Huzzah!

It's so difficult to describe this book as it's just such an incredible reflection on life. Every chapter felt profoundly meaningful to me, despite how different my life is from that of the author. This is a beautiful memoir about family, race, art, and the heartache of growing into adulthood.

I'm in week one of a community reads screening process, and it's so great for catching up on some paperback backlist. This memoir is incredible! It's so difficult to explain what it's about because it's just LIFE written in the most beautiful way. I can't get enough.