Welcome to Litsy!

This was definitely a book of two halves but in the best way - I loved how the two parts focused on the different perspectives from Lotto & Mathilde and the things they keep hidden, didn‘t know about each other and their feelings about their marriage. I thought it was such a brilliant character driven novel despite the fact the protagonists weren‘t always likeable.

Another good month for my challenges and buddy reads. I didn‘t finish two of my rolled #Roll100 books but The Goldfinch is one of my March #ReadOrDonate books. At 800+ pages I‘ve started it now.
#AuthorAMonth #BookSpin #DoubleSpin #TBRtarot #Roll100 #ReadOrDonate #SUNDAYBUDDYREAD #LittensLoveRomance #LitsyLoveReads #NoPlaceLikeHolmes #NancyDrewBR #childrensclassicread2024

2nd reading of this one, first in print several years ago and now on audio. I was in love with this the first time I read it. Not as wholly captivated the second time around but still a solid 4-star. It‘s a heavy book but Lauren Groff‘s writing is superb, as always.

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

I‘ve only read Matrix by Groff (loved it!) but this feels so different. It‘s a slow read but I‘m really enjoying it. Almost at the second half which I‘ve heard changes things up a bit.

This was the 3rd Lauren Groff book I tried and I just couldn't get into it. I really tried to get into this one. I read almost halfway through but I simply did not care about Lotto and his wife. Honestly, I didn't like Lancelot much. I heard that things go crazy with Mathilde's side of the story, but sadly, I couldn't force myself to read any more.
#authoramonth @Soubhiville #bookspinbingo #3 @TheAromaofBooks

While the hubby went to his father's to watch the game, I've been doing some much needed self care: eating Chinese food (Happy Lunar New Year!), watching Ever After, listened to Fates and Furies while doing my nails, and started an ebook (Alpha Daddy).

So it‘s a pick — I think. Definitely made me feel things. At the beginning I was hoping I‘d make it through without bailing. Then I started realizing why people love this book. Then I just sat here wondering what I just read and how it all changed mood so quickly.

#AuthorAMonth #BookSpinBingo #ReadAway2024
@Soubhiville @TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES

Just can‘t do this for another ten hours 😴😴😴

This book really pissed me off the first time I read it nearly 10 years ago. I just couldn‘t process the abrupt shift from the kind largesse of Lotto‘s story in fates to the downright cruelty in Mathilde‘s story in furies. Groff proves to be wonderfully frustrating and evocative of emotion from me. She‘s truly a brilliant writer. I have to give the reread 5⭐️. Looking forward to getting to two more by her this month!

Note ⬇️

Here‘s my #bookspin and #doublespin picks for February!

#WinterGamesDailyPhotoChallenge @Roary47 #GingerbreadGems
#BlueCover

Lots of drama - on stage and off. I was interested enough to finish it but can't really recommend it. If you haven't read anything from the author, I'd start with Matrix. 👍

A great book for our book club discussion. Lots of ambiguity to debate and a compelling story. I enjoyed the different perspectives.

This book is well written but I didn‘t like it. Lotto is so self absorbed, seemingly never acknowledging the work Matilde does. Matilde doesn‘t communicate with Lotto - how all her inner “wickedness” could be helped with conversation. The root of all is the terrible mother - drowning in her grief - but I didn‘t like this trope. Wouldn‘t recommend. Also very very fatphobic - irritating and distracting

It is very rare that I leave a book unfinished, even if it takes me a month or year to complete. This is the second book this year that I'm pretty sure will be a DNF.

2 hours in and I feel like I'm getting nowhere. There are mixed reviews about this one on Goodreads/Amazon. Some say it's a waste of time, while others say it's brilliant. Maybe I'm missing something but fear I am not. Has anyone else read this??

#dnf #marriage #fiction #readKY

this story is a meandering journey through one couple‘s life, together and before they knew each other. this book is split up into 2 parts, part 1: fates, part 2: furies. i like the way this was written and the story was very good, I wasn‘t super in the mood for this type of story when I read it so maybe that‘s why I‘m not overly in love with it but it is good and understand why so many people like it.

Amanda i saw your post about reading progress in kindle when you are in the book tap the top of page and tap Aa. That will bring you to reading progress

Am on the fence about reading this. Read a sample on my kindle a while back and couldn‘t get into. Is it worth sticking with. ?

I keep seeing Litsy love for Matrix. I don‘t have that book - yet, but this one has been languishing on my shelves. I liked it, grew weary as it got to mid-point but stuck with it for the perspective change in Part 2. What!? It‘s kind of genius writing. I then went back and reread the mid section, and wondered why I lost my focus. So yep, just put a hold on the aforementioned!

Thank you @mcipher for my #lcs package. Lauren Groff came across my radar in 2021. I loved her book Matrix, so I‘m excited to read another book by her. Happy 2022! Thanks @bookish_wookish for hosting.

I really enjoyed this. In the first half of the book we follow the ups and downs of Lotto, a beloved but harassed young man, through the highs and lows of his life - for most of which his stalwart wife Mathilde is by his side. And in the second half we see things from Mathilde‘s perspective. The first half is a little bloated in places, a little too clever inserting so many sections of Lotto‘s plays, but then that balances out ⬇️

A story of a marriage, told from both perspectives. Beautifully written . One of those books you don‘t want to end.

Bailing on this one too. I don't like the characters and the writing style feels icky, like I'm spying on them.

Depression has me in a major reading (and general life) slump right now and it's hard for me to do anything. Please tag easy to read books for me to try to read, if you can. Thank you! 💖

#JoysOfJune readathonn wrapped up yesterday.

My goals:
✅ finish Disability Visibility
✅ mail my dad's father's day gift (it was a book)
✅ read a book with LGBTQ+ representation
✅❌ read 2 more books (I read one and started tagged)

Not bad for my first official readathon on Litsy!

Finishing this one for #AxeTheStacks. The writing style is not for me. Readers have called it pretentious and I tend to agree. However, the content is engaging. The novel‘s commentary on the feats and failures of marriage are compelling, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Mathilde‘s section ties up loose ends and is more interesting so if you‘re struggling through the first half, keep going.
3⭐️
Currently escaping the 🌨❄️

Here are my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin books for April

Both have been on my TBR for a while and both are owned books.

My goal for April is to read mostly my owned books!

Not sure if I‘m going to do bingo, but I did make a bingo board.

It‘s here!!! Thank so so much @ElleSkel for your generosity!! I will give it a good home. Thank you!!!

Was really not into this when I first started. Knowing that we would hear from the wife's POV in the second half got me interested. I agree with many reviews that the writing is a bit pretentious. But overall I it kept my interest and I enjoyed it.

Holy crap! I made the mistake of reading Lauren Groff's piece of fiction in the 2/1/21 issue of The New Yorker while I was at work. It's a powerful piece on domestic abuse. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/02/01/the-wind

2/5 This book was difficult for me to finish. The writing in it is excellent but I just found the main characters so I unlikable that I found it hard to read. I‘m sure there are people out there who would enjoy it though. Read August 2020

Book mail today! Thanks again @CBee

What an interesting book! The story of a marriage from first the husband‘s point of view, then the wife‘s in part 2. They turn out to be different in ways I wouldn‘t have guessed.

As with every marriage there are ups and downs, hot spots and downright chilly ones. From his point of view it seems pretty normal, and a lovely life together.

Then you get into her story and things change drastically. The end really shook me. Great book!

This book is my cup of tea! Definitely not for everyone but I love rich (deep not wealthy) characters with baggage (even if I don‘t particularly like the character) and I really enjoyed both Lotto‘s side and Mathilde‘s side of their marriage, their backgrounds, and how their story unfolded for each of them. A dose of the same life with two different sides.

@MadDashReading I‘m in love with my swap package, thank you so much! Both of these covers 😍 so gorgeous! I‘m about to have a cup of the tea and check out this Literary Witches deck. And you know I‘ll use those postcards. Thanks again! And thanks to @Bookgoil and @rsteve388 for hosting #LitsyLoveWinterSwap

And out just in time for my birthday - Lauren you‘re so thoughtful! 🤣

https://lithub.com/were-getting-a-new-lauren-groff-novel-about-nuns-in-2021/

#3Books ...I DNF'ED

@OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#3Books... I hated. @OriginalCyn620. @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

All of these were DNF!☹

#alphastack
Some #letterF love today....
Lots of great ones here, including two authors with two books each... Lauren Groff and Tove Jansson 💕

DNF @ 23 pages

Found at Goodwill. Going to give it a go, we will see. Very mixed reviews. If I DNF, it goes to the little free library.

While some parts of this book did drag on, I thought Matilde was a fascinating character and I enjoyed the slow reveal. This was definitely a case where the wife was way more interesting and complex than the husband and he needed to pay attention, the dolt. Everything was not what it seemed on the surface.

I LOVED this book...having the same story told from two different perspectives is eye opening, and shows that honesty doesn‘t always equal the truth. Great read!

Which of these #blueandgreencovers are your favorite? #AcrossApril
@Eggs

#readingtime

Thanks for the tag @squirrelbrain 😊💕

#ispy with my little eye, a book with a turquoise cover....

For the next color I pick gold and tag @Samplergal

Groff unravels a complicated New York love story over decades - first from Lotto‘s perspective, and then enriching our understanding through Mathilde‘s experience.

Read February 19-23
Rated 4/5 ⭐️
Book 12/60

^THIS BOOK. I don‘t know if I even like it , but I can‘t stop reading it.